Re: A New Gardening Idea

L* J* G*

>Ok, Ok, Doreen,

We actually do dahlias here in South Philly and don't usually have to 
dig them partially because we have to mulch everything in life under 
our gardening license. That is not to say that we pinch the life out 
of them to enter in the Harvest Show. We've actually won ribbons for 
some of them and almost always use them in our 'floral bounty' 
entries.

And our roses are still flowering. We just don't do tea roses much 
because they get diseases forever. 'Betty Prior' Blooms from early 
spring til December sometimes. You will have to prune it, however. 
Lying catalogs say it gets 3 ft. tall, but not if you leave it alone. 
Ours is like 6 ft tall at the moment.

However, people also do cannas which looked terrific at the 25th 
anniversary bash on Saturday. Our zinnias and marigolds always look 
great at this time of year. So does our burning bush, and I'm 
especially fond of pinepple sage which is at its floriferous best 
just about now.

Sedums are great, too. Forestfarm has a list that goes on forever. 
(We've won ribbons for ours.) Asters are lovely (We got a certificate 
of merit for ours, but I did have wash the mildew off the leaves for 
the entry.)

I have a ton of monkshood in the yard that's just about to flower. If 
you don't mind digging it up (or just pulling it) when it begins 
taking over the universe, it's tall and wonderful and is good in 
vases, too. Of course, it is poisonous in all parts; so gardens with 
untrained kiddies might want to skip it. Fall clematis is nice, but 
tends to reseed and take over small universes.

You can also plant sunflowers in late July for fall bloom. There are 
so many around these days that it might even be worth having a 
special space for them.

Of course, we mostly have vegetables and the flowers are a lovely 
extra, especially for the bees.

There's lots lots more.

Libby

-- 
				Philadelphia, PA

                        USDA zone 7A    Sunset zone 32

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