Judy's Jewel trio

Royal Invitation - one of the last blooms on it. It usually has lots of white teeth, but this bloom had a ruffly, flowing white edge.

Hillbilly Heart had a really good year, following grub attacks the previous two. It multiplied well this year and had three of its five scapes with bud counts of 18.

Lightnight Round is reblooming. When temps are in the 90s, it looks very white.

Aztec Headdress x Banded Broadbil on one of those rare days when it had a more ornate pattern. It started reblooming yesterday.

Carolina Cool Down X (Awsome Applique x Blazing Saddles) - I love all the things this one does with its sepals. The color was really nice on it this day too.

Seedling "Rubber Maid"

One of my Integrated Logistics seedlings that is a bitone

This one comes from a different Integrated Logistics cross.

Debra

I like the blooms with the raindrops. it’s good to see that some hold up well in the rain. i havent been out to the gardens today, it has been raining most of the day……we really needed it.

Sherry

Sherry - Yes, a few hold up to the rain. Most do not. I'm glad you got some rain too!

Debra

Glad you got some rain. I am under a dome and all rain is going around me. Plant foliage is beginning to look stressed. Gillian is so pretty in that clump. I like Allegheny Skyline in that color. Willow Dean Smith and Pink Lemonade Party are showing their stuff!! Magnify the Lord looks good with the raindrops. Pretty seedlings again! I really like the color on that last one.

Kate - It sounds like we've switched position on rain prospects. There's a chance of rain here for the next several days. Gillian really hit her stride this year. The color on that last seedling is very pleasing. But it has the weakest plant habit of the three siblings. I hope it will improve next year.

Debra

I'm glad you got some rain, Debra. Magnify the Lord is gorgeous! Pink Lemonade Party is a pretty one and Il always particularly like garden shots. I really like both Integrated Logistics seedlings.

kay

kay - This rain was a long time coming. Magnify the Lord has been a great performer this season. I'm very pleased with it.

Debra

Kept thinking we would get more rain today, but like yesterday it just rumbled and stayed overcast, but no rain. More chances this week, but chances were pretty high several days but did not hit here. I think the 2 that really caught my eye were Gillian and Royal Invitation of the named, and the Carolina Cooldow seedling

You know you had my attention with From this Moment On. A nice yellow I'd not heard of before.....I always like your Gillian and Royal Invitation. Pink Lemonade Party really is one of the best pink colors around. How does it grow for you. Mine wasn't overly vigorous, not exactly a weak grower, but nothing to write home about. But then it was in a container as you know.................Maryl

Happy to read your finally got a good drenching of rain. The blooms are wonderful. I do like Lavender Evensong for Al. I don't have any lavender colors so may just see what I can add in that color. Allegheny Skyline did bloom very dark in NY but here she is a shade or two lighter. I'm sure the higher temps will produce. I also note it bloomed earlier here than in NY.

Julia

Maryl - From This Moment On is a late bloomer by Curt Hanson. I've had it for three seasons and have posted photos each year. It is very hardy and pretty tall (34-35 inches). It's a polychrome - notice the orange on the sepals. It's a great grower, and last year was one of my bud kings with 34 buds on the best scape. This year, with far less rain, it has bud counts in the high teens and low 20s. Pink Lemonade Party is a solid performer, but it's a slow multiplier. I've had it for seven or eight years and only have seven fans. What I like most about it is that it usually reblooms on every scape. Some years with ample rain it has a bud count of 20. This year it has 10-15 buds per scape.

Debra

Julia - I was a bit disappointed with the color on Lavender Evensong for Al, but it is a new one and temps have been very hot. I saw it in person at Blueridge Gardens two years ago and was struck with how pretty the lavender was on it. It's a dormant and supposed to be a tall one. Here's another pic of it when its petals rolled back.

Lavender Evensong for Al

Lavenders that impressed me this season were Musical Medley, Grace Alone, Royal Invitation and English Lavender.

Allegheny Skyline was looking more like itself today. Most of the blooms have been splotchy this season (not usual) and I haven't been able to get a good clump shot. The blemishes seem to be caused by some bug feeding on the petals.

Debra

Nancy - Thank you, thank you for commenting on the Carolina Cool Down seedling. I've posted it two times before, and no one ever remarked on it. I really like it, so I decided I was going to keep taking pictures of it and posting them until someone commented on it. Maybe I'm a little bit obsessed about that one.

Debra

Debra: Thanks for the recommendations on lavenders. I always loved your pics of English Lavender but thought it would not do well since it is a EV. I may rethink that given our new climate. Thundestorms here now and heavy downpours of rain. Suppose to be like this for the rest of today. Felt like 100 with the humidity.

Julia

Debra, that photo of Allegheny Skyline is how I wish mine looked. They aren't splotches, just kind of a murky color. A friend wanted some of it in trade the 1st year I got it, sent a couple of fans in the fall. I did not survive the winter so had to send a couple more. It had multiplied pretty well, but that left with 2 fans that were very displeased at being disturbed so much. It did not bloom last year, and now these blooms do not look like the pictures. No more dividing that one for a while.

I think you just have too many beautiful seedlings, so hard to pick favorites when they are all

Nancy - I would agree that Allegheny Skyline sulks after being divided. I divided mine one year to share with two forum friends, and it took three years for it to fully recover.

Debra