My 'Becky' shastas are looking very good, also a new salvia 'Marcus' that I really like. The daylilies are still going, a few roses, ammi magus (new for me, an annual and I love it), rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' and another double one and a self-seeded one that I think came from the Prairie Sunrise rudbeckia- only these have black centers, aster 'Purple Dome' is beginning, self-seeded cosmos and zinnias, asclepias (the orange one), a very early yellow mum, gaillardias, petunias, rose of sharon bushes, one lonely clematis, vinca (my favorite annual of all time) and three annual salvias with melampodium. I think that covers all beds. Of course, I am dragging the hose everywhere trying to keep them all going.

gld

cosmos, balsam, echinacea, Queen Anne's lace, petunia, zinnia, black eyed susan, ice plant, crape myrtle, day lilies, tiger lilies, crinum lily, red salvia, portulacea, purslane, veronica, verbena, lantana, tall phlox, marigold, coreopsis, soapwort, blue bedder salvia, sun flowers.

cosmos, petunia,crepe myrtle,love lies bleeding, crinum lilly, texas star red, tiger lillies, sage, datura, angel trumpet, galardia fanfare, lots of sedum and joe pye weed. all looking good despite the surplus of grass and weeds this year. Judy

thanks ya'll
i'm making a list!
do you plant fall gardens there, if so what and when (veggies)

Coreopsis, daylilies, baby's breath, hostas, crepe myrtles, dahlias are just starting, rudbeckias, Becky daisy, lantana, petunias, several Texas White sage, Black and Blue salvia, guara, marigolds, zinnias, asters, ice plant and lots of sedums and I'm also having to drag the hose around. ugh!

Nancy

This is my first year for Phlox 'David' and I'm lovin' it already. It was a nice surprise to get blooms the first year. I have that in a bed with shasta daisy 'Becky', coreopsis 'Moonbeam', salvia 'May Night' and all of those plants are blooming now. All four of those are "perennnial plant of the year" plants I think.
Also have coneflowers still blooming and orange butterfly weed that's ready to rebloom, cannas, mums (just starting to bloom), nepeta 'Six Hills Giant', crape myrtle, Velvet Queen sunflowers, and Stargazer lilies, a dark pink hibiscus (just starting to bloom) salvia guaranitica and greggii, and hostas. And annual vinca! - blooms great in this hot weather.

I BUY most of my veggies but I do have some little watermelons and some other melons that are a looong way from ready to pick.

Gld - Did you find your 'Marcus' around here or did you order it? Looks like a good front-of-the-border type plant.
EP - Is your red salvia a perennial or annual? I bought salvia coccinea this year and don't know much about it yet. Would it be that one by any chance?

Don't know Christie. The seed was in the wildscape packet we recieved when certified. It does return year after year and attracts both hummingbirds and butterflies. I love the fragrance. I think it is the same as the one in this link. EP

Here is a link that might be useful: red salvia

Re: Salvia Marcus - I found it at Lowes. It was in those large-size pots and was a little expensive, but I wanted to try it. It has been in bloom a long time now and still looks good. I have it next to Becky daisy.

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I'll be sure and check at Lowe's next time I'm there.

EP - I think that's what I have. It was labeled "Salvia Prairie Fire" but after doing some searching, I think it was supposed to be "Forest Fire" which is a coccinea cultivar. I think I read that coccinea is the only red salvia that's native. I wasn't sure it would come back here. Some references said zone 8. Also saw some people comment that it reseeds badly but probably too cold here to be a big problem.

Yes, we can and do have fall gardens. We plant fall beans in early Aug. Sounds late for zone 6, but I am in a microclimate next to a large body of water that holds off frost until very late in the fall, unless we have one of those real severe cold fronts blow in from Canada in October. Kale will winter over in the open garden. The usual turnips, spinach, and lettuce. Somewhere I have a chart of what can be planted and when... by seed and another for putting out plants. Also keep a chart of when to start flats of seed for planting in spring and fall. I have pulled suckers off of tomatoes in late June/early July to root for a later crop that runs into fall. Any of the coles can be started from seed in a flat and planted out, but I would have to look for the chart to tell you when. I prefer fall beans to those that get caught by bugs and warm weather.

Many crops we don't mess with because we have plenty from the spring garden. We have a good 1/2 acre in gardens, plus fruit trees, blueberries, and 93 asparagus plants. (don't ask how they ended up uneven numbered) I started them from seed about 19 years ago and I guess my measurer was off when I transplanted to the permanent plot...it sure won't divide by 5 rows. Actually, I am starting to drag my feet over all this gardening...back hurts too much to want to keep it up.

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photo of the red salvia. EP

thanks so much, now i'm looking forward to planting --and i have a great list!!

Red sage,daylilies,4 varieties of phlox,stargazer lilies,dahlias,daisies,verbena bonariensis,sea lavender,a few zinnias,tomatoes,dill,cleome,rudbeckias,baloon flower,gooseneck loosestrife,pansies,geraniums,victoria and black and blue sage,petunias,cannas,etc,etc and did I mention daylilies and dahlias?The pictures are gorgeous you guys.That salvia is worth a try!And,I am watering.And,please GOD,we need rain.Posy Pet