"How many plants do you have in your garden?"

Asked Mr I.

 I paused, wondering if it was a trick question, then replied, "It looks like a lot of plants and I suppose there are, but, really, what you are seeing is a lot of the same dozen or so plants."

"Seriously?" he said with just a hint of disbelief.

"Well, maybe!" I said coyly.

Asclepias tuberosa, Echinace pallida 'Hula Dancer' and Oenothera fruticosa

How many plants do I have in my garden? I haven't a clue! Somewhere in my office are several baskets of plant tags of the many plants I've planted in the 28 years I've been gardening here~some have thrived and others have lasted just a season or two~ and I am happy to say that there are more successes than failures.

Rudbeckia hirta, R fulgida and Abelia 'Kalaidascope'

What I can tell you is that my garden is jam packed. It's grown exponentially since we built the front porch in 2003 and moved a small wildflower and day lily garden to the sunny strip along the drive.

Echinacea, Eupatorium, Bottlebrush grass and  Hemerocallis 'Hyperion'

Although, the Susan's Bed (as that sunny strip is called) is a modest size, it's much larger in my imagination and of course I buy way more wildflowers than space to plant them. I end up having to pry them into any bit of available soil.  You could say that the garden has grown larger plant by plant. 

'Little Devil' Ninebark, Asclepias tuberosa, Rudbeckia foliage, 'Ascot Rainbow' Eupatorium and 'Fireworks' Gomphrena

Right now, it's nearly impossible to do any pinching back of the late season ex-asters or to dead head any of the spent day lilies and other plants without stomping on a treasured flower or three. Many a Susan has given its life to keep the garden looking a little tamer and less like clown pants.

Gaura, Lavender and Echinacea

Maybe, it is time to survey the garden to see how many plant families are represented and get a flower head count of the various species and cultivars...I am pretty sure there are more than a "few dozen of the same plants".

Silphium perfoliatum, Hemerocallis, Liatris, Thermopsis villosa, Hibiscus 'Kopper King', Shasta Daisy, Eupatorium dubium, Ratibida pinnata, Rudbeckia maxima and Elymus hystrix

One thing is for sure,  I won't be sharing my findings with Mr I! The other day when I was heading out to a nursery with a friend, he actually said, "Why are you going to the nursery, you have plenty of plants!"

As if that were even possible.

xoxogail

Gail Eichelberger is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at Clay and Limestone. She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.

Dear Susans, We need to talk!

I adore your sunny faces and how wonderfully you make the garden alive with color. You kept me smiling through the horrid summer weather and bloomed your heart out! Thank you!

But, we do have to talk! Some of you, and I am speaking directly to you Ms Goldie Fulgida, have gotten a bit too pushy and have crowded out your less extroverted cousins. Poor Ms Hirta has hardly shown her face in several years. Sweet Henry Eilers Subtomentosa whispered to me that you were way too bossy and he was thinking about decamping. I've been planning on inviting Rudie Fulgida (to see the family tree go to var fulgida) to the garden party. She's quite small for a member of the Rudbeckia clan and a real late bloomer. You might scare her away. Btw, did any of you even notice Max, he's the tall fellow in the back, you just rushed past him in your haste to take all the best spots? My dears, I take total responsibility. I've let you go and have hardly reigned you in!

We've had a grand time at the garden party. But, I'm wondering if a new host or two might be needed? Mix it up; add some bio-diversity. If it's just you, me and your bff, Goldenrod, we're going to lose the party animals. It wouldn't be the same without the Bees and Butterflies. You've got to admit when the Bumbles party they are the first here and the last to leave. A successful garden party season needs a lot of guests. Can't you picture it? ~A party from spring to frost! What a crowd we'll have.

You need a break. You've had all the glory, but, with it, all the responsibility. To be the life of the garden party is a enormous pressure!

You don't fool me~So stop pouting! You know you want the company! You get along beautifully with Phlox and the burgundy that Hibiscus likes to wear is a good compliment to your sunny nature. Did you notice The Waiting Bench is painted purple? Just for you! Imagine the drama next summer! It's very near the color of some of the asters and liatris that keep you company.

Vernonia lettermanii

So are you with me? I'm thinking more locals! The Vernonias and Veronicastrums are both nice; tall and very good looking. Maybe a few Panicums~'Cheyenne Sky' is fantastic and is that beautiful red you like so much!

Let's take the winter to think it over; give us all some space. We can get together next spring. I'm sure by then we'll have a clearer vision of the party season and who else we need to include.

xxooGail