Turns out there are rewards for procrastinating, as they’re blooming all over again!
Is this normal?
I know many plants will reward those who cut them back with new growth and continued blooms, but there was no cutting back here.
Some of my Echium russicum are doing the same thing, flowers emerging from the bloom spikes I left in place.
Somewhat along the same lines (but not really) there is plenty of new foliage on the Sonchus canariensis which was completely defoliated in early August.
Plants always keep you guessing don’t they?
Plants are full of surprises aren't they? Not sure about the Verbascums but nice bonus indeed!
ReplyDeleteI like the happy surprises so much more than the unhappy ones!
DeleteCool! That yellow of the mullein is one of my favorite shades. My Phygelius 'Passionate' is reblooming, but I cut the spent stalks about 5 weeks ago in traditional fashion...I'll take it, whatever!
ReplyDeleteLook at you being all proactive! I am impressed.
DeleteThey sure do! I've had plants rebloom without cutting back too. They might have rebloomed quicker if you had cut them back. My usual practice is to take notes, and do things differently next year. Ha! Like that ever happens.
ReplyDeleteI always intend to do things differently too (better) but sometimes things just get away from us!
Deletewonderful surprises!! Now you have me wanting to go investigate if I have any garden surprises.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you do I look forward to reading about them!
DeleteYour plants heard about the endless summer thing that Louis and you are planning and decided they liked the idea! Congratulations on your Sonchus canariensis reviving; mine is beginning to look horrible now. I think that mites might be the culprit.
ReplyDeleteThat's it, yes! Endless summer....
DeleteI am sorry to hear about your Sonchus, will you treat it with something?
I hope my plants will reward me like that. We're months behind on deadheading.
ReplyDeleteI hope they do too, certainly there must be something in your garden that will respond favorably!
DeleteHooray!
ReplyDeleteYour Sonchus came good again.
It must be in a different timezone to most of the other stuff you grow.
Yes that's what I was told by Mr. Hogan, owner of Cistus Nursery (where there is one about 8 ft tall!), it just naturally goes dormant. I'll try not to stress when/if it does the same thing next year.
Deletethey are stunning
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteWow, that's pretty wonderful. If Verbascum looked that good in my garden I'd grow it here but I've never had that nice a bloom on it. Great surprise
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain! My first foray into growing Verbascum failed miserably, well at least in the bloom department. The foliage was fabulous and then they decided to bloom right before we had a hard freeze. Not good timing.
DeleteI love when laziness -- er, I mean, patience -- rewards us in the garden. Does it get you wondering though, how doubly amazing might the second blooms have been if you had removed the first spikes?
ReplyDeleteI think that way a lot, but the super-patient way usually wins out. Maybe even a few years in a row.
Maybe, but I wouldn't have just removed the first spikes...if I were to have done anything I would have pulled the whole plant since it's a biennial and doomed now that it's bloomed.
DeleteI wonder if being patient will reward me with lots of seedlings all about which I can share with friends? Only time will tell...
Indian Summer! It rejuvenates gardens and gardeners.
ReplyDeleteWell since it's still technically REAL SUMMER I'm not yet prepared to discuss Indian Summer...of course I hope with all my heart that we get one! (sorry I had to give you a hard time, since I've endured my quota of hearing that summer is over...WHEN IT'S NOT!)...
DeleteI like those kinds of surprises. Enjoy the new yellows in the garden. Very pretty plant.
ReplyDeleteIt is a pretty plant...and I'll miss the big floppy felty leaves most of all.
DeleteI bought 3 V. nigrum last weekend at Annies fall sale..looking for some drama, but not quite ready for Olympicum !In any case , we are told that nigrum will rebloom til fall if deadheaded--that always seals the deal for me.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you made an excellent choice!
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