I’m a big fan of mandevillas, so when Big Bad Flower sent me a new garden mandevilla that only grows to 12 to 18 inches, I was intrigued. Sun Parasol Garden Crimson mandevilla has what I consider to be perfectly red flowers. They are neither blueish, nor orangeish and not at all pink. They are true, bold, beautiful red. I combined it in a pot with dwarf sweet peas that I grew from seed (another first-time plant for me that I will definitely be growing again). Right now I think the sweet peas are winning a little, so I need to thin them a touch to make more room for the mandevilla, but all in all I love the combination.
I doubt this rose is very new, but it’s new to me and I’m in love. Last year I swore off roses because I was so sick of all the problems with them. Well, sawfly larvae got them again this, but I was able to manage the population so there is still some foliage left, and last week I was rewarded with my first bloom from ‘Autumn Sunset’ climbing rose. It’s a peachy yellow that fades to very light yellow, and much peachier, but what I love the most is the absolutely heavenly scent. This is what I’ve been waiting for in a rose. I pray to all the gardening gods that I can make this climber take off because I’m so in love with it I desperately want it to take over the front of the house.
I don’t think you can really tell from the photo, but ‘Silver Hearts’ brunnera is truly silver. I’m not kidding and I didn’t even think such a thing was possible, but it is shiny, metallic silver. The leaves are quite large and substantial, too, so if this makes it through a few winters I think this could be an absolute star in the shade garden.
Proven Winners comes up with new Superbells every year, and this year they sent me ‘Holy Moly,’ a hot pink and yellow combo. I’ll be honest here, striped flowers aren’t my favorite, but as you can see it is growing great and looks bright and cheerful along with Sunsatia Nemesia on the front steps.
Tuff Stuff hydrangea, sent to me by Proven Winners, doesn’t look like much now, but it is growing really well and looks really healthy. There’s a lot riding on this hydrangea, which I love the photos of, but like most northern gardeners, I’m skeptical of the bud hardiness on it because it blooms on old wood and I’ve been down that road and burned before. Tuff Stuff was bred to have much better stem and bud hardiness so time will tell. This one will get to 24 to 36 inches tall, but it has a baby brother (this is a male hydrangea, in my estimation) that gets to half that size. If this guy does well, I will seriously consider adding several Tiny Tuff Stuff hydrangeas to the front of the border.
Well you've padded my wish list! Love the brunerra – I'm always looking for ways to add light to my very dark shade garden – this sounds perfect. And the Tuff Stuff hydrangea – keeping my fingers crossed that it will survive your Wisconsin winters. I have had absolutely no luck with my hydrangeas (other than Annabelles) as they freeze every winter – even with burlap wrapping! So I'm hoping this one works out for you. As much as I love my Annabelles – the white is a little boring.
Nothing like the scent of a rose! I seem to be into a monster plant phase: Axminster Gold comfrey, Godzilla painted fern and Great Alexander Brunnera. The Brunnera still isn't doing much and it is the 2nd year. But the new Godzillas are coming along very well. They are supposed to get 3 ft. tall!
I thought Tuff Stuff bloomed on new AND old wood? I have two that are both blooming on new wood this summer–