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Hello, everyone, glad to be here. I'm a retired science teacher, recently moved to Delaware, learning how to deal (?) with solid clay soil, aka "bricks". I moved 30 yards of "aged mushroom compost" (where I come from, it's called manure) into two long raised beds and one long narrow bed on southeast side of house. Started most of my plants from seed, giving my husband a major asthma attack.

Made the mistake of planting chard, cucumber, summer squash and zucchini (among other veggies. Thought I loved eating veggies, now I spend all my time giving my neighbors zucchini and cucumbers......... I'm turning green from all those veggies. Cucumbers & tomatoes with yogurt for breakfast and lunch, cucumber salad for supper, oooooooh for some nice unhealthy potota chips! I actually RIPPED out the chard, am about to do the same with the cucumbers. Enough is enough!

I have learned that description of height is a very relative thing, now have some lovely perennials hidden in the middle of the perennial bed. The shorter plants are growing taller than the so-called tall plants. Will that change next year?

Has anyone had experience growing Verbascum? Mine bloomed nicely, now they seem to be drying up and dying. Do they require lots of water? Or do they become dormant in late summer? Or did I overfertilize them with triple phosphate?

How about moving Bee Balm (Monarda)? When is the best time, now or late autumn? These are hidden by Agastache and double Black-eyed Susans. (Too many of the last, some have to go)

Oh, yes, discovered the annual Tithonia: big, big and bold, large space-greedy plants with absolutely stunning blossoms.

Also, my butterfly plant (Asclepias) is growing too short--anyone have any idea why?

I look forward to garden chat with other members,
Ellen_in_Delaware

I live in: United States

My zone is: z7 DE

First registered on July 30,2004.