Whenever doing a design the biggest challenges for color in the garden is to choose something

• that has a long bloom period,
• that can get pounded by the sun,
• that can withstand dry conditions,
• that stands up on its own without needing to be dead headed
• And that is pretty!

The black and blue salvia and red maraschino salvia have never let me down.  They come back and bloom, enduring the greatest (yet unintentional) abuse.  The bumble bees and humming birds love them, but don’t bother you.

Christie lives in Manakin Sabot , Virginia where she manages a 3 acre garden. Her blogs are written from her 35 years as a personal and professional gardener.