I am interested in both of the hibiscus and the columbine. I have LOTS of daylilies if you are interested in those. I also have some red hot poker, some candy lilies, couple different crocosmia, couple different colors spiderworts, couple colors bee balm, couple colors coneflowers and some other stuff that I can't think of right now :) Here's a link to my daylilies-most are tradable but would have to go out to check to make sure--http://www.Plantstep.com/FlowerCatalog.psl?action=10226 Just let me know-Thanx! Janie

Full sun, well amended soil with lots of compost when planting in pure sand such as the Sunset district, and at least regular garden irrigation in the dry months. They typically get summer rainfall in their South African mountainside habitat, where many grow at high elevations stream side. They can be relatively drought tolerant in heavier clay soils that are much more water retentive. There is considerable variation in plant size, flower color and type, and season of bloom. Check out Kniphofia thompsonii for something distinctly different and a longer blooming season. Annie's Annuals nursery out in Richmond, California has a particularly good selection of species Kniphofia, and I can recommend the cultivar 'Winter Cheer' if you like them 5 foot tall in bloom for December and January.

The butterfly bush is a very good idea and so is the fennel be careful though in warm zones both can self sow to nuisance point so clip the flowers before they go to seed....... Eremurus foxtail lily in red or orange or yellow or white? if you want to capitalize on the kniphofia shape or yucca....... Clerodendrum speciosissimum glory bower is a red flowered shorter shrub that would look nice behind it...... I think it attracts butterflies it might be marginally hardy in your zone ....... Some of the salvias would be nice...... Salvia coccinea or mexican bush salvia or sage....... I think all salvias attract butterflies....... Euryops pectinatus is a nice plant that would work well....... Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is also a nice plant you could use yellow or white? or red....... it attracts hummingbirds...... but not butterflies......... something more tropical definitely..... you have alot of choices for you zone!!!!!! ........ :) ......

Thanks for posting this new thread, Foxesearth. It was needed as the other thread was getting waaaaay toooooo lonngggg......I can see why though! WOW! What gorgeous property, Gottagarden, and I heart your red bed. Your little gardening buddies are cute as can be, too. You are definitely blessed. I'm thinking about adding nitrogen to my soil like Gottagarden did to hers. There is alot of leaf-drop from my ash and sweet gum trees in the autumn; all over the flower beds. Wondering if the resulting leaf de-composition is depleting my soil of nitrogen? All along I thought it was a good thing... I've never raked the leaves up---I just let them decompose hoping this will enrich the soil. Hmmm... I also have quite a bit of pea gravel in the beds (from previous owner). Too much to remove so I just dig it under when digging planting holes, then backfill with bagged planting soil mixed with some garden soil. The top foot or so in most of the beds is now finally almost all dug under (its been a five + year process). I've topped most of the beds with redwood bark chips, which are also decomposing. Now I use bags of mulch instead of the bark chips. My beds have GREAT drainage...almost TOO fast. I wonder if the bark along with the leaves, are actually causing a problem. Any ideas here (should I add nitrogen??)? Foxesearth, your progressive season gardening has me inspired! I love your natural looking flower beds and your beautiful property! And I admire how you've planned so that each emerging plant comes up just in time to cover unattractive wilting foliage of another. Something I've got to work on in my garden. Right now I've got alyssum, lobelia, and some vinca minora as bulb cover in most of my beds. The alyssum (last year's plants) is so straggly right now... wondering if there might be some better way to go about this. Will have to do some research. Looking forward to spring and to seeing more of everyones gardens! Becky