Beautiful! Everything looks very happy and healthy :)

Oh Dilly, Belinda and Summer Romance are exquisite, and the dianthus are gorgeous--I wish mine would look so good. Do the deer bother your dianthus? I've phased mine out because deer seem to like munching most dianthus here. Hey, you're a Husker Red fan, too. Mine are 13 years old, and going strong--in fact too strong in one spot. Love yours. Mine are not blooming yet. Diane

Diane and Dillybean, I've never found Husker's Red at any of my garden centers. Do you have to order it? Or, grow from seed? There are some others I like, but none as delicate.

Flowers, Husker Red was available as a plant for many years around here. I got three of them from Edwards years ago. Supposedly, HR has been replaced by a couple of newer types, one being Dark Tower, and I can't remember the other's name, which is the newest variety. I'll look it up. I don't think that the so called improved varieties are much of an improvement over HR, at lease in my garden. I can't tell the difference among them in photos. Diane

Back again from doing some checking. The latest "improvement" on Husker Red is Midnight Masquerade. I check the Google Images, and it looks like many photos are doctored so the flowers look more lavender, which is misleading. take those photos with a grain of salt. Diane

Everything looks wonderful! I really like the looks of that penstemon, as well. I’ll have to keep my eye out for it. Your White Drift is quite impressive. The blooms are so full. Your Dianthus really are loaded with blooms. I really enjoy growing Dianthus, but I sure wish It wasn’t so popular with the gophers. Great pictures! Thanks for showing us. Lisa

Flowers, here I am yet again. Midnight Masquerade is available from Proven Winners for $15.99, plus shipping. Kind of expensive, plus someone in Savannah said it didn't survive her winter?!

I'm sorry for the OT, Dilly. Sometimes I get carried away. I'm glad we've had great luck with Husker Red. Diane

Thanks, Diane, for going to all that trouble. I think I remember reading Husker Red is hardy to some very cold zone, maybe z2? I wish they wouldn't attempt to improve things that don't need improving. I'll ask at my independent nursery if she can find it for me.

Flowers, and all reading this, Husker Red and Dark Towers were developed by the U of Nebraska (Huskers), I believe, and named for the school color. I've certainly had no winter problems with my plants, plus they don't get much water. I actually have about 8 or so plants because they slowly spread into big clumps. I don't mind that, but after 13 years, I need to do some dividing. I agree about all these improvements. The nurseries want to stock the latest, and don't seem to want to sell the old tried and true. Edwards is very guilty of this as far as perennials go. Diane

BluestonePerenials has Husker Red and Mystica, another dark -leafed Penstemon, along with a number of other Penstemons. I have Mystica and the leaves keep their red better than the Husker Reds I have seen in this area.

The garden is looking good, and much, much farther along than mine, which still has daffodils.

No worries about the OT. :) Is always a good time to discuss a good plant!

Thank you all for the kind words! It looks so much better in pictures because I can zoom in on the pretty parts. :) That’s what I see most of the time, but I know the overall picture isn’t half so nice. Lol

nanadoll, I don’t have a problem with deer, for the most part, thankfully! I think there are enough dogs in the area they keep the deer in the woods. This is my second year on Belinda and Summer Romance! I’m really enjoying them! Second year for the Husker’s, too, but they’ve gone crazy! I’ll bet you’re 13 yo stands are quite impressive!

Flowers, I had never seen it in a garden center, either, but it was on my radar. Finally found a very crowded pot at a new place, and snatched it up, and promptly divided it into 6. :) They all took off. I think it is able to be seed grown, but you must select the very reddest seedlings or it will degenerate into the wild green form. The dianthus surprised me, as well! Last year was the first time I had seen it do anything, and it came back even stronger this year! We had a dreadful hot, dry, summer, so it must have liked it. Lol. For cheap “annuals”, they give a lot of bang for the buck when they act like this.

a few more, if you’ll humor me. :)

Westerland beginning her flush. Bare root last year. I’ve been pleased with the growth. Teasing Georgia and Rosie night riveter on either side.

Some floppy Westerland that were cut for the vase. Love it when she’s this yummy color!

A little baby Nathitochez Noisette. Can’t wait until all of her buds open! She is only borderline hardy here, so I was pleased to see she made it!

Zephy beginning. I can’t WAIT until she has covered the porch! Minimal cane dieback, so I think it will be a reality! Bare root last year. Grown well. Forgive the tools and red cups and junk. Lots of projects going on :)

First weather beaten ‘Peace’ bloom

‘Hagley Hybrid,’ aka ‘Pink Chiffon’

Scrumptiousness

First bloom on Cora Louise Itoh peony. Even prettier than I expected!

New NOID lavender mini. I was smitten.

So glad to see you got your new plants through winter! Your roses look nice and healthy. It's always exciting to see the blooms of zone 6 on here, because it means mine are coming soon. I also enjoy seeing the other perennials & garden styles in a similar zone. Your dianthus look great. I seem to not be able to grow them here. I've tried a few and after winter they are done. I don't know if it's pests or the weather. They look great all summer though! But not worth the money to replace each year. It's a shame because they are lovely!

Wow, Dilly, your garden is roaring along for such new plants. I would never have guessed how new they are. I love your Hagley hybrid clematis, a perfecf pink. I've wanted to grow it for years. My Rosemoor clem is blooming now, but not at full blast. Scrumptiousness does fit its name. I love it. My peonies want to pop open but our weather is slowing things. I had to tie one up today with more to tie tomorrow. I hate that chore. I love your roses, but that little lavender mini is adorable. Was it a grocery store mini? I want one!

Blondie, the deer have totally ruined my experience with dianthus, and I agree that buying a perennial at their prices for something that's around just a season isn't worth it. I'm glad you're having some warmer weather. Now on with the big show. Diane

Diane, I had a feeling that penstemon had a connection with Nebraska. Why else would you name such a pretty plant Huskers!

Dillybean, how lucky to find a big fat one you could divide. I love your Zephy pic. She's so vibrant.

Babs, I appreciate the info that Bluestone has two of the good penstemons. I will remember that if my nursery can't get it for me.

HalloBlondie, I'm not 100% certain, but I think there are annual and perennial dianthus. I've had some that overwinter very well, and some that don't. The tall ones are perennials, I think. It's annoying when the tags don't say. Or, when the tag says something like Height: 18" to 48". I saw that yesterday on some Shasta Daisies. A lot of help that is.

There are lots of annual dianthus, Flowers. Dianthis chinensis types are annual, I believe. The perennial dianthus I've grown tend to grow into big, slow spreading rounds, and are not very tall. My favorites were deer food before they got very big. I have one giant one that must be at least 12 years old. Others I removed because they took up too much room. I've grown annual types from seed and started them inside under grow lights (years ago). I think Dilly's dianthus are among the prettiest I've seen. Diane

the ones in my pictures are (I assume) d. Barbatus, the ones sold as “annual” dianthus but are, in fact, short lived perennials often functioning as biennials. I get them in 4 or 6 packs for a couple bucks, and they give me great enjoyment. ;) I also have some of the low growing, grey leaves, groundcover types similar to ’Firewitch’. Those live much longer, slowly spreading each year. They only bloom once in the spring, though, so I assume they don’t bloom themselves to death like the barbatus.

Dianthus barbatus is Sweet William and a biennial. And you are right, the true perennials bloom once in the spring and spread. Dianthus chinensis, the annual blooms for a much longer season. Diane

My Gertrude Jekyll has done me very proud :

It's funny, because the annual type came back for me this year, but the perennial type did not. I knew it was the perennial type because the garden centre I bought it at is massive (2 costcos put together); one side is all perennials & the other building is all annuals and indoor plants. I bought them as front of the border plants. So yesterday I replaced them with shorter roses, Pretty Lady, Savannah & Pomponella. This is in my back fenceline bed, so the roses will be seen better from farther away.

You have some very beautiful blooms of roses and other flowers Dillybeansown. Thanks for sharing.

Beautiful roses and companions! Maybe I'll put in more this year, depending on the midge.

Sean, oh, that color! I wish her fragrance could come through the screen. I remember it well. I had her but she died one winter. I didn't replace her and now I'm sorry.

Sean, what a gorgeous rose you have grown! What an inspiration. I didn’t realize she could be so nicely controlled.

Thank you all, again for your sweet words concerning my garden! I almost hesitate to post pictures where “the experts” can see. There are so many amazing gardeners on here, and I look up to you all so much. It means a lot to have your praise and comments.

Halloblondie, I bet that’s going to look amazing! Do what does well in your area, for sure :)

Well, I didn't even know you considered yourself a beginner because I consider you a mentor! You also have beautiful companion plants. It is easy to stand in awe of all of The Gorgeous Gardens here, but sharing is what it's all about and I like to think their Gardens didn't get that way overnight. I love seeing full shots of gardens.

Today

How lovely! Is that Bartzella? Mine haven’t bloomed yet. Hopefully next year!

Vap, you’re absolutely right. :) The community is half of what makes gardening so great.

No it's a tree peony, can't remember the name.

Frank

Could that be the yellow Tree peony, High Noon? It looks like it.

Not nearly as striking as others’ blooms above (waiting for the tree peonies to explode here in the next week or so), but here are pictures of one of our rhodies, a heuchera, an epimedium, and the kitty enjoying the view: