Lamb'sears are at their best in the spring. My perennials instructor said to take a garden rake to the patch in July or August and get out all the old rotted stuff, and they will come back well for the fall. They do get ratty looking in the summer in z7.

Mine wilt during the hottest part of the day. The poor things seem to faint dead away in our humidity. The bottom leaves tend to brown easily and get mushy, too. I don't rake them, I just cut them off at the base. The top foliage still looks beautiful and the plant puts out new leaves often. They are very hardy and worth having, and they make good companion plants for just about anything. Just tidy them up every couple of weeks while the weather is hot and they should be fine.

Many thanks to you both. I feel better now.