They look wonderful! Wish I had some of that horse poo here!

If I wasn't too lazy I would get out and collect cow poo.

That must be some huge rock! Love the giganteum shasta daisies - are they flopping for you being that tall?

My goodness! Luther Burbank would be sooo proud of you.

Here is a link that might be useful: Luther Burbank

My shasta daisies are about nearly 5 feet tall. It surprised me because it wasn't as tall in the second year. Now that's it about 6 years, it's grown quite a bit.

I also use composted manure as my sole source of fertlizer.

Ianna

Shasta Daisies, another favorite of mine. I bought Summer Snowball last year to add to the collection, besides this one I have Aglaia, Cobham Gold, Esther Reid, Sunshine, Snow Bank and a few others. Still looking for Whirral Supreme which I lost some years back, I never see this one for sale anywhere darn, it was a favorite of mine. I thought I had Highland White Dream but comparing mine to pixs on the web I think mine was labeled wrong when I bought it.
Like others I'm seeing my Shasta's growing taller this year then they ever have, Ester Reid in particular, this year she's flopping.
Shasta's are great for giving that punch of white. Eventually I hope to have mine spread throughout the garden. Like Echinaceas, the flowers come in different forms and now some have quite a yellow tinge when they first open.

Annette

Gldno1 -thank you! I am so amazed at the size of these things. I will forever be a supporter of Poo Fertilizer cow or otherwise. Worth the effort for the returns. :-)

Gottagarden -yes that is some rock indeed. Had to be brought in with a large track hoe. The daisies do flop but really just the ones on the outsides. I figure that is because they desperately need to be divided and thinned. I can accept flopping from a three foot plant that grows to six. I would flop too. LOL

Plantmaven -thank you for the link! That was very informative and gives me a much deeper appreciation for the daisy than the little seed packet ever could have and what a nice compliment from you. Wow, it took him 17 years to develop this flower. He did an amazing job of creating this beauty. I am glad he did. :-)

Ianna -it is interesting that your daisies also grew so large. We must be on to something here. I expected these to be three feet and they are huge! Did you have to make some changes because of their unexpected height?

Annette -you have varieties of daisy that I didn't even know about. You are right about the Shastas giving that punch of white. I especially love them just when the bunch is starting to bloom. They remind me of stars at dusk just starting to twinkle. What a happy flower they are.

Okay, not fair. lol. They are beautiful! Last week I bought a pot of them, already in bloom, about 8" tall, and planted them. Now they're dead. WHY? I've never had a plant die THAT fast! And I read they are one of the easiest plants for new gardeners.

We also have a large rock similar to yours that's sitting on the edge of the patio, and we're thinking about "rolling" it to the front flower bed. Your rock adds so much to your garden!

Oakleyok, when you planted your pot of daisies did you happen to see what color the roots were? If they were brownish not white perhaps although the plant itself still looked good the roots were dead from overwatering.

Blueflowersun, you'd be surprised how many different varieties of Shasta Daisies there are. Last winter just for something to do I did a little bit of hunting around for how many different varieties I could come up with, the list is now over 40, tall ones, short ones, full doubles like Summer Snowball, anemone centered, semi-doubles, singles and now yellow tinged like Sunshine and Broadway Lights. Anyone looking for a particular height it's a good idea to read the label, check the height it will grow to, a lot of plants sold have been treated with a growth retardant, these of course will revert back to their normal height the following year.
One of the varieties I mentioned above should have been Snowdrift not Snow Bank, not that it matters LOL.

Annette

Oakleyok your right that isn't fair! I can't imagine you are to blame for their death. Annette is no doubt correct that they were probably already on the way out when you got them.
!! "rolling it" !! I don't know about your rock but mine isn't rolling anywhere without a strong earthquake. LOL It's four and half feet tall by six feet wide. My neighbor used his track hoe to push it. Is that what you mean? Am I the only one without a handy track hoe in the garage? LOL

Wow Annette it sounds like you might have a lot of great daisy varieties in your garden. Do you have some pictures you could show us here? I would be interested in seeing them as I am sure others would also.
I am wondering if all daisies are water hounds or not. We have been historically dry here this year so I am thinking of it even more.

I love the pictures. It looks so carefree. But wow, those are tall daisies, lol!

I love all kinds of daisies. Not great pics but the link below shows some of the Michaelmas Daisies I had last year. Lost some to the wicked winter we had, most were imported from the UK and can't be replaced :o(. Will see what I have in the photo album on Shasta's and Echinaceas, don't have too many pictures of those yet.

Annette

Here is a link that might be useful: M. Daisies

I put some more pix of some of my Daisies in the Gallery if anyone would like to have a look see.

Annette

Oh Annette those are wonderful! I love those colors. I would like to have more colors than the white Shastas and Princess. They were so prolific though that I have actually had a hard time giving them away. I would have to harden my heart and compost some to make room. Don't know if I can do it yet. LOL
This past winter was a beast wasn't it?! I am East of Seattle in the foothills and we had 3' of snow over Christmas Eve alone and temps of 11 degrees. I know that's nothing for the Midwesters and Easteners but for us in the PNW it was a bear.

Hi, everyone, I'm new in here. Hope it is okay to jump in like this!

It's good to know others have had HUGE daisies this year, too. I thought I did something or got a wrong packet as I started the plants from seed last year. The package said about 3 feet, but the daisies didn't READ the package and shot up to 5 feet or better. Some are in full sun, some in a little more shade, and strangely the shaded ones are more upright than the full sun ones. I thought it would be the reverse.

The sunny ones that flopped the absolute worst are in my rose garden. Well, it USED to be my rose garden. It now looks like a snowdrift with a few vertical accents peeking out where they can.

Problem is we have a Historical homes garden tour coming here the end of the month, and I am not sure what to do to neaten them up a bit. Anyone got any suggestions??

I empathize with the not used to so cold a winter comment -- I spent most of my life in zone 6b-7a then moved here to 5b. Last winter we hit -18 with a -36 wind chill, which I have to admit was quite an, ahem, experience. Thank God for whoever invented the wood stove!!!

Thanks in advance for any assistance on the flopsies issue!

Welcome to Cottage Oh... as to the flopping issue, I have found the most cosmetic way to stake/support flopping plants after they have taken a nose dive is to use twiggy branches pushed in and around them. They seem to disappear among the stems and flowers, what bits show aren't an eyesore. Now to find the twiggy branches :o).

Annette

OGF welcome from one semi newbi to another. I also grew mine from seed and checked the seed packet several times to see if I misread something. LOL

Beautiful pictures! Love the rock and the way you tied a water feature into it.

Thanks Proudgm. The rock/water feature was a fluke to be sure. My neighbor just pushed it down the driveway with his trackhoe one day completely unannounced. Thought I needed it. LOL Well what was I going to say? Water feature it is then. LOL
He was right though it really balances the space and I love the little pond.

I am soooooooo getting horse poo! ;o) hehe

My Shasta 'alaska' are about 3 feet... about 1/2 flop, the rest stand. While my son mows, I walk ahead of him to hold them up. Funny. He was away on a trip for the last week, so I didnt have anyone to help when I mowed... I grabbed my staple gun and twine (forgive me!) stapped one end to the tree, walked around the daisy and conflower and stapped again until I had them all 'up'.

YOURS LOOK BE U T FUL! You have a talent for placing it all... very nice bluesunflower :o)

Bronwyn

My daisies just popping and NOT flopping.....yet!
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Once they are all a bloom, the flopping started and this is the result of a frustrated mom with a staple gun :o)

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It must truly be the year of the Daisy. While mine are not overly tall, inspite of the "poo", they have self seeded by the hundreds. I literally have one are that is so filled with daisy's that they appear to be a ground cover rather than individual plants. But what ever, I'm still scattering the seeds of the flowers that have finished blooming.

Love the pictures!

MeMo

Thanks for the welcome and suggestions, all!

We have plenty of trees and thus plenty of twigs hanging around. I think I may combine the two suggestions -- push in the twigs then use some brown twine to cinch them up a bit to offer a little extra support. I can call it my daisy corset since it IS a historical homes tour I'm doing this for, LOL.

The two plants I got from a nursery in 9/07 are short as anything, even a little shorter than last year. It's only the seed grown ones that shot up like that.

I've heard "Becky" is a reliable one that does not flop. Has anyone had any experience with this one?

Lovely pics by the way. ;-)

Thanks again!!

Bluesunflower, I haven't done anything special. I think it's to do with the species. This was a plant I took with me from my former home. So I can say that by the time I put in the ground, it's been alive for at least 2-3 years. The treatment I've used is only to topdress with compost, composted manure (not necessarily only horse poo) and the occasional sprinkling of bonemeal. Nothing else. It had grown far too tall and to spread out that I had to transplant it and reduce it's width. I may have to continue doing this at the end of every season otherwise it will take over the bed.

Speaking of exploding plants, I have similar issues with my coneflowers and would have to reduce them or get rid of some plants.

Ianna

flopping flowers are always a issue...there are as many solutions as problems. Easy off...tying, plant stakes or small fences...all work..but ruin the "natural look and beauty of the flower. BUT they are also ruined when they fall all over other things, somethings knocking them down with them, or rotting or falling into paths. I wish I had a grand answer...I wish anyone had a grand answer... One thing tho I have found "some" success and seems a bit more free flowing and natural...I plant where possible, tho it is not always possible, heavey stalked plants in key "falling" directions...then sometimes where they fall, makes them look a bit weaved in and out and they dont look so bad nor fall to the ground completely....another thing I do, is place "garden art" in places to catch the fall..or support...bird baths, bench backs, gazing balls...statues...doesnt solve it, but helps and pleases me a bit more than rope or string and plant stakes..also when possible.. I tap off water in early morning after a rain..even a light one helps (great for morning pj walks :) ..cutting dead flowers off also helps..reduces the weight...praying for very little wind during the bloom time of certain flowers can also help, if you know the wind god that is ... :) And last but least...LUCK! :) A gardeners best friend...luck... :)

I have awful luck with shasta daisys....I just can not keep them, nor get them to sprout from seeds....I wish I knew what I was doing wrong...so I am envious of them. I love them..I got married in the 70's and them were my flower of choice for my bridesmaids.

Lovely daisies, everybody! It's especially nice for me to see them since mine are done already. I deadheaded carefully and hope there may be a few more flowers later but for now they are just big green plants.

Guess we've reached that time of the summer when the northern gardeners are envied by the southern ones they were jealous of just a few months ago. LOL

Ianna I am wondering if these Shastas were crossed with a giant sunflower..LOL I think it they really respond to the compost, poo or otherwise. Great flower. I have not had luck so far with getting the coneflowers to grow from seed but I haven't given up yet.

Keesha I do the exact same thing. I will use anything at my disposal to make it look like I intended them to be that way. hehe. One of my big clumps of daisies currently has a portion of "cottage picket fence" propping it up. Looks great. I have also planted my Centuras in front of large standing rocks so when they flop they lean instead. And so on, like you said.
The seventies were definately the decade of the daisy. I bet they looked wonderful and happy for your big day!

Bronwyn I love that you staple gunned your daisies! That gives me so much joy. What I mean is that it gives me joy that it's ok to do that and that gardening doesn't have to be so stuffy. I always worry that I am not doing something right somehow or other. By the way what are those blue flowers with your daisies? They are really pretty but I can't quite make them out to identify them.

Lindakimmy I sure know what you mean about the swap in zone envy. You all were having such wonderful summer flowers when we were just getting greens. I deadheaded the Shastas last year and they did keep blooming for me so you should get some too.

OGF I would love it if you shared some pictures of your historical home. Or was that hysterical? LOL
Seriously I would really like to see it. I love those old houses and truly admire them.

I've really enjoyed reading this thread! Shasta Dasies have to be one of my favorite flowering perennials. Mine are in their 3rd season and are very tall this year. I think they look the best they have ever looked and I am especially loving them with the Crocosmia 'Lucifer'. I'll be taking some out of this clump to place around in the garden where I need a punch of white for next summer. I've given away lots of seedlings from this clump over the last 2 years.

Ahh.. Vikki look at your's! They are so well behaved. Mine are like drunks at a frat party. Your's are just lovely.
What is that big round leafed guy in the background?

Blue...Yes, well they had better be well behaved, I'm a task master, lol. If only that were all it took, right?

The large round leaf plant in the background is Elephant Ears. I planted them around the stump of the cherry tree we took down this spring in hopes they would cover it. They certainly are doing that!

By the way my shastas are Becky.
Vikki

vikki gorgeous pics...I am jealous...what zone are you?

Gorgeous pictures, Vicki! I haven't seen you here in a while so welcome back to you ;)

MeMo

Elephants, cool thank you. OK, you can laugh... so there are different kinds of Shastas not just different kinds of daisy? I have to tell you, I just bought a pack of seeds and went from there. I did just about all my plants from seed and only just this year started buying actual store plants though all of them have been abuse survivors. There is just so much that I don't know. sigh.
Then again the stubbornly ignorant are not easily intimidated. LOL

blue- those 70" ones...what variety are they? I really like their form. If you're interested in a trade later in the season, I have some butter-colored ones that you might like.

fool-"Becky" is truly a wonderful S-Daisy. VERY well behaved, and a fast-grower. I have several kinds of daisies, and Becky is my favorite because of her well-behaved nature.
Here's a couple pix of my gardens recently:

The first one is the more 'wild' variety that I'd like to get rid of in exchange for some other variety, but for now, they stay. I don't remember planting "crazy daisy" but I think these other ones ARE them. They seem too frilly on the edges to be standard variety. If they aren't Crazies, I'll welcome a correction.
I'm sorry I don't have a pic of "Becky;" I thought I did. She's not in bloom yet, but soon. If I remember, I'll take a pic and post back here. you won't be disappointed if you add her to your yard.

Wild ones that I think the birds sowed for me, but they seem to like this tough-to-get-anything-to-thrive section of my garden

Now this is cottage! Nice big clumps of bloomers! Love all your pics!

Here are some of mine. Viva la chicken poo! : )
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If you look closely at the last pic you can see the picket fence at about midway. It's ~ 42". See that plant in the last pic next to the shasta? It's rudbeckia 'Herbstonne'. Must be about 8 feet right now. I use a green bungy cord to keep it in bounds. lol!

Diana

oH MY I am loving all these daisy pictures - I just ordered a pack of over 2700 Shasta daisy seeds from CheapSeeds to plant some in a huge drift and then to give some plants to my daughter and 2 nieces. I have several different cultivars of small clumping ones that I have started from seed - Snow Princess, Snow Lady and taller cultivars such as Alaska. I have not tried Becky but will get a pack of them also. They are becoming one of my favorite garden flowers - thank you everyone for sharing

Lynne

one of my patches .....

Hi mmqchdgg. The tall daisies are Alaska Shastas. I would be more than happy to trade some seed. Butter colored daisies sound really pretty.
I think it is so funny how the birds seem to be able to plant things where we can't. I have a bird's sunflower bed that is doing just great and there isn't even an actual bed there!

Angelcub those are some very pretty combinations. I really like your cone flowers and wish I could have gotten some to grow in my garden. Maybe next year.

Lynn you're right to point out how great all these daisy pictures are. I hadn't given it much thought but when I see all of these pictures of everyone's daisy patches it is clear what a wonderful cottage garden flower they are. They really are the quintissential carefree summer flower. It makes me happy just to look at them. :-)

Ooooooh! What lovely pictures!! I love the way blue makes the other colors pop out so nicely. We just got a flat of annual blue salvia for $3 on sale at the local nursery. Just a bit of blue added so much -- and it is not even full grown!

My snapdragons reseeded themselves beautifully, and even the ones I transplanted from the original patch are blooming. I have some "Raspberry Wine" Bee Balm in bloom right now, and it is FANTASTIC. Probably my ab-fave Bee Balm.

I'll try to get some pics up here. Not as many of the house -- I'm always taking pics of the gardens! LOL

I can't find a way to get my pics up. How did you all manage it? I tried to copy and paste, drag and drop, insert, etc. None of the usual ways work. How did you all do it?

Thanks!

thanks to curlydoc on the Roses forum for already-typed-out instructions:

It's very easy once you get the hang of it. You can't copy pictures directly to the site. You have to use an imaging service like Photobucket.

First, go to Photobucket.com and set up a users account there. Once you have an account, go to the "Upload Images and Video" box and "Choose Files", which images to upload to Photobucket from "my computer". Specify how much to reduce the size of your images. Usually 640 x 480 is a good size, not too large. "Add Title" and "Return To Album". Voila! You now have your pictures on Photobucket.

To transfer your pictures to the (Rose) Forum site, place your cursor over your picture on the Photobucket site. You will see four code choices below the picture. Go down to the "HTML Code" and press your left mouse button over the box next to HTML code, which highlights the words in the box. Right click the highlighted box, and press "Copy"

Then, go to the (Rose) Forum Message box and place the cursor where you want your picture to be. Right click and press "Paste". This pastes the words from the HTML code box into the Message box of the Rose Forum. Your picture does not appear at this step, only words.

Then press "Preview Message" below the Message box. You will now see your picture in the Message box. If you are happy with the picture and your typed message, press "Submit Message".

Your pictures now will appear on the (Rose) Forum site.

Hope this helps.

CRIMSON GLORY

Vikki1747, if you happen to see this message...could you please tell me the name of the white butterfly bush that is pictured on the left side of your last pic in this thread? I'm looking for a white one that doesn't get too tall (preferably somewhere between 3ft and 5ft) to go into a spot that is currently occupied by a medium size hydrangea. The hydrangea is beautiful, but apparently deer frequent that area of the yard and it ends up hardly having any flowerheads on it which kinda defeats the purpose of having a blooming bush there.

Thanks Annette :) If it were taller, I might consider a white veronica for the spot. But would prefer a rounder bush-like shape of something like a white butterfly bush. (Veronica flowers appear to "shoot" straight up rather than in a rounded fashion.)