...to prolong the blooming period of columbine you need to interrupt this seed producing process by removing the faded flowers and any seed pods that have formed. The plant then sends up more flowers in an effort to make more seeds. Since columbine are perennial and grow back from their rootstock, you'll still have a columbine in the same spot next year... sourceIt is a shame to pluck these beauties and denude them of flowers. But I saved some columbines in pictures just in case we don't get another crop of yellow columbines this summer.
Above are cosmos that were started from seed in April in the kitchen window. The "before" picture is below of both the cosmos and the zinnias.
And lastly, for historical botanical purposes, is the penstemon purchased for the wildflower garden begun in 2012.
Even though I have lost several plants over the winter, overall the garden is doing well. How is YOUR garden growing?