Nimbus is definitely more heat tolerant than most other purple geraniums, and it is an outstanding long bloomer. I also distinctly recall a Gardener's Journal or Diary program with Tony Avent at plant delights in which he said that Brookside was one of the most heat tolerant geraniums and is one of the few that they can grow and sell as a result. I recall that the TV clips of Brookside in their garden looked very good. Montrose Nursery in NC has been long closed now, but when it was around, Nancy Goodwin sold quite a few different forms of G. pratense, and I remember her saying that it was a good performer in the gardens there. And that is central NC, CHapel Hill area, so I bet it is just as hot if not worse than MO. G. pratense is little known to most American gardeners except for 'Splish Splash' (really 'Striatum'), but there are many good garden plants in a range of colors from rich purple to lavendar to light pink to white, easily growable from seed -- you just have to look for them. Here is a picture from my old garden of forms of G. pratense in early June Among forms of G. x oxonianum, 'Pearl Bolund' seems unfazed by heat and is one of the best performing, longest blooming forms you can get.

I also have Splish Splash and for me it got about 2.5 ft tall bloom spikes on it this year, but the foliage stayed lower at about 1 ft and the leaves were the biggest of any geranium variety I own. It is done blooming now, so I cut down the taller blooming parts and it is back to a mound of leaves on long stems. It was really pretty in bloom, and even found it's way to mixing with a "Butterfly" Japanese Maple I have it planted under. The two colors on the geranium flower looked pretty against the soft pink/green/cream of the maple leaves. I also have 3 Rozannes and LOVE them. One is in full sun and is smothered with flowers most all of the summer, and the other two are in part shade and I bought them specifically to be filler plants. They are performing just as beautifully as I hoped. One is planted at the base of a Jackmanii clematis on a pillar, and it is reaching up to play with the dark purple blooms of the clematis, and it really compliments the Digitalis and Echinacea plants next to it as well. The third is planted at the base of a birch tree and currently mingling with a small section of herbs in a sunnier edge of one bed, and it is also filling space next to a Stained Glass Hosta, a clematis climbing up the birch, and some shade plants tucked into the center portion of the bed. I can't say enough good things about Rozanne ! I have a bunch of other perennial geraniums and I feel that this genus really is a workhorse in the garden and would not be without them. The groundcover varieties are perfect for the front edge of beds, gently spilling over onto pathways. I have also tried with the Bikovo types to pull off a chunk and re-plant. Yes, it does work very well, if you get some roots. The new plant will sulk the first year but be back to new next spring. As far as Rozanne is concerned, I don't think I would try to split her. It looks like most stems come from a single point/crown, unlike the spreading Bikovo types, so if you try to slice through the center, it would probably damage the plant too much. They are usually available locally, so if I want another one, I'd rather buy a nice sized established plant. They are well worth the $$ in my garden.

Connie, if your Lorraine Sunshine is only 2 years old, I'd wait another 2-3 years before you divide it, let it get established first. Well, by golly Toots... it looks like my Monarda didyma Marshall's Delight is up too! When I lived in Saskatoon I grew Beebalm like weeds and I can't tell you how many attempts have I tried to get a clump growing here in Wainwright since the year of 2000! You're right Shauna, it appears that my Japanese Painted Fern is poking thru....I just brushed some leaves back and lo and behold it's alive, it's alive....if this grow great, I'll pick up another 2 so its not so alone ;) Laurie, too bad about your other Hawkeye Belle. One thing I noticed today is that nothing is come up with the three plants of Verbascum bombyciferum Giant Silver Mullein that I bought last year....it still has the leaves from last year but nothing....Faith, if you still visit here at the FN forum, how's yours doing? Sharon

I keep my geraniums in the house in the winter. One I should have cut back a few years ago, I neglected it, and it finally died. I just brought my windowbox in and a hanging basket with geraniums. From those, I am starting new plants over the winter. If you planted them in the ground, you will probably have to dig them up and pot them. Otherwise you could break pieces off and root them in a glass of water, change the water when it starts to cloud up, and they should root within 2 weeks or so, then pot them in potting soil. An azalea and pussy willow I ordered did well, all the rhododendrons died, were in poor condition when I got them, the dogwood tree died, and the mountain laurel stick was so tiny in the package, I found it later by my chair. I've been struggling with rose cuttings all summer, finally got some to root. I scattered some poppies, batchelor's buttons, and gypsophilia, and that did well but the soil is so dry I had to water constantly. The poppies seem to tolerate dry soil longer. I don't have a good spot to grow vegetables without chopping up more of the yard, but miss my tomatoes. The spot where I used to grow them on the east side of the house has become shaded by a huge double crabapple tree I planted years ago, didn't think about that, but that's where I rooted my roses until I had to bring them inside. Oh, I also planted in pots basil, Greek oregano (real pretty foliage, too hot to the taste for me), cilantro and parsley, alyssum, I'm having trouble getting chives to do much of anything, finally planted some in regular soil, and they aren't doing any better. They should be easy. Will try some fresher seed. My big disappointment was in early June, I had help, and we transplated about seven Harisons Yellow rose suckers. Only one survived, will protect it this winter. In retrospect, I should have potted them up and kept them in the shade and gradually acclimated them to full sun.