Hmmmm. Thanks. I looked it up, black-eyed susan, and it comes in a lot of variations. It could have drifted over where I tested a patch with wildflower mix, was pulling grass out of it til I almost went nuts, then oh my sun ruined it out when he had the house painted :-( plus I quit watering the stuff. Oh well. I think I'll see if it will bloom, and if I like it, will save some seeds and winter sow next year, will deadhead the rest and try to pull this one out of there; it will compete with the phlox, and I'm going to need to divide them, maybe next spring. Don't need any heavy self seeders there or anywhere except my poppies, the wallflower took over this spring. If it comes back next year, it is colorful for early spring, I'll pull it and try to keep it in smaller clumps like on the other side of the walk which behaves differently (roots, more sun, and slants more meaning fast drainage). I winter sowed some rudbeckia prairie sun, will have to watch that one for self seeding, too, then. Tomorrow I'll try to get a photo of a daisy I'd like to know exactly what kind it is at a neighbor's, hope you check back because you might know. If I see him, I will ask, but he may not know the exact kind. I'm pretty sure it's not ox eye aka Marguerite? because it is in a neat clump, not sprawly like that stuff is but could be, early blooming daisy I'd like to complement my others. And thank you!

I hoped I would provoke people. I cut back all my phloxes before they bloom, then dead head promptly to get the side plooms. I love Eva Cullum and Bright Eyes. I do want to get some early whites, because I, too, love white in the garden. Somehow, I didn't get around to it this year. Any white phlox except David has to be mail ordered. I once had phlox Alpha or Omega (one is white) and it did not mildew. That was back in day before David. Boday, do you have Tracey di-Staubo Aust's book, The Well-Tended Perennial Garden (people help me out here if I have either the name or title wrong). ? She has invaluable information on how to prune, pinch and prick-out plants for height, shape,bloom time, re-bloom, rejuvenation and whatever else. Maybe you can find it used on Amazon or at the library. Please don't wait to get for a Christmas present! It has been the most useful gardening book I own, and I have three shelves full and been gardening for 25 years. It is interesting to think that a HYDRANGEA can be comparable to a phlox. It is much richer image for comparison in garden terms, and catches the problem of scale (as in comparative size) vividly. Yep, this website is amazing. It has had its ups and downs, it has had infuriating glitches and occasionally infuriating trolls; it has been boring and repetitive as well. But I keep coming back to it and reading and learning.There's always something..... marie/idabean

Joanne, My phlox David are in full bloom now, not in June. Some of the Davids started blooming about two weeks ago. They are usually a tiny bit later to bloom than my Bright Eyes, Orange Perfection, Starfire, and Nicky. The greenery starts up in spring with everything else (spring here is late). Depending on how tall your hedge is, the greenery would probably be showing some by mid/late June. While my Phlox David have grown well, I would certainly not plant them 2 to 3 foot apart in my garden. Planting tags for my Davids DO say "24 inch S", but I don't expect any new plant to need all their suggested space until at least the 2nd year (in my heavy clay probably year 3, sometimes 4). I would plant them on 12 inch centers in the center area or several areas of your 15 feet, one grouping of 5 plants in the center, or two groups of 3 plants, with the groups equally spaced along the 15 ft. Then let them grow and spread for you, see how well they do, and how well you like them there, and then thin the groupings and add them to the bare spaces, if you like, or plant them elsewhere. If you want a fuller look the first year along the whole 15 feet, you could plant 12 plants, one every foot for a total of 15 plants (fairly expensive), or 7 or 8 plants every 18 inches. When you get down to 5 plants every 3 feet, IMO, it will not have the effect you want. Also keep in mind that a regimented row planting of first year single stalk plants is not particularly attractive looking. Regardless of spacing, I would use a series of very shallow "v" shapes, one plant up front, one back, one plant up etc., to soften the look. The straight edge and heaviness of the shrub line will contrast nicely with the fluffy white flower heads. I would not worry about the space between the porch and the hedge looking bare, I'm assuming you have 18 inches or somewhat more there. It will not be noticeable/unusual in winter from any sort of distance (possibly covered with mulch then and greenery in warm weather), just neat. Being a plantaholic I would probably plant the Davids along part of the porch (one or two clusters) and then some sort of spring/early summer bloomer in the other space(s). Perhaps something like white Siberian Iris would work. It would probably depend on how you like their foliage and its height versus your hedge height. There are some really beautiful varieties available, although I have never used a white one. In my cold zone the foliage looks good all season and they will take full sun to part sun (doing better in more than less).

You can look for Shortwood or David's Lavender. They are both sports or hybrids of David. Shortwood is a medium pink with lighter eye and David's Lavender is a medium lavender. Both are tall like David and quite mildew-resistant (at least in my garden). Three others I can recommend are Robert Poore, (darker, almost magenta-pink,) Mrs. Pepper, (medium pink with white eye,) and Katherine, (light blue-lavender). If you are looking for a color you can see across the garden, I would suggest Robert Poore. Here is a link that might be useful: phlox 'Robert Poore'