Cait's Garden

Okay, I’m being a bit dramatic. We gardeners are sensitive people. But tall phlox truly are a mixed bag in any given summer. Prone to powdery mildew, this plant has its good summers and its bad. I have collected varieties that promise to be mildew resistant, but not all live up to their claims. (Regular application of a liquid copper fungicide can sometimes help, but it rained too much to apply it regularly.) This summer, my usually hardy and spectacular Blue Paradise Phlox were taken out early by the incessant rains. But two newer varieties, planted just last summer, were surprising winners. Not only did they avoid the dreaded mildew, but they bloomed two weeks later than my other phlox, meaning that they have single-handedly extended my phlox season. Shown in the photo is Red Volcano and Candy Stripe Volcano (“Volcano” being a brand of phlox bred for mildew-resistance). The red is an unusually deep, hot pink and the candy-striped looks just as promised. A dazzling combination, I think.