I’ve been taking a few pictures all summer, even though I haven’t had time to post.  So, here are some updates on the patio pots planted with seedlings I started early this year.

Here’s a fun mimulus blooming again after I trimmed it back.

Some of the “Funky Pink” begonias are doing better than others–these are blooming really well in a pot with the New Guinea impatiens.

Another photo of the begonias I grew from seed eight months ago.

Coleus finally getting going on the back patio.

Another coleus, showing the flowers coming on.

My favorite in this series of photos–this is a mimulus and impatiens that should be clashing, but actually look really good together!

Another view of some coleus leaves.

Back patio view.

The petunias have been the workhorses of all the sunny pots.  The color range was limited, but the individual flowers/plants were stunning.

These photos don’t capture the depth of the purple/blue color.

The flower form is impressive, too.

The white petunia is impressive, too.

Again, not a great photo, but the red is very pure.

Only one of the New Guinea impatiens survived, but it is a winner.  The flowers are about 2-1/2″ across.  The first flowers opened in August.

Another view.  I’m really hopeful this one makes it through the winter in the greenhouse.

This pot was planted with the tiniest, weakest coleus seedlings. They came into their own recently, in August/September.

I’m not as fond of the star-marked impatiens that I grew this year as I  was of the solid colors I grew last year.  The bi-colored ones are showy, for sure, but a little too busy for my taste.

Here’s a showy coleus growing strong on the back patio.

The coleus got pretty tall this year, which I like.  They also bloomed, which I tried to curtail, but nature won out.

Coleus, mimulus, and impatiens on the back patio.  There is something so cheerful and random about mimulus flowers–they always make me smile.

I love using Pelargonium papillonaceum for foliage contrast.

Pelargonium “Petals” provides more leaf contrast in a sunny pot on the driveway, here with Anagalis monellii.

The true blue Anagalis flowers are impressive, but the plants were less so…spindly and weak.  I think they needed to be grown on in cooler temps early on.

Truly, truly blue.  The “Cola” series Pelargonium provides a nice contrast.

The flowers of Dianthus “Raspberry Parfait” were large and gorgeous.  Their bloom season was pretty short, though, so I trimmed them all back and am hoping for a second bloom before frost.

Salvia “Lighthouse Purple” took a while to get going, but they were impressive in flower, with a long season of color.  I have more seeds that I will definitely grow again next year.