what's blooming now 2014

[will-o-wisp]

I've enjoyed viewing and hearing about everyones blooms.

I wonder if anyone has experience with Carolina wild petunia?
Specifically how aggressive is it?
I started with 1 plant and now have 4 in one area with the beginnings of plants in 3 other areas, one that started is far from the original planting all the way behind the house.
It seems easy to pull out where it becomes too dense and shades out other plants and I do like its smaller stature, about 1-1 1/2 ft.
The blooms are a nice size and showy with a pale lavender color and a deeper purple throat. The flowers only last a day but the old flowers turn brown and drop immediately so it is self cleaning and blooms with fresh flowers each day over an extended period.
It does fill in empty spaces nicely.
So with all it's good points the question is do I have to pull it ruthlessly as it spreads so I don't have only this plant eventually? or is it containable with careful supervision?

[Rebek56]

Will-o, the plant is what I call enthusiastic rather than aggressive. I started with one plant four years ago and now have it weaving through several beds, but with its shallow roots, it doesn't seem to bother anything else. I just pull out and move those I don't want. (I'm not at the point of composting the plants yet.)

[Gloria]

Nice plants everyone.
The ratibida pinnata is finally in full glorious bloom,
With the phlox just beginning to flower.
The little blue gentian is showing its colors
but the ironweed is still just buds.

[Gloria]

Originally Posted by Birding Bunch

The okra flower is very pretty, caseynet.

Here is what I hope is Hoary Vervain growing in the far north of our pasture. There is some along the road as well. If it is, I will try to gather some seeds.

Beautiful vervain. It sort of looks like blue vervain rather than hoary vervain but both are worthy native plants. I can not really see the leaf detail so look here for excellent leaf photos.

Verbena stricta (Hoary Vervain): Minnesota Wildflowers

Verbena hastata (Blue Vervain): Minnesota Wildflowers

[Gloria]

Willow, I agree the carolina wild petunia is not aggressive but will self seed. Easily enough to control. It has been growing in the Lurie and some years appears more heavily than others. Weather and overall coverage of other plantings make a difference.

[will-o-wisp]

thanks Gloria and Rebek for the wild petunia information.

I have lots of purples blooming now.
anise hyssop, Liatris, wild petunia, ironwood

and pinks or violets- phlox and purple coneflower and swamp milkweed

whites- 2 types of mt. mints, rattlesnake master, coneflower and liatris and the red twig dogwood seems always to have a bloom or 2 somewhere

Reds-Monarda, Lonicera sempervirens

yellows and oranges- coreopsis and butterfly weed, Lonicera sempervirens

Not a lot of butterflies but loads of bees and small flying insects.
and a few DeKays snakes and plenty of birds.

No pictures until someone shows me how to download from my phone.
The front garden does look well groomed and pretty for a native plant garden
especially since I managed to include some really large plants like ironweed and joe pye weed with tall asters and some grasses.(switch and little blue).

[Birding Bunch]

Originally Posted by Gloria

Beautiful vervain. It sort of looks like blue vervain rather than hoary vervain but both are worthy native plants. I can not really see the leaf detail so look here for excellent leaf photos.

Verbena stricta (Hoary Vervain): Minnesota Wildflowers

Verbena hastata (Blue Vervain): Minnesota Wildflowers

Thank you... tomorrow I'll go out and get a closer look. My! It is summer again and I am such a wimp.

I braved picking beans this morning and now my pressure canner has to go kaputs. I have 7 quarts in it that I do not know what to do with. I am hoping to get a sealing ring later tonight and just can the rest tomorrow. Not ideal, but it will have to do.

[rockerBOO]

will-o-wisp, few options on sending from your phone.

On the phone, there should be a "share" option. In here there are many places you can share it with. Simplest might be to email it to yourself. On Android, they have the option to share with "Google Drive", which you can see on your computer (drive.google.com).

[Rebek56]

These shots were taken three weeks ago, but the views are still basically the same. The first photo is the "hell strip" planting along the street; the second is the view of the savanna garden from my favorite front yard chair.

[EllenW]

very nice Rebek