1) Mandarin Lights Azalea - this fragile shrub goes back about 15 years now. It can be temperamental depending on the spring and has survived some major setbacks with heavy snowfall off the front porch. But when it shines, its orange dazzles!2) Victoria Louise Poppy - most poppy species are either meager and have no shelf life from seed (CA) or are mangy invasive types (red). But this hybrid stunner is giant with its wispy salmon petals and always arrives exactly on time each year. It is just too bad that the blooms last a single day and are gone with the wind.
3) Madame Galena Trumpet Vine - is the plant that tests my patience. When I first got it from Linder's I loved it so much I bought a huge trellis just for it. But it lasted a single year and was replaced - twice. Waylon did some major damage to the main stem. And I have waited for 2 years for the plant to mature - sometimes they take 10 years to thrive. I had given up until late July when I got huge sprays of the most intense coral trumpets ever. Love them.4) Blue Gentian - I'm not sure where I got this little gem from. And I feel badly that it has been moved to 2 or 3 spots in the garden. Either too short, not enough sun..... But it has the most lovely royal blue sprouts on it.
5) Firebreather Iris - I have tons of gorgeous spring blooms, but the topper is this one. It is one of the largest and it is not a soft peachy color, but a bright orange peacock of a bloomer. As long as I can keep the iris bore at bay, this one is amazing.
6) Midnight Marvel Hibiscus - many people have the tropical hibiscus on their decks that have to be brought in for the winter. But this one from Gertens is a true perennial that has envious huge flowers in a deep maroon red. One of the tallest plants on the boulevard - you can't miss it come late summer.7) Mexican Flame Vine - I am always searching for climbers that grow up and are space savers in the garden. This rare find is almost always found at Mother Earth. And like most climbers takes some time to manifest. But when it hits its stride on the trellis it is like bright orange fireworks!
8) Cheyenne Coneflower - another Gertens gem. There have been so many attempts at hybrid coneflowers that fizzle and fail, in pretty golds and reds. But this one has the genes for the long haul. Although it is a shorty, the tomato red petals can't help but grab attention.9) Lisianthus - this annual is a must have each year. Sometimes called the purple rose, although not a rose at all. But it has buds that unfurl in the coolest colors of lilac, violet and blue. Always lovely.
10) Salpiglossis - another annual that can be hard to hunt down and must be grabbed while found on the shelf or they are gone. They are also known as Mexican Petunias and look like their sister plant but in much more vivid technicolor. They always come in 4-6 packs and are a mystery as to what color they will yield. But I've had them in reds, orange, white, yellow and even a dark almost black.
