In late spring Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ enlivens my garden meditation circle with red-inspired stems and leaves and spires of white blooms.
Occasionally a flower’s throat is lightly brushed with ruby.
Hummingbirds recently visited these beauties; butterflies and bees are also attracted.
The plants have self-seeded over the years, usually parking themselves directly in the meditator’s path, rather than along the labyrinth’s wall as designed. But it is easy to relocate them or for that matter to simply to step aside mindfully—observing, noticing–feeling gratitude.
Verbena bonariensis peeking from among the Penstemon
While other penstemon (beardtongue) are short-lived in my garden Husker Red thrives.
pbmGarden 
Every garden, it seems, has its favorite plants. This is a beauty, and it’s nice to see it thriving there. The scene with the white fence in the background is so lovely.
Thanks Beth. It’s a special pleasure when a plant decides it is at home here.
Oh, to have that Penstemon self-seed in my garden! I’ve had mixed, and more generally poor, luck in growing Penstemons. I tried ‘Husker Red’ in my old garden and it promptly died but perhaps I need to give it another try in my current one. (Plentiful rain leads to delusions, usually temporary ones.)
I love the blue and purple Penstemons but they die out quickly. For some reason Husker Red is content here. You must be over the moon this year with all the rain.
It looks so pretty, seeding around is a bonus. I look forward to seeing it each year. It is certainly happy in your garden.
Thanks Pauline. If only all plants gently multiplied like this Penstemon. Other areas of the garden are inhabited by thugs.
I’ve never seen it look so lovely or happy. Well done.
Thanks. It’s nearly evergreen here too so that’s a bonus.
I have never had penstemons self seeding, how lovely they look growing on mass.
The leaves aren’t as red from the self-seeders, still they’re nice.
Beautiful, and I can only imagine how lovely it is in person.
Thanks Judy. It is nice to witness the penstemon this time of year.
Like fairies in the garden – so pretty!
Dancers, at that. Thanks.
You’ve so much to be grateful for – a self-seeding penstemon! And such a beauty too. I do love to see a mass of one plant that is perfectly happy.
Yes indeed Cathy. Thanks.
They are such pretty plants Susie. Happy they reseed themselves for you! 🙂
They are short lived? The common types here are perennial. They are popular because they are (remotely) related to the natives. I have never had them self sow. They are hybrids, so are probably nearly sterile.
I love Penstemon. I have both ‘Husker Red’ and the straight species Smooth Penstemon. I love watching the bees climb in and out of the tubular flowers.
Yes, exactly—the bees really work that Penstemon!