I was just thinking how I wished I new what variety of salvia I have, because it is so carefree. It is blue, perennial, spring-blooming and self-seeds reasonably. I found some seedlings mid-summer, which appeared to have resulted from germination of seeds produced this spring. I transplanted the nearly microscopic plants to a spot with more space, and by late summer they were blooming. Yesterday, while clearing out leaves and spent annuals from that new bed, I found another generation of tiny salvia seedlings. I'm so excited, because the entire point of my gardening is to provide habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. So, if I can expand the time these popular blossoms are available to the beneficial insects, I can improve their survival chances dramatically. I believe I started with two NOID plants that begin their bloom period about ten days apart. So, that variation, plus a second generation in late summer, will do well to supplement the other native and non-native nectar sources I have available. Unfortunately, I have no idea what the names of my salvia plants are. Martha

I moved a Salvia May Night last summer and just unceremoniously plunked it into a hole I dug in ordinary dirt close to and under a Pin Oak by our driveway where it only gets sun from about 2 till 5 or less. Its in very dry unimproved soil so maybe its moisture or too rich soil causing the flop? Mine actually looks good and bloomed same as usual. I transplanted another part of it in even more shade down by a shrub where you can't really see it just because I didn't have the heart to toss it, both bloomed this spring and didn't flop, frankly this plant got boring to me so I relegated it to unimportant spots and thats why its where it is now, poor thing. I'm editing to add that it gets more sun in spring before the neighbors blasted Pin Oak monster leafs out, the rest of the season it just sits there but it did bloom twice because I deadheaded it. My experience was catmint got too bushy & tall in morning sun only making it messy looking compared to the nice silver & xeric looking compact & tight form they have in full sun, that mattered to me a lot more than the blooms. It bloomed just fine in spring but I got rid of it because I didn't like the looks of it and didn't try to transplant it. I always felt compelled to trim it back and I hate the smell of it. I learned that if you dig out the salvia it will come back because the roots are so deep and extensive. It might take a about three digging sessions to get it all out if its been growing there for a while.

Regarding the bugs look for them at night with a flashlight

This particular variety is best just deadheading the spend blooms. The photo shown above looks valid for this plant. If the plants start looking ratty you can cut them back to about 10 inches and let them grow back for another round of bloom in the Fall. In your cold climate I'd leave the dead top growth all winter to give the roots protection. Then, when you see new growth in the Spring, cut them back to that.