For well over a month now, one of my favorite late-blooming perennials has brightened a dark spot in our shady front yard. All summer long, lush deep green foliage fills the spot - it almost looks tropical. Then, in late fall, dark red spiky blooms shoot out and will last until the first frost. It is called firespike (Odontonema strictum).

Nothing has bothered this plant for the past three or four years that have had it. This past summer, during our hot dry spell, the wax myrtles suffered die-back; the firespike did not miss a beat, staying lush throughout. Foliage stands about 2 ½ to 3 feet tall, and the blooms are 12 inches and more. It is planted in soil that has been amended with compost and other organic materials, and is usually well-mulched. We fertilize it three times a year with our organic fertilizer (our regular fertilization for the whole yard), and that is it - a great underused plant.

P.S. When I wrote about our employee garden last week, I was in big trouble for neglecting to mention Austin’s plot. His would definitely fall in the practical category - jalapenos, radishes, broccoli, mizuna and ruby streak mustards - typical plants for a high school senior! Austin has been with us for a year and a half now. We will surely miss him when he graduates.