Viewing comments posted by Njiris

This unedited photo shows the color more orange than it actually appears to the naked eye — has a salmon tint in most situations. The plant does put on a nice display, however.

There are multiple colors available in this series.

The Frizzle Sizzle series of Violas is one of my favorites. They are floriferous, very ruffled and among the most fragrant pansies I have come across.

Tropical Hibiscus Imperial Dragon was a new addition to my garden this year. It arrived on June 1st in a 4" pot. Every year I like to plant a single hibiscus on each side of my front door. Instead of the same-old / same old local garden center variety I thought I'd try something different this year. In looking through internet offerings, I located this one, available from Logee's. I am an "orange" flower fan and this one caught my fancy.
When the plants arrived, I was somewhat disappointed - not that they were poor specimens, but I wondered how long it would take for them to "put on a show". The first bloom was August 19th -- and I have been in love with this plant ever since.
The flowers open very bright orange/red with a gold edge. As it ages through the day, the colors darken and the center turns to a vibrant purple shade -- really spectacular!
After all of the comments I have received from everyone who has seen it -- I am so glad I moved beyond my usual comfort zone and took a "gamble" on this beautiful plant. I am definitely planning on bringing it inside. With a little luck, I can only dream about what a full-sized version of the plant will look like next summer.

Each year, this is the third, my clematis Blue Light manages to surpass my expectations. I have read that clematis aren't happy with cold wet springtime weather. After a mild winter, this spring tried to balance things out a bit with many cool and windy nights. And though the annual plants I set out, even the ones after Mother's Day this year were not happy campers, my Clematis Blue Light plants have had their best year yet!
They started blooming with the irises and are still going strong even though only a few of the late irises remain in flower.
Have posted 2 photos taken today, 6/4/16. The one showing the ongoing display, the 2nd showing the most double flower we've had to date.

Thelma is a streptocarpus hybridized by Kleszczynski from Poland. I first became aware of streps when a local nursury recommended one to take to my mother-in-law who was in rehab at the time. In spite of really adverse conditions, it survived and came home when she did.
It managed to come back, thrive, bloom and bloom and convince me to start a strep collection.
I found Lyndon Lyon on line with an excellent selection. Telma is one of my first new acquisitions. In all of my years of gardening, I have never received new plants wrapped as well. The plants came in 2 1/2 inch pots. Telma proceeded to put up a small bloom stalk almost immediately.
I am very pleased with the longevity of the flowers. I have posted "age" to show how very well they hold up. Hope to share more photos as my collection grows and flowers.

This is a new offering from Hort Couture. It resembles a Johnny-Jump-Up but does not get as leggy. The flowers are smaller in size ... And there are more of them. This photo was taken mid June and despite the 90 degree temps, it is still flowering away. Should have taken a photo about a month ago and it would have been more impressive. Anxious to see how it performs over time.

Aside from the attractive foliage, both in terms of color gradations and patterns, another interesting aspect of Heucheras is the actual overall appearance of the plant in different seasons. Just as the chameleon will change color based on background, so too the Heuchera will change (often much more than just color) based on the season.
Sometimes this can make it difficult to identify a specific plant. Just look at all of the wonderful photos posted on this page by ATP members. And they are all of the same plant growing under different conditions and photographed in different seasons.

The Kong series of coleus is truly spectacular. The Kong Rose shown in my photo was growing in full sun in the spring. Unfortunately, as it heated up, the plant began to fade and melt. While some "sun coleuses" can thrive in full sun, the large-leaved Kong series performs best with more shade.

Lobularia Frosty Knight is a Proven Winner introduction. It has been outstanding in my garden this summer. The 2 plants (each photo is of a single plant) are immense. The specimen overlapping the stones is over 3 feet across. The one overhanging the whiskey barrel touches the ground. They have been untouched by deer or insects in my NJ garden. On performance alone, this is a 5-star winner. The attractive variegated foliage is an added bonus.

I live in central NJ and high humidity is a problem which affects most zinnias badly. Fungus and mildew shut down most zinnias just as they are approaching their peak. After years of frustration I had just about given up on zinnias when I found Zahara. They are virtually immune to these problems. They outlast just about all of the summer annuals I grow and are still spectacular through September. My highest recommendation.
Deer are also a problem for me. And while they occasionally munch, the Zaharas are not a favorite and the quick blooming plants quickly respond to the trim and fill back up with flowers.

Solar Eclipse is a very prolific grower that tolerates full sun. Colors can get dark, but it also shows some excellent colors. Thrives both in the ground and in pots.

While the photos showing red coloring are most attractive, this is not the usual appearance of this plant when growing in the garden.