Veronicas

If life gives you lemons... make lemonade.

If your Veronicas get mildew, make a bouquet!

I have had the same problem with these flowers for a number of years now.  Just when they are ready to bloom, they come down with mildew -- powdery or downy, I don't know which.

Any idea on how to conquer it?  Solutions anyone?

This year I tried keeping the area around the plant open so as to keep the air moving.  Didn't work!

Also, I have other Veronicas, including this Royal Candles variety, and they are not susceptible to it.

Royal Candles Veronica

Veronica spikes with a splash of pink Prairie Joy roses make a beautiful display.

Blooms

Haven't been uploading in a bit.  So here goes.  I bore you with more blooming favourites.  

The above pics are both catchflies.  (The flowers are sticky, hence the name.)  The one to the left is a native wildflower growing in a ditch.  The pink one on the right is it's perennial cousin, probably a hybrid or from another locale.

Gadzania -- one of the few annuals you will find in my little patch.

Peruvian daffodil, spider flower, or basket lily.

This is a quite fool-proof bulb.  It is fast growing, and multiplies each year.  The bulbs are lifted for the winter.

Hope for Humanity rose

The roses all love the weather we've been having.

...as do the hostas!

This house plant is new.  I have only had it for a few months (Thanks Susie) and have forgotten the name.  It is one of the most elegant plants I have seen.  Love how the bloom grows on the long stem.

edit -- The plant is a Streptocarpus (Cape Primrose).  I shall call it by its' common name.  It does look like a primrose.

Here is a website with info on the plant 

http://www.gflora.com/index.php?cmd=genus_body&genus_id=140

Morden Roses

Bouquet of Morden Roses and dianthus.

Aside from a few mini-roses, the only others in my flower garden are from the Morden hardy collection.  I like these roses and would like to add more to my collection.  Seen above are the 'Prairie Joy' (pink), 'Morden Blush' (peach), 'Adelaide Hoodless' (red), and a bud from the 'Hope for Humanity' (dark red). These are all favourites of mine for different reasons; among them being that all are prairie hardy.

Prairie Joy Rose

The Prairie Joy was one of the first shrubs we planted when moving here 15 years ago.  I have actually divided it and begifted many people with a slip.

Adeleide Hoodless Rose

This rose was started from a slip from one of my sisters.  It blooms every year with a multitude of small roses, the just-opening buds being perfect for corsages.

Morden Blush

My newest rose, this was bought last year at season closing for a dollar!!  It thrived from the start and made it through an unpredictable winter where other roses and perennials didn't.  The rose has lovely old-fashioned looking flowers, tightly pedaled in the most beautiful soft pink colour. 

Hope for Humanity

Named for the Canadian Red Cross' 100th anniversary, this rose has beautiful deep red velvety  flowers.  The plant itself has sturdier stems than my other roses.  It took a while for it to show signs of life this spring and I almost took it for dead.  I decided to leave it be and see what will happen.  A lucky move as it finally sent up shoots from the ground and is just now starting to bloom.