I planted a Penstemon earlier this spring. The last time I checked on it I thought it looked a little strange. It turns out there’s a New England Aster growing in the same space. I’d like to be able to salvage both plants since that’s the best looking aster in my garden, currently. Everything else has been devastated by lace bugs, but this one only has minor damage. Do I need to dig up both?

In case the photo is confusing, the bottom portion is definitely Penstemon leaves. It’s difficult to see in this photo but they’re also on the other side. It even bloomed earlier this year. The tall portions sticking up look exactly like a young New England Aster to me. The portions that look like Penstemon, the lace bugs don’t touch. The aster portions have some minor lace bug damage. I only noticed due to the lace bugs. They don’t touch any of the other Penstemons in the garden so I was confused when I saw one hanging on this plant.

I've seen seeing posts all over Lemmy about bots inundating instances with sign-ups. I'm just wondering if mander.xyz is doing OK.

Coneflowers and beebalm.

Yes, I killed that spotted lanternfly after I took the photo.

This is the second year I've had them (Monarda fistulosa). I think they were already a season old by the time I planted them in my flower bed. I had also planted red beebalm (Monarda didyma) and spotted beebalm (Monarda punctata) in the same flower bed. Both of the latter flowered the first year and the red beebalm is already flowering this year. However, the M. fistulosa didn't flower last year and show no signs of flowering this year. They just keep getting taller. I'm certain they're getting enough sun light. Every other flower around them requiring full(er) sun are creating bulbs. I would say this bush is just a dud, but I planted two of these and they're both having the same issue.

Anyone have ideas?