Home of the Practically Perfect Pink Phlox and other native plants for pollinators

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

A Practically Perfect Pink Phlox Wednesday

You: "Practically Perfect?"
Me: "Let me count the ways!"
(all photos enlarge with a click on the photo)

It opened its first bloom April 6


It multiplies and divides easily
It looks beautiful in the morning sun


It plays well with other more intense colors

It blankets the garden, yet leaves room for other perennials
It has a lovely pink face
It fills the air with fragrance on warm days
It grows in a variety of settings
There has always been enough to share with my gardening friends


I wish you a delicious day my friends! Thank you for stopping by to see PPPP...she is really perfect!

Gail

"Friends are the Bacon Bits in the Salad Bowl of Life."
- "Pizza Place Sign",
Posted by at

41 comments:

  1. UnknownApril 29, 2009 at 7:51 AM

    Phlox envy!!

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  2. Roses and LilacsApril 29, 2009 at 8:29 AM

    A very long bloom time for a spring flower. Easy to see why you call them perfect. Your garden is lovely!
    Marnie

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  3. our friend BenApril 29, 2009 at 8:47 AM

    You know, Gail, I had a sneaking suspicion when you started posting about PPPP, but now I'm certain: I have her growing here in my Cultivated Wild Meadow, thanks to starts from my friend Rudy. And yes, she really is beautiful and trouble-free!

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  4. Cindy, MCOKApril 29, 2009 at 10:10 AM

    PPPP has come to live in my garden and I hope she'll be as happy with me as she obviously is with you!

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  5. FrancesApril 29, 2009 at 10:20 AM

    Hi Gail, it is perfect, not just practically. Others have probably said that before, so may I echo the chorus? And still blooming with the dahlias? Wow. Love the orange dahlia, BTW, it looks practically perfect as well. And doesn't morning sun illuminate everything to perfection? :-)
    Frances

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  6. Janet, The Queen of SeafordApril 29, 2009 at 10:29 AM

    Gail, I see why you have this flower as one of your prized plants. Very lovely.

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  7. RandyApril 29, 2009 at 10:57 AM

    Gail,
    Phlox grows wild on the roadsides here. :-) It's a beautiful purple rather than pink though.--Randy

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  8. DaveApril 29, 2009 at 11:41 AM

    TC asked me the other day "why practically perfect?" Maybe it should be "perfectly perfect!" I can't wait to see more of it in our garden!

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  9. Monica the Garden FaerieApril 29, 2009 at 12:23 PM

    I agree with Dave; it should be perfectly perfect. I did order, receive, and sow some PPPP seeds, and even sent some extras to Prairie Rose. See how influential your blog is?! :)

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  10. Chloe MargueriteApril 29, 2009 at 1:30 PM

    Gail,

    PPP is really beautiful! And everything is so lush and green - here in Southern California we'd give anything for that kind of garden!

    Chloe M.

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  11. F CameronApril 29, 2009 at 1:40 PM

    Gail,

    She sure plays well with others! What a great personality.

    Cameron

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  12. CherylApril 29, 2009 at 2:49 PM

    Dear Gail......that is it......you have done it......sold PPP to me, without a doubt. I am going to the nursery and buying a couple of plants, and I will have to keep my fingers crossed that those naughty bunnies will not eat them.......

    They are absolutely lovely.....I really really am so taken with them.........

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  13. AnonymousApril 29, 2009 at 4:04 PM

    With those kinds of qualities who wouldn't love her! :)

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  14. marmeeApril 29, 2009 at 4:44 PM

    so beautifully perfect...i just might have to hit you up for some of that pppp!
    love seeing it doing well.

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  15. Mr. McGregor's DaughterApril 29, 2009 at 5:16 PM

    Now that you've focused on the "perfect" part, will you discuss the "practically" part? I'm still waiting for mine to start forming buds. I doused it again today with repellant, as the deer seem as fond of it as we are.

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  16. LonaApril 29, 2009 at 6:03 PM

    Gail, just beautiful. I love phlox anyway it comes. Cannot wait until my new variegated ones come in. Phlox, wild,tall or ground is just a favorite of mine. The fragrance alone makes it a must have for flower gardeners.

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  17. Lisa at GreenbowApril 29, 2009 at 8:04 PM

    Perfectly beautiful setting for this perfectly pink phlox.

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  18. beckieApril 29, 2009 at 8:39 PM

    Gail, I think the PPPPis even prettier than last year. It seems to have spreas-how wonderful. Your gardens are looking so pretty and lush this year. Hopefully the drought is over for you.

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  19. LayaneeApril 29, 2009 at 9:14 PM

    Love it...I am coming down for a little piece!

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  20. GailApril 29, 2009 at 9:27 PM

    Beckie, I think you're right! It is scrumptious this year! Am I supposed to send you some? gail

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  21. GailApril 29, 2009 at 9:28 PM

    Marmee...Of course you may have some!

    gail

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  22. GailApril 29, 2009 at 9:29 PM

    Layanee, I am going to be in RI sometime this summer I will bring you a start! gail

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  23. GailApril 29, 2009 at 9:31 PM

    Darla, It is pretty nice! Am I allowed to be proud or is that too much!

    Marnie, It will bloom for another month!

    Gail

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  24. CiNdEe's GaRdEnApril 29, 2009 at 9:51 PM

    Yes that is perfect! I love the color! What a beautiful setting!!!
    CiNdEeS' GaRdEn

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  25. NaturegirlApril 29, 2009 at 10:13 PM

    Gail what beauty in your garden already! sigh..My phlox would look like that in August!! What a wonderful charming garden you have!

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  26. RoseApril 29, 2009 at 10:22 PM

    I give the award for most clever comment today to Darla!:)

    I never tire of seeing PPPP,Gail, and guess what...Monica sent me some PPPP seeds yesterday! I can only hope one day I'll be able to post some photos of my own little brood. Any suggestions for planting?

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  27. Iowa Victory GardenerApril 29, 2009 at 10:59 PM

    Hi Gail,
    You've had me sold on this one since last year, even with it being pink! hehe, you know me and pink...

    Our P. paniculata is up and growing but it will be a couple months before it blooms, which is fine, because we want to divide a lot of it and replant along the fence line before that happens.

    I still have trouble believing how long a bloom time Miss Perfect has for you ... what a trooper!

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  28. sweetbayApril 29, 2009 at 11:19 PM

    The phlox is gorgeous, the way it is spread over the garden. I love your iris too.

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  29. nilla|utanpunktApril 30, 2009 at 5:40 AM

    Gorgeous colour – and a gorgeous garden companion as well, it seems. Have a lovely weekend Gail!

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  30. GailApril 30, 2009 at 8:04 AM

    Rose, Darla is a clever commenter! I have no idea how to seed her about!
    Let me see what the wildflower propagating book says....It says that phlox requires a moist, cold period to germinate. Let me send you instructions...and plants! Monica, too! gail

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  31. AnonymousApril 30, 2009 at 8:14 AM

    Gail, I totally see why you love PPP! It looks so gorgeous, like a watercolor painting.

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  32. GailApril 30, 2009 at 8:59 AM

    You bloggers are the best...Practically Perfect People.

    gail

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  33. GailApril 30, 2009 at 9:01 AM

    Frances, The orange dahlia was a grocery store snag...isn't she beautiful! The only orange one in the bunch and the dark leaves are a boon! I am on the look out for more~~~I dragged the too heavy tripod outside for a photo session! Now I must find a sturdy light weigh one!
    gail

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  34. joeyApril 30, 2009 at 9:23 AM

    Always a treat to visit, Gail ~ I love your big fat Dahlia show stopper and your phlox, a favorite, is the perfect companion plant ... very prolific here in May (especially in the woods at the lake).

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  35. GailApril 30, 2009 at 11:52 AM

    Hi Joey...It is a beauty of a dahlia...I am just starting to appreciate them. Phlox is wonderful in all its varieties. gail

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  36. BarbarapcApril 30, 2009 at 1:34 PM

    I'd say it's Perfectly Perfect Phlox. OOOOOH and the orangy dahlia and pink, love it.

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  37. KathleenApril 30, 2009 at 2:29 PM

    NO WAY that is your garden right now Gail!! Oh my goodness. I'm seriously depressed. It looks like summer! We are still bare leaved and brown(ish) here. That phlox is heavenly and I know how you prize it. For good reason. Just look at all that heavenly pink. Aahhh.... You have a great day too. I'm off to wallow in self pity!!! ;-)

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  38. JanApril 30, 2009 at 7:29 PM

    I'm starting to see why such a fuss has been made over your PPPP. All along I've thought it must be like my PPP (Perfect Pink Phlox)...which, is perfect--of course;-) ha ha. Mine will bloom soon and go all summer. Perhaps that's the reason yours is Practically Perfect? It can't last very long?(!)
    Mine is a summer bloomer, yours is a spring bloomer. Mine NEEDS sun, yours apparently does well in shade...so, NOW I understand! I could sure use some of that PPPP for the springtime, in my backyard--before my PPP blooms in my frontyard all summer long (wink, wink)!

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  39. Melanie ChopayApril 30, 2009 at 9:02 PM

    Gail, I'm going to have to go out and look in my garden tomorrow morning because I have a sudden feeling that pppp is blooming in my garden too!

    Melanie

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  40. My Mother's GardenApril 30, 2009 at 9:04 PM

    Hi Gail~

    The phlox look so pretty! I love the color combination of the pink phlox and soft blue iris. Exquisite!

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  41. KatarinaMay 1, 2009 at 12:07 AM

    You've convinced me, Gail - they certainly are beautiful!
    Katarina

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"Insects are the little things that run the world." Dr. E O Wilson


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