Here's
catmint, Nepeta x faassenii, growing in my garden. The catmint was planted in late Spring from a three inch pot. I placed it near the steps going down to the perennial garden so it could drape over the ledge. If you deadhead the flowers catmint blooms continuously from Spring to Fall and it keeps a nice compact shape. The small bumblebees and hummingbirds love the nectar of this plant.
Yesterday as I was watering the catmint an
irridescent green hummingbird came right up and sipped nectar less than a foot from me. It was quite warm in the late afternoon and I think the hummingbird was very thirsty. The catmint is in the same family as catnip.
Here's what my perennial garden looks like now. Can you see Barney sitting there? Next Spring I'll fill in between some of the plants with more hardy perennial flowers.
See how the
salvia, pineapple sage, is blooming all over the ends of the stalks now. I put the chair there so Barney can't sneak up on the hummingbirds.
The salvia flowers start out drooping like this.
Then as the flowers open they stand straight up. Several hummingbirds have been having territorial wars over the shrub. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.
