My plant of the year ~

If I could nominate a plant of the year it would definitely be Gomphrena "Fireworks".

 Their performance this year was so magnificent, blooming consistently, just as you see below, since early last spring. They never let up even though our hot, dry, summer months. All this with very little water.

In early spring I planted six plants, three on each side of the path leading to the fountain roundel and finally last weekend I had to cut them back to make room for winter annuals.

Although they might not winter over in colder climates here they act as perennials and come back each year.

An extra bonus is that they make wonderful dried flowers, keeping both their shape and vivid color. I love using them in dried arrangements.

As much as I like them and how pretty, they are a bit too large and vigorous for this spot and tended to obstruct the path. I will be transplanting them to a less formal spot in the far back of the garden where they can grow in all of their glory to their hearts content. 

There is nothing as much fun for a gardener as finding a wonderful new plant, it is one of the things that makes the 'work' part of gardening worth all of the effort.

Thank you for visiting.