billy gardener, I had the exact same thing happen to my Becky's this year. They bloomed great the first flush, then they started their sporadic blooming for the remainder of the season(which is what my Becky's always do - they're the best shastas in this area) HOWEVER - the blooms never opened, they turned brown and died. I cut them all back and hoped they'd try again, but they haven't. I'm hoping it's not a disease in my garden, but just a result of an unusually cool and wet summer for my area. Has your weather been that way this year? I'm hoping maybe that's it, if it's not - I'm shovel pruning them, if they do it again next year.

Well, actually, I do know many of the botanical names - not all, but many. I think it helps to know about the botanical family because you learn more about growing them and caring for them. It's all those special variety names that get to be too much. Just look at Daylily lists for instance. It is maddening! There are hundreds upon hundreds of named varieties and probably many more unnamed ones! Sheesh! And, I don't go gah gah over every new one and feel I have to have it because it is new. I don't collect flowers, I grow them. If it suits me and my climate, then I put it on my wish list and sometimes, if I am lucky, I actually get it sooner or later. I do like to know what they are called for future reference if I am on the hunt for them, so I write them down in little notebooks, but I can't recall right off the top of my head most of the time. That's just not what's important to me. I'm not trying to impress anyone. ~Annie

I have four Broadway Lights Shasta Daisy that I planted last fall and wintered beautifully. Came up strong and has produced, is still producing, lots of blooms. They're about 3' tall. I actually planted them very late and they came off an almost dead table at Lowes. I have this rescue addiction problem... but I'm working on it. Anyway... they are planted on the S.W. corner of my garage under a tree so they get dappled shade till about 1:00 when they are pretty much in full sun for about 4 hours. We've gotten almost no rain this spring/summer so I water them probably once a week very deeply. Oh, I forgot to mention.. I didn't mulch them last year. Although I do deadhead to get a second flush I do not prune them back till VERY early spring, hoping that if I leave the stems all winter it might help to protect the crown I'm not sure if this helps since you are in zone 3.. but if my poor specimens can make it without mulch or a lot of sun I would think if you mulch and get lots of sun your's might too. Good luck and let us know how it goes Alexis

Dirtmomma, What works for you should certainly work for me (locality wise), but I'm not sure what you are recommending. Should I wait until next year to see if they bloom or do you think I should be dividing the clumps this fall. They were just planted this Spring, but have grown into quite large, healthy green clumps--none of which are showing any signs of blooming this year. Interestingly, Fine Gardening magazine this month lists them as being one of the best plants for this area.