Callibrachoa - a terrific annual for containers!

I planted several varieties again this year. I kept track of what I planted in which pot, so I could decide which ones I liked best. Well, I have several favorites!

Callibrachoas are easy-care. You don't need to dead-head them. They don't get so leggy that they need to be trimmed. They do like water, so I've set my pots up on a drip line for daily watering during the dry months.

Whiteflies invaded a couple plants (just one last year and one this year, coincidentally they were both yellow). I did a combination of blasting with the hose and trimming off the heavily infested branches. That seemed to contain them well enough.

Superbells 'Dreamsicle' and 'Blue'
(Superbells seem to have larger flowers than Minifamous)

Minifamous 'Apricot Red-eye' - a new favorite!

Minifamous 'White' and 'Purple'

Silene regia 'Prairie Fire' (Royal Catchfly)

The plant that most people have asked me about this year is Silene regia 'Prairie Fire' (Royal Catchfly). It's cardinal flowers are one of the favorites of the hummingbirds. Remembering how it fell over last year and had lots of broken stems, I staked it well this spring. It responded well and grew twice as tall!

Last year's most asked about plant was the Dierama pulcherrimum (Angel's Fishing Rod), shown in foreground of the photo (it has finished blooming).

A new hardy fuchsia - 'Sunshine'

I have about 20 varieties of hardy fuchsias, mostly small varieties that fit well into the garden - and are not bullies. Sunshine is a new plant I got this summer and still have in a pot. A sweet name for a sweet little fuchsia!

Hardy fuchsias (VH or H3) do well in our western Washington climate. I have most of mine planted in the ground, which provides more cold protection than pots. Fuchsias like water. Most hardy fuchsia varieties like to be in the sun. The varieties with yellow/chartreuse leaves, like Genii and Golden Herald, prefer part-shade.

Brugmansia - Angel's Trumpets

Posting photos of some of my Angel's Trumpets taken today. I also want to remind you of how poisonous all parts of the plants are. We should wear gloves when touching the plants, such as when plucking off dead leaves and spent flowers (and/or wash our hands after touching plants).

They get watered daily from a drip system we set up, but I often need to give them extra water, as they are very thirsty plants. They are also heavy feeders.

Hosting garden gatherings

I hosted the Burien/Des Moines Master Gardener clinic group for a potluck meeting on July 23. Tonight I host the Marine Hills Garden Club for another potluck. I'd better go finish my tidying up to get ready!

August 20, I will host "Garden Gals", the Chinook District horticulture study group for a lunchtime potluck and our annual planning meeting.

Of course, we have friends and family over regularly for fun times around the pool. All these gatherings motivate me to keep the garden in shape!