Hi Maryt and welcome to the Carolinas.

I'm in northeast NC and I must say I like the weather here too. I don't like the hurricane threats but I guess no matter where one lives there will always be some type of possible weather/earth threat looming off in the background somewhere.

Anyway! I tried winter sowing for the first time this past winter and it has opened up an entire world of new flower possibilites. But so far my absolute favorite has been statice. I love these flowers and since they winter sowed so easily, they will be in my gardens from now on.

I tried Irish Eyes a couple of years ago with no luck but maybe I will have to give them another try now that I know about winter sowing. I know I like the pictures of them that I have seen.

A couple of other flowers that have stolen my heart this season that I've never had luck with before are bachelor buttons and larkspur. I finally figured out the trick for these flowers is to direct sow them in the fall. It only took me about 15 years to figure this out but I guess better late than never right? lol

Michelle

Standouts in this years garden have been the Chinese Foxglove, Cuphea (I think I have them all!), this weird freaky Impatiens that a plant collector friend gave to me Impatiens irvingii, Gloriosa lilies which have really multiplied (finally!), and globe artichokes that didn't get harvested to eat since I was out of town so they are now blooming their little hearts out. Oh, and this strange phlox, it was sold to me as a purple/lavender colored one and its blooms are kinda blue-ish lavender in the morning and evening light, tho they look pink-er in the mid day sun.

The late freeze slowed a few things down and the drought is stressing some things but all in all its a nice flower garden season - fewer bugs/pests.

Good and started up: Daturas, salvias (most), Impatiens arguta, canna, agastache, 4 o'clocks, coneflowers, larkspur, monarda. Campanulas just ending.

I had a black and blue salvia planted last year that wasn't supposed to return pop up again this year. I was so happy. David's Phlox - again beautiful. And I have an ES Hydrangea that is staying blue & has huge mopheads. Thankfully I gave it good protection during the Easter freeze.

I also WS'd Hollyhocks this year and 1 of them is blooming! I wasn't expecting blooms until next year. My first time with this flower and its a keeper for sure.

black and blues (s. guaranitica)are very reliable in this area. about the only way they wouldn't come back is if you planted it pretty late. they spread a good bit, too, so watch out! some of the 'annual' salvais that will come back are 'victoria', 'blue bedder' and other salvia farinaceas. holly hocks are awesome. i am in love with 'creme de cassis' a bicolor single of deep plum in the center edged in white. yummy! of course, the jb's are doing a number on it, but it'll keep going after they're gone.

my stuff is blooming, but much is looking pretty pitiful from this lack of rain. i'm watering as much as i can, but it isn't enough. even the drought resistant stuff is stressed. we need sky water around here!

Lanai verbena is my new favorite this year. Glow in the dark pure red color and glossy dark green leaves. It's sold as a perennial here so I have my fingers crossed for this winter.

Joydveenc7,
Can you tell me where you purchased the Lanai verbena?? Verbena is fast becoming one of my favorite plants. I love the long bloom season, and the ruggedness and care-free nature of these plants.

New Garden Nursery had it about 3 weeks ago in half gallon pots.

My favorite flowers this year(again) have been salvias. All of my established plants are blooming desite the drought. Russian sage and 'Miss Huff' lantana are also unfazed. I've had other flowers to bloom but these are the stalwarts that are carrying my garden this year.

One of my favorites this year is Transylvanian sage. It has a beautiful soft blue-purple color that I really love.

Thank you for the name of the nursery. Greensboro is a bit far for me, but they have a great website that includes an online plant encyclopedia and a section for FAQ's. For anyone who is interested their website is:

Here is a link that might be useful: New garden Nursery

favorite flower - well anyone that is in bloom right now :) soooooo it (I meant THEY) are all the salvias, iceplant, Irish Eyes, Toto and regular rudbeckias plus all the annuals. What has really surprised me this spring/early summer is how beautiful my gerber daisies are and they just keep blooming and blooming. So I guess that is my current favorite......

Lynne

Salvias are doing great but my stephanotis is my fav this year. As fast as one cycle is finished blooming it has buds set for another. Heliopsis Loraine Sunshine has been outstanding and my gloriosa lily has had more blooms this year than usual. Thanks to a friend keeping my mandevilla in her greenhouse last winter it has been blooming non stop since bringing it home and it bloomed about all winter for her too. Have to mention my fav foliage plant has been the tropical Hibiscus 'haight asbury'... many thanks Adelle for pointing that one out to me! Gorgeous, Gorgeous, Gorgeous!!

Considering that the Japaneese Beetles ate everything, I'd say any plant that actually has a flower on it, is my favorite. Now when you add the fact that all of my petunias and vincas were free, they just have to be my favorite. Also, my dianthus that my mom took from my best friend's house before she moved to Maine, has a special place in my heart too!!

But I'd have to say that the four new blooms on my rose bush have to be my favorite because just two weeks ago, it was the ugliest thing on the planet having been ravaged by the beetles. So now the glorious red, perfumed buds are my absolute favorite!!!

However, if my tree peony actually flowers, I have a little bud on it, that will win hands down!!!

Well I don't have much this year since I just started making beds last fall, but I have to say the larkspur and african daisies are doing mighty fine. I love the daisies especially, with their white petals and blue eye. I love waking up in the morning to see them all smiling happily.

I'm working on some outhouse hollyhocks as well, but they seem to be coming along slowly. First time with them, so I'll be happy if they make it through this intense heat and humidity.

My impatiens never let me down... as long as I can keep the water coming! I always go for a three color combination... this year I used the brilliant orange color with white and the lilac-pink. Sounds weird but it's really beautiful all massed up together!

Lynne - my gerbera daisies have done really well, too. The flowers are wonderful, of course, but the foliage is really lush. They just keep reseeding and spreading... over four years or so they've gone from all different colors to just mixed shades of orange... great with the orange impatiens this year!