I've been enjoying seeing your gardens. I'm wondering if you've moved things around throughout the years to get them just right, or did you get lucky on your first planting? I'm thinking of this because I have a list of 18 things, so far, that I want to move to better positions as soon as the weather cools down. Anyhow, you have beautiful combinations of plants.

Such pretty combinations of form and color. Looks like you will be having monkshood blooming soon!

Thanks,

Sandyslopes, I do add perennials to the beds, mostly in spring and some in fall, in order to maintain plant diversity from year-to-year. I move things around in fall (especially in renovating a section of a bed). I think that cutting things back is the most important thing to do here in late summer.

For me, the main reasons to move a particular plant is to give it more access to sun or to prevent it limiting another plants access to sun (both, for next year). Plant division also often necessities moving (if not disposing of) parts of plants.

I try to limit the number of runners (like Monarda) that seem to move to the front of a flowerbed. I avoid seeder, in part, for the same reason.

Our summer monkshood hasn't been so great this year, Maureen, but, as you suggest, I do have high hopes for the Arend's (fall) monkshood. Such a useful plant in a mixed perennial garden!

So beautiful, thanks for sharing.

Annette

Beautiful! I especially like the color combo in that first pic.

Thanks Mxk3.

Re first picture: interesting that most of the colour is provided by old No Names (viz. plants only identified at the species level).

I'm thinking that the tall purple one at the back really is the 'Robert Poore', identification discussed on "Phlox".

The pink one is vigorous and very mildew resistant, one of the best of our garden phlox. I just call it "My Pink". The red-orange one is 'Orange Perfection' that seems to be a later bloomer among our garden phlox, though location seems to have a big influence as to when individual garden phlox plants bloom.

Said last year, I really think that the very mildew resistant variegated-leaf, 'Nora Leigh,' is the best all-round phlox we have. The foliage (and size and shape, when established) is a real compliment to the garden throughout the fall.

Just gorgeous!!!!!

Phlox 'Jeana' in front. Thanks Rouge. I didn't believe the label, so one to move Sandyslopes!

Why I like Phlox 'Nora Leigh'.

Without it, what do you have? (The one is front is more established than the one behind).

Wish I had the same luck with Nora that you had. I could never get mine to establish no matter where I put it. Never got bigger than original plant purchased from nursery. After one brutal winter it disappeared, never to be seen again. This was when I was living on a property in zone 4. I'm now in zone 5 so might try it again though I already have many varigated leaved plants, the largest of which is a dogwood shrub.

I agree about the pink varieties of phlox having good mildew resistance. I have pink, coral, and deep lavender varieties and they all seem to be pretty mildew resistant. But the white varieties, no matter how many growers claim are resistant, invariably get mildew. Ugh!

LTG, sorry about your past problem with 'Nora Leigh'. It seems odd that a difference of one zone would make such a difference. It would be very interesting to know what the problem was, though I assume all gardeners sometimes have plants which have died for no apparent reason.

As a general principle, you'd expect variegated cultivars to be less robust than their non-variegated counterparts. Although I currently have far more experience with 'Nora Leigh', I've found it much more robust in our own garden than 'Shockwave' and 'Harlequin' (two other variegated garden phlox). I can't say I've ever lost a 'Nora Leigh' (a very conspicuous phlox) in any garden I planted it in for as long as I was maintaining that garden (max. 20+ years).

Our own mixed perennial garden still looks reasonable in September and October. One reason is the foliage of the 'Nora Leigh'. That's because 'Nora Leigh' is so powdery mildew resistant. I take it that my ongoing garden maintenance is also a factor as that includes cutting down stems of other garden phlox as they show signs of mildew.

Most garden phlox finished now. Helenium and 'Goldsturm' still going and the first of the New England asters are now flowering. Had about a week of hot temperatures (including heat alerts). Am sure watering has slowed down the loss of blooms.

Helenium 'Fuego' in front and 'Sonnenwunder' behind.

Some of the older No Name garden phlox are still holding their blooms, but of the more flashy cultivars there's most only minimal secondary bloom.

On 'Wendy House' (front) and 'Laura' (behind).

Some garden phlox do seem generally later blooming; that is however sunny their locations are in the garden.

Besides the 'Nora Leigh', includes 'Shockwave' (front) and less so 'Orange Perfection' (behind).

The 'Jeana' is still around to the benefit of a Monarch.

Thinning/thinned out.

You still have such great color, sunny. Wish that was the case for me! What's the pink flower in the first pic? It's a stunner...

Thanks, Lauren. Getting to be big gaps.

It's New England aster 'Alma Pötschke'.

Am sure it's widely recognized that colour photographs frequently fail to give due credit to the colours of flowers.

The colour of the flowers of 'Alma Pötschke' is sometimes described as "deep rose pink". Personally, I like the Telegraph's description: "a brilliant, bright magenta that contrast well with the flower's (yellow) centre".

It may not be the best fall aster for those averse to staking.

Ahhh, Alma Potschke a favorite of mine, alas I lost mine and haven't been able to find a replacement. Percy Picton describes it as vivid cerise, compact growth, 90cm. I have found all the New England asters I've grown to be clump forming and do not spread out of control like some (but not all of the) New York varieties. I've also found it's best to divide the New England Asters in the spring, it can be iffy if you do it in the fall here, whereas with the New York varieties it doesn't matter. Does anyone know of a on line source in Canada where I might buy a replacement for my Alma P.?

Annette

A gardener like me, Annette (if you're coming this way, southern Ontario).

It's quite vigorous here (not invasive, but it forms dense clumps which spread out). I normally have to thin it out every year or two. It's very easy to move around here.

I don't mind staking perennials but find stands of 'Alma Pötschke' requires some patience with staking.

Sunny, I'm at the other end of the country, I've never been that far east but if your willing to part with a start in the spring I'd gladly pay shipping costs, I do have a few other asters I could trade. New England, I have Adrienne, large pink flowers, 6' if you don't pinch it back...Pink Winner, Harrinton's Pink, and I think I still have a piece of September Ruby if you are interested. I have a few New Yorkers too. Blue Eyes is nice one from Old Court Nurseries in England also Ada Ballard. I lost most of the ones I got from Mr. Picton one winter, still scratching my head over that. The trials and tribulations of gardening :(.

Annette

Aftermidnight, I purchased my Alma Potschke from Hortico in Canada and I believe they ship worldwide.

Thanks Annette,

Sent message.

Charlie

Love that Alma Potschke, it's always been my favorite aster color!

I'm envious of your borders, mine have withered during our hottest September on record with only a little over 1/4 inch of rain during the month...but I guess we can always look forward to next year!

chouchou, thanks but I already looked at Hortico, they no longer have it in their catalog.

Charlie message received and answered, thanks a bunch :).

Annette

As you say, Katob, there's always next year with gardening. I do find it frustrating waiting for next year, but it's so nice to get some rest in the meantime.

Yesterday (too wet for pictures today)

Great fillers.

Symphyotrichium (Aster) lateriflorum (calico aster) 'Lady in Black' (3 plants).

Eurybia (Aster) divaricata (white wood aster)(from one plant).

Reblooms after dead-heading.

Veronicastrum virginicum (species culver's root).

Phlox paniculata 'Pina Colada'.

For me, whether a garden phlox gets a chance to rebloom depends primarily on whether I see powdery mildew appearing on it. The beginnings of powdery mildew and it's cut down.

'Nora Leigh' is quite late blooming, but we don't grown it for the flower. In my opinion, the primary reason why it's such a good fall plant (with variegated foliage, a nice size and shape, latter which it retains over years) is that it's so mildew resistant. That's why it can be kept and not cut back (but dead-headed for neatness) to the end of our growing season.

Going, going, going but not yet gone.