Token I am very jealous that yours are 8 inches tall already. I haven't even sown them yet! Yes, I think Yvonne developed her own cultivar of a tall Salvia splendens. Just as the short bedding plants were cultivated to be short. How fun! :) My Yvonnes grew 3-4 feet tall and they even had some afternoon shade from the humongus Mammoth Sunflowers that grew 10-11 feet tall in the next bed. That wasn't really planned and it wasn't a great idea, letting those sunflowers (which were self-sown) grow in the middle of a sunny area, but I didn't think about it. This year, the Mammoth sunflowers are going in a sunny corner at the back of a tall bed (where everything's going to be 3-10 feet tall).

Patty, East Friesland is about 18 inches high, similar to May Night. I have May Night and a group of three plants is spectacular right now. They need sun. Mine are in full sun, all day long, so I wouldn't tuck them under the roses too far (but, I'm not in your zone, so perhaps the growing conditions are different enough to handle some shade). After blooming, I cut May Night (as well as Caradonna, Marcus--nemorosa varieties) back to the basal foliage. If you're looking for bloom all summer, perhaps you want to look at another salvia variety. My salvia farinacea Victoria Blue bloom from late April until frost. Those overwintered for me in all areas of my garden. No deadheading and just stunning all summer. I am familiar with Julia Child and Victoria Blue would be a great companion color. Cameron

Haw: My Austin bee populations hit the S.greggii & S.microphylla really hard. I would avoid May Night and some of the other lower growing Salvias.Cousin to Indigo Spires Mystic spires is shorter and the Swallowtail butterflies hit them. The European Honey and our Bumble Bee both don't like getting that close to the ground or they become food for something else. I have not seen that many bees on those plants even up on a table @ the nursery I work at. There may not be enough nectar for them to warrant the risk.Some other relatives that attract bees are Basils especial the African Blue. That has been my observation here. Art

May I suggest Salvia transslyvanica or Salvia pratensis 'Indigo'? Russian Sage is not a Salvia. Also, look for Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna'. all hardy and drought resistant. You can see pictures of this on my site www.robinssalvias.com