[MissMoustache]

Originally Posted by greenthumbomaha

I have to admit I was not a big fan of annuals until I started reading the market garden , and now this thread. When I was master gardening, we would go to a nursery and buy very expensive showy plants that were tropical and watch them die 3 months later. Times change, and so did the crew. Now the natives are being used.

I did, with some shame, dig up a few lantanas and keep them indoors for some cheer during the winter. The other crew members started bringing their pots.

So, I revisited my seed stash of saved flower seeds from previous mmmm swaps and moved them up in priority. Not easy when you have around 500 vegetable seedlings to care for.

I am wondering what I am growing, and the seeds were most likely shared via Tormato from someone active in this thread. They were in the worst soil in tiny trays, crammed into this small pot. They took forever to take off, but when they did it was non stop flowering all summer. The wind blew the pot over and half the branches snapped off, they rooted very easily. I have been able to save a few seeds from the remaining branches. I saw a hummer checking out the blooms yesterday morning and earlier in the week but I don't remember the time of day.

In comparison, the Victoria Blue Salvia plant that I purchased for 10 cents when a nursery was closing up in June has also taken off, but no seeds and no interest from the hummer.

Photos to follow. I carried it inside to get a better photo. In addition to the identity, the identity, I would also like to know if this might do well indoors in a sunny window this winter. Many thanks to the gardener that shared this beautiful flower!!!

- Lisa

Penstemon 'Firecracker' is a perennial that will give you a similar look to the red salvia.

Pineapple sage is another hummingbird favorite that is a late bloomer. I grow it against a South facing wall because it's not hardy here. That gives me the latest blooms possible. Maybe something to try next year?