Penstemon

they're very pretty - I want a few more purple colours

The lady stall-holder told me that the flowers are, 'truly enormous' !

...but she lied to me about the phlox...which is actually erysimum.....! lolol :S

I love these - they don't like the cold here - although I bought another last year and I was guaranteed this would make it through. It has survived - but I reckon its because it hasn't been cold here :)

Hmm...after this last winter here and a so far no show, I'm beginning to think that the other two in my garden didn't make it... :(

What sort have you got that was guaranteed, Scottish?

Really liking this but exhausted going thru all of your pics from today!!!
How's the new budget going??
;)))

What budget???? :/

LMAO!!! :))))

Budget is becoming the new F word me thinks :))
I've got Penstemon Southgate Gem. Don't know anything else about them. The girl in the GC told me that they were very hardy. They are a bright pink.
I seem to remember reading, probably on here, that the narrower the leaves the more hardy the plant is.

That's good then, Scottish...they look fine to me...
...but then, I've got no yard-stick...! lol! :)

This reminds me of my penstemon 'purple passion'..........Glad the budget is going well!

Lol! OH came home and saw everything I'd done, Annie...and it worked!!

He's decided that he would like to see the garden finished (as if??) and mature (ish) when he comes home again...so the restrictions have not been lifted - but somewhat eased (at least that's the way I'm interpreting the situation)! ;)

Well that's how I read it too! Lol x

;)))) x

I would say you are exactly right there Karen! lol.....I can't grow these you know. Shirley sent me a rooted cutting last autumn and it sat in a pot all winter looking miserable. I put it in the ground a couple of weeks ago and it promptly gave up the ghost. I have never successfully grown one ever. Weird eh?

If you can't get them to grow, Karen, it must just be the cold ground, like Scottish says...mind you, you both live on the East Coast...could there be something in that?

My one like this is growing in the most rubbish soil (clay, builders waste and sand) in the front garden. It gets baked to death in summer and is never fed, but it is huge and happy!

Well, that's sounding pretty good for my garden, Annie...I've got all those ingredients...so, here's hoping! :)