Amaranthus Alley

We had amaranth in the main perennial bed last year. It was awesome but really deserves a stand alone spot. Plus it kinda clashed with the bee balm, so this year, nine in a row with a row of giant (hopefully) sunflowers behind them. This area gets wicked hard sun all day and is probably the future home of a vegetable garden- after we lift yet more sod.

PS: They're all droopy and pissed off here because we just transplanted them the 5th. They had self-seeded all over the main bed- love the free seedlings! They're done drooping now and ready to start growing again.

Love-Lies-Bleeding

One of the amaranthus got so top heavy it fell over. S'okay. I cut a huge bouquet for a friend and righted it again. I think it can hold its own now. Maybe this is why its common name is love-lies-bleeding!

Amaranthus Again

We got a heavy rain yesterday. That, combined with the weight of the flowers, felled some of the amaranthus. That's cool cuz it gave me an excuse to cut some. Look at the size of those babies!

Still Gardening (like Madame DeFarge)

Amaranthus caudatus

"...may Love, we pray/ Like amaranthine flowers, feel no decay..."* -Joachim du Bellay from "A Vow To Heavenly Venus," ca. 1500.

*It says that cuz amaranthus retains its color almost indefinitely when dried.