More Information on Salvia Pitcher's Blue Sage

This is interesting! In one of my recent posts I showed this photo of Salvia Pitcher's Blue Sage (flopping on ground) and could not identify the yellow plant. I had an idea it was some kind of a false sunflower. This weekend I received an email newsletter from High Country Gardens, and would you believe it? Both of these plants were featured. It was great to get some information on them, as I was unable to find anyone at the nursery who could fill me in. Here are the photos and information as they appeared in their newsletter:

Salvia pitcheri 'Grandiflora'

Salvia pitcheri 'Grandiflora' (Pitcher's Blue Sage) is a blue-flowered prairie native, tall, lanky and a very showy fall flower. It likes well-drained soil with not too much clay. Sometimes it gets a little iron deficient in alkaline soil, so work in some soil sulfur at planting time. Pinch the tops a few times during June and early July to improve the plants shape and increase the number of flowers. This plant calls for a little extra work, but well worth the effort. Zones 4-9.

Helianthus maximiliana 'Santa Fe' is one of the last perennials to bloom in the fall and certainly one of the showiest. The large golden-yellow flowers are tightly stacked on the top 3-4 feet of the stem and the large deep green symmetrically arranged leaves make an attractive hedge many months before the plant blooms. It likes any soil. Rabbits and deer don't like it, butterflies do. Zones 4-9.

It looks to me that the Pitcher's Blue Sage would be possible to grow here if I could plant it with other plants that could help hold it up. It's bright blue color would certainly add a bright spot, especially when combined with the yellow. I think I would prefer more of a gold than a bright yellow. Maybe I will consider this plant now that I know more about it. Sounds like a challenge, for sure.

High Country Gardens Visit - Part 3

Here is the entry to the Country Garden. Very impressive!

I'm not a fan of vinca. Our front and back yards were full of it when we bought our house ten years ago. I've taken out a lot but it keeps on going. I really dislike trying to rake through it and cut it back in the spring. There is, however, some varigated vinca along the back fence that does look nice and grows where nothing else will. Now, this display I really liked! Probably because the whole area was dedicated to it and it's beautiful under this tree. Very striking.

I didn't write this down but believe it is Hummingbird Mint Orange. I have Orange Carpet and it is not as upright. Think I like this upright version more than the ground cover I have.

There were still many stunning plants in bloom. Lots of salvias and penstemons. Sorry that I didn't write them all down but I was getting pretty tired out by now. I noticed that they did stake them here. The other thing I noticed is how many of the varieties were repeated in the Xeriscape Garden. It shows how the plants can work in many different themes.

Here is my first purchase. I thought it would be fun to place it on the ground and put sand and water in it for the butterflies. It would be great out front where all the butterflies are, but after I got home I realized that it would probably get stolen there. I don't have many butterflies in the backyard, so will think of what to do with it there. Anyway... I thought it was so pretty! Too bad it wasn't on sale like a lot of their pottery was.

Okay... here it is. My cart! It doesn't look like much here, but this is what I got:

1 - Verbena Homestead Purple
1 - unmarked Heuchera
2 - Agastache Cana 'Purple Pygmy' - gorgeous color
2 - Agastache 'Ava'
3 - Hyssopos officinallis (deep blue/pink)
1 - Agastache rugosum Korean hyssop (foiliage is looking purple - beautiful)
3 - Stachys coccinea, Scarlet Hedgnettle
2 - Knautia macedonica 'Mars Midget' (have tried to grow these before)
4 - Sedum spectabile 'Neon'
6 - Mahonia repens Colorado creeping holly (very small plants on on sale!)
1 - Gallardia aristata 'Amber Wheels' blanket flower (my husband's choice)
1 - Pulsatilla vulgaris 'Rote Crocke' (Red Bells Pasque Flower)
1 - Achillea soroica 'Serbian yarrow' (ground cover with white flowers)

While I was there I also picked up another bag of Yum Yum Mix and Yum Yum Winterizer, as well as some horticultural corn meal.

These containers had just been planted for fall. Lots of good ideas. The deep blue one is $300!!

Here is my collection back home and ready to be planted, along with a few other plants I already had. Thank goodness for the warm weather we have had so far this fall. Many days still in the 80's and no frost (yet). That may change this weekend, so I worked hard to get everything planted. Whew! The planting was so hard. It was difficult trying to dig into ground that has been through a hot summer and needed a jackhammer. A few times I asked myself, "What were you thinking?? It's so much easier to dig in the spring!" What was nice, though, was being able to see where I actually had room to plant, since everything is as big as it will get. In the spring it looks like I have all sorts of room and I end up getting things too close. Now.... if they will just make it through the winter. So far everything is doing well and the plants love the cool nights. I also added Yum Yum Winterizer to each of the plantings. I'll take some photos next year when they are (hopefully) more mature.

I enjoyed my trip very much, especially seeing plants that I've only seen in catalogs.

My Visit to High Country Gardens - Part II

My next stop was the Perennial section, but along the way my eyes were drawn to this walkway featuring furniture, firepits, fountains, etc. So... on my way...

I enjoyed looking over almost every perennial, even those I didn't want. Just to feast my eyes on all these plants and let my imagination run wild with what I could do with many of them.

Their signage is very good and gives most of the information needed to make a decision. I also liked the height of their shelving. I didn't have to bend down to read the labels. What a relief!

Next stop was the annual greenhouse. Talk about color! The first view took my breath away.

So many choices. How I would love to do some containers with these beauties.

And just look at this Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender!' I believe the sign said that it has been here for three years.

I think they did a good job of arranging plants and colors in pleasing designs. Certainly did catch your eye.

Also, many interesting displays and arrangements. Lots of ideas to work with.

Look for my next post when I will show what I bought! Right now I must get outside and plant the rest of them. The perennials I have already planted are doing well and seem to enjoy the cooler weather. Much different than when I have to plant them in early summer and chance a hot spell right after I finish. Then they just droop their little heads and take a long time to recover.

Salutations from Santa Fe!

Finally, I was able to fulfill my dream of visiting High Country Gardens in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I have ordered plants from them for years and have wanted to visit their demonstration gardens, but family matters have kept us from traveling for the last three years. So, you can see why this was such a treat for me last week.

Their "official" tours had ended for the season, however, I had just as much fun (although not as informative) wandering around on my own. My first impression was how much shade there was in the Xeriscape garden. One thinks of a xeric garden as baking in full sun all of the time (like my hellstrips), but that's not the case. It was amazing to see how many of the plants were flourishing in filtered shade from the many trees.

My very next impression was how close together everything was planted...just the way I love it! This time of the year most of the plantings were quite large and some were lodging (a nice way to say falling over). And there was NO staking that I could see! Everything is so close that neighbors were holding up neighbors and looked very happy and secure having each other to lean on. The downside of visiting this time of the year is that there was no one around to answer questions or identify plants, many of which had long ago covered up their signage. Not wanting to disturb them I chose to just enjoy most of them for their beauty without knowing their identities. For example, there were many different varieties of beautiful salvias blooming. Many of these are not perennial in my part of the country so I just walked by and let my mouth water.

The amount of shade at the time of morning we were there, coupled with the bright sunlight, drove my camera crazy on it's automatic setting. I love the blue cast it put on the next photo.

I expected more of an arid look, so was surprised by the lushness of this setting.

Here I was delighted to find the plant that has been haunting me for the last couple of years as I tried unsuccessfully to grow it. That's Salvia Pachypylla, Flowered Purple Sage. You can imagine how I oohed and aaaaw'd all over the place! The light silver-green foliage complements the lovely pink-blue blossoms. These photos did start me wondering though...what kind of companion would you put with these colors? Would they clash with my other plants? We'll see. I do have one trying to hang on with it's dear life. I planted it with a Sunset Hyssop with it's lavender and salmon blooms. I hope it makes it through the winter.

I've never seen so many different Agastaches and Hyssops. I'm sorry that I can't identify them, but I sure did enjoy seeing them.

Now, HERE was a very interesting plant! The "bluest" I have ever seen! It's so blue that it almost hurts your eyes and wow, does it stand out! It's Salvia Pitcher's Sage. One thing, as you can see, is that it really flops. I noticed that they usually paired it with yellow. They told me that the one above that is completely on the ground "probably should be staked" and that the reason it was so "floppy" was that this area is not watered often. I sure would love to have this plant, but have made a vow not to get any more "floppy" plants because of all the wind we have. Who knows though, maybe next year it will be on my order list as it is difficult to resist this beauty.

Here is one plant I did purchase. A Serbian Yarrow, which is a ground cover. I loved the color of the foliage and they had only one left. So, I had to get it, the poor, lonely little thing.

Off into the sunset (well... sunrise, really) for now. Next post I will show the perennial sales area, the annual greenhouse and the cottage garden. There was so much to see that my eyes couldn't take it all in! Believe me, they tried though. And just wait and see the plants I got. Just hope I can finish getting in the ground VERY soon before it cools any more.

Astonishing Agastache 'Ava'

I have received some comments asking about the 'Ava' Agastache that I featured with the sleeping bee. Since this is one of my VERY favorite plants (gosh, what isn't) I decided to do a post dedicated to it.


This is the third year for this plant. It is getting shadowed by a large Russian Sage next to it, which I keep cutting back so that 'Ava' can get more sun.


Two seasons ago I purchased four plants from High Country Gardens. The 'Ava' was their 2005 introduction and they are their specialty. I couldn't resist when I saw the photo in the catalog. The first year, of course, they pretty much slept, but the next year (last year) they were spectacular!! I was in love for sure. Last year, I'm afraid to say, they didn't do so well. Do you think it might have been the 1-2' snow drift that covered the area for weeks on end?? Huh? You think? It is highly unusual for snow to stay on the ground that long in this area. But then, it certainly was an unusual winter. I lost two of the plants. But I love them so much that I'm going to replace them next year.

'Ava' seems to be a bit temperamental, but as the catalog states, "This plant takes two to three growing seasons to reach mature size and will live for many years when happy." They go on to say what it is that makes them happy. Being buried under 2 feet of snow for weeks on end wasn't one of them. They are fairly expensive ($9.29 each for 5" deep pots). I think they are worth every cent. I really think they would continue to do well if not for so much snow. Also, some of the Russian Sage are invading their territory, so I need to do something about this. But I love the combination of the two. I am going to order some of their "Yum Yum Mix" winterizer fertilizer to help them out this year. I love these plants so much that I feel they are worth it.

This is 'Ava' in her second year (2006). She was spectacular. Unfortunately both she and the beautiful Rabbit Brush behind her succumbed to heavy snow drifts last year. I was very sad to seem them go. It was just one of those bad years.

Another view of 'Ava' in all her beauty before the winter storms. This plant remains lovely way into Fall if it can withstand the winter. (Two out of my original four survived).

And here she is in 2006 with Russian Sage (Perovskia) and Sedum 'Autumn Joy.'

This "vignette" from last year (2006) includes the Russian Sage, Agastach 'Ava,' Agastache 'Sunset Hyssop' and Sedum 'Autumn Joy,' together with other companion plants.