Garden Centres are fun

I went shopping today, just to see what fun things I could find.

We lost some plants in our large raised bed last summer. It gets full sun for a lot of the day, and during the August drought, when some of us were on vacation and it didn't get tended thorougly, we lost some Rudbeckia, Echinacea, an exotic columbine, and a couple of other things. So, I went to find some drought resistant perennials, with interesting foliage as well as flowers. And also, something to replace the Six Hills Giant Nepeta that has really taken over the front garden.

For the hot dry raised bed, I found Rose Campion and Penstemon (a pink one, I can't remember the variety).

To replace the Nepeta, I bought Physostegia virginiana 'Miss Manners'(Obedient Plant), and this variety is said to be well behaved. I chose it because it flowers in summer and fall, and that bed has lots of spring and early summer flowers. Also because it says that the flower stalks are strong and upright. Always a good quality. I'll take photos before and after replacement.

In addition, I fell in love with Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Taurus'(Mountain Fleeceflower), which looks very hearty, and also flowers in late summer. And Sidalcea 'Little Princess' (Prairie mallow).

I love our raised bed, because we are just filling it with plants that take our fancy, no plan other than a huge variety of colour, texture, and flowering season. So the Rose Campion, Fleeceflower, and Beard tongue are going in there. I think that the Prairie Mallow will go in the front bed, but a section that is looking a bit empty now, compared to the side that is so full that the tall perennials are now holding each other up.

I also bought a lot of shade annuals for Dad's place. I'll be planting them tomorrow, while he's off being entertained for Father's Day by my brother's family.