I am just so excited by the "last years tiny seedling perennials" tranformed over winter to this spring's healthy young perennials! Many of these got planted out early last year and then got sort of "lost in the sause" of the many annuals in full bloom. But they clearly were growing! The biggest happy dance? HOS Lady's Mantle coming up in many spots. I plopped down in the bed yesterday and dug up the group and split it up along a walkway. Had 9 "teenagers" that look like they will be beautiful full grown adults this season. Great leaves and love the flowers as fillers (like baby's breath) with roses.

I had to direct sow last year after my zinnia seedlings failed and the daffs flopped. So I never did get it too look like what I had in mind. But this year is different. Jean, I know zinnias need lots of sun and the get lots of sun there all afternoon from about noon on. Just shady earlier in the morning.

illinoisdoglover, here's the definition from the American Hosta Society (AHS) - DRAWSTRING EFFECT - the leaf distortion caused by the expansion of the interior of the leaf blade with a correspondingly lesser expansion of the margin tissue. This usually occurs as the result from a narrow white margin and green to gold center; e.g. H. 'Lunar Eclipse'. So, the margin is growing slower than the green inner part of the leaf and draws the edge in either above or below the leaf. Here's a picture of my Lunar Eclipse... the second flush of leaves will usually not be affected as much. This is as good as Lunar Eclipse ever looked in my garden....so I tossed it. Link below to a list of hosta that drawstring. Paul Here is a link that might be useful: DRAWSTRING-LEAVED HOSTA

My Oh My, Brass Band is really stunning with that many blooms! It was new for me last year, so I hope it will do well this summer. My best bloomers have been Brigadoons for the last several years. I am afraid the right one in the photo has crown gall, and they are grouped so closely. Gary Here is a link that might be useful: Brigadoon at HMF