That is their natural state at his time of year. If you want a tidier look, cut them back. They will continue to bloom, but slower and sparser than in the better part of summer. I let mine go to seed and also clean them up so that they don't look so woe-begotten. I will also pull up the worst looking ones, knowing that the seeds are going to produce more next summer. I have not purchased seeds for at least 8 years now. They always come back and if I don't like where they are, I move them. Mine are primarily in pots that I seldom water, just like sedums. They adore full, dry sun; still, they reach a point when they are simply "done".

Hi Mike, Welcome to the Party! We provide virtual pillows for headaches gotten when bang-head-on-wall takes place. I'd guess that your wife doesn't garden either... so it's going to be up to you :) VB is officially plant zone 7B, but you'll have better luck buying plants that are happy in zone 8. Azaleas require some shade, the farther south you are, the more shade.. I'm zone 6B and put them in areas that are shady at least 1/2 the day. Established azaleas can do well even with little water, but do give them at least 5 gallons per inch-thickness at the plant's base if your area doesn't get an inch of rain for a month (yes, include 'winter'). Do keep their root area well-mulched with non-treated shredded leaves, wood chips, or bark. Portulacas demand full sun, all day. They do best in sandy well-drained soil, and water deeply once a week if it doesn't rain (deeply means you get a wet finger if you stick it in soil up to the knuckle). You and I are far enough south that most gardenias are considered perennial. Gardenias are noted for being persnickety: if the plant likes you it will do fine in sun to light shade, lightly mulched, and watered when the soil is dry. If the gardenia doesn't like you, buy a spirea which will bloom freely although scentless because spireas like anybody who will water them in drought, while nobody can convince a gardenia to bloom if it doesn't feel like it. If you bought the gardenia at a nursery, do get a replacement just in case the next gardenia likes you better. Notice that either your azaleas or the portulaca will be unhappy with the amount of sun available.

I'll leave the containers for now just in case they're just lazy, but I think I'll start some more seeds. Thanks everyone. Caryl

Yes, under the spent flower there will be a little capsule, like a little hat, filled with tiny roundish black seeds. Like pepper.