I’m wearing a rayon skirt right now because my shorts are in the wash. The darn thing is so slippery that my laptop is sliding toward my stomach! It’s not easy to type on a laptop that is sliding, let me tell you.
I love coneflowers. They are old-fashioned country garden flowers and they’re are all over my garden. By the entrance to the porch:
Extra-tall coneflowers are on the other side of the porch:
There are various other patches of coneflowers that have self-seeded. Don’t you love when that happens?
I was looking at the big garden bed the other day, trying to figure out what to do with the relatively bare patches in the middle of the bed. Ding! Why not some hardy coneflowers? So I trotted off to my favorite local nursery to see if they had any left.
Am I the only person out there who visits a nursery at this time of year and gets sad? Everything is picked over, dying, root-bound and generally neglected looking. I wandered around, talking to the plants. I was the only person there, so there was no one to observe this behavior. What happens to them? Do they get tossed on some pile of trash? I want to find homes for them. I did see a very neglected New Dawn rose that would need severe pruning. I didn’t buy it, but now I’m thinking twice about that decision. Should I go back and get it?
Anyway, I managed to find two “White Swan” coneflowers and two coneflowers that are part of a “Cone-fection” series, called “Milkshake.” They are also a creamy color and very pretty, though they haven’t bloomed yet.
Today, in the sweltering humidity, I planted them.
There’s another milkshake coneflower to the left, on the other side of the stepping stones. While I was there, I fixed some of the stepping stones that had moved out of place – the garden has a sharp slope and they tend to slide downward.
I know it will take a few years, but my hope is that they will fill in those bare spots and add a dash of white to the garden. Just like the David phlox that is blooming right now at the far end of the big garden bed:
Their scent is heavenly.
Should I go back and buy that bedraggled New Dawn rose?
Go for it Claudia! You know you want to!
I love the coneflowers too..I planted some from seed this year and of course there are no flowers..maybe next year. I love going to Lowe’s – I call it the critcal care section..and buy the flowers like you did. I love bringing them back to life.
Yes, go back and get the other plant.
This is the time of year I go hunting for sell off plants. I picked up a good sized lavender and a pussywillow for next to nothing yesterday. You’d better go back and give that plant a second chance in life! ~ Maureen
I know, with your tender loving care, that that poor bedraggled rose will perk up and be beautiful for you..
You have a lovely garden.. It looks like you’ve had a lot more rain that we have here in my “neck of the woods” in Va.
Go get the rose and have a great day planting it.
Charlotte
I love coneflowers but my only time trying to grow some they didn’t live. I may just have to try again. Oh get the Rose…it needs to be saved!
Yes!
My New Dawn rose did not do well this summer. Of course, my coneflowers don’t look too healthy right now either. The early and unrelenting heat this summer I guess was not the best thing. I would love to have some of the white coneflowers though. I think they would really “light up” the garden. My foot problem this summer is also keeping me from doing what I need to do outside this season. Looks like you are really enjoying your little shangrila!~Hugs, Patti
Only if they give you a discount for saving it;-)
nancyr
OMG..You are so lucky..I have planted at least a dozen coneflowers over the years and I only have one plant that has survived through the winter. I had so many varieties and really pretty colors…The survivor is Sorta orange..not my favorite…Loved your pictures..
Sounds like that New Dawn rose needs your attention. I say, go get it!
Oh, please, please, please go back and get it. Do you know I searched high and low here for ND roses and not a one to be had. I ended up sending away for two of them. We hardly ever go away and have anyone mow…well, we did..guess what? They mowed OVER the two ND roses. I am trying desperately to save them…we’ll see.
Your coneflowers are gorgeous- I love those, too- xo Diana
How much did they want for the bedraggled rose? That is how I make my decision! I adore white coneflowers. Since I haven’t been outside to see them in nearly 3 weeks, I have no idea how mine are doing, planted this year also.
Brenda
Yes!! Get the rose…but they have better discounted it!!
I love the white phlox!!
Thinking about Riley.
You’re not the only one at the garden centre. I bought another box of annuals yesterday. I’m also heading back tomorrow for a hanging basket. I’ve made friends with my favourite garden centre and when I go in August, she always gives me free bedraggled plants that would go on the compost pile. She knows that I’ll keep them alive, J
By all means Claudia! I salvaged three New Dawns from a neighbors beds three years ago and two of them made it although they are not hardy in my zone 3/4. They die all the way back to the ground every winter, but make it back to bloom. They will never be the mighty climbers they are in warmer gardens, but I could see them go to the trash : )
I love cone flowers too and they are just starting to bloom a little here. I love my little volunteers and transplant them every where.
I have called all of my friends to come and get some as well AND the daylilies. I can’t bear to throw them out.
hugs from here…
Hello Claudia, came across your blog and enjoyed very much, Nice gardens and love Coneflowers to, beautiful,glad you bought the White Swan and Milkshake Coneflowers. Please go back and save the rose,it will be forever gratefull I`m sure.The white Phlox is so pretty, Blessings Francine.
Love those coneflowers, I have the standard hot pink with orange center.. these are so pretty!…and go back and get the rose or you’ll wish you did for a while to come.
Why YES, you should!!!! Move along now! LOVE your garden, Claudia. Coneflowers are some of my favs, too.
xxo
Yes go save it ! I too find the nursery’ atmosphere…too suggestive of another year gone already!
We planted some rain garden plants last week to help us with flooding issues…and its bone dry this year!
Planted phlox and cardinal flower. The phlox are shocked and bloomed. The cardinals are about to bloom! Hooray a new bloom in July!
Absolutely! That rose is calling your name :)
Yes, go back and ask if they will discount it any since it needs pruning. This is the time of year they will mark them down so they don’t have to tend them.
Love, love , love the white coneflowers. White shows up so well at night. It’s such a treat to see a white bloom when I take Chili outside in the wee small hours of the night. If there’s a pleasant scent, that’s an added bonus!
Definitely go back. I bet you can get it for a great price. I love your cone flowers. :)