Everything happened earlier than I expected this growing season. We got weird-for-Minnesota treats like tomatoes in June and apples in August.

The one exception at my house are three princess flower plants. I'd never grown them before but I bought them because I liked the clusters of neon-purple flowers that appeared on the tag.

I planted them in big containers (without reading the tag) in mid-May, and waited. And waited some more. No flowers appeared. There weren't even any buds.

I'd tossed the tag, so I asked readers of this blog to help me figure out what the heck I was growing. One astute reader identified it as princess flower. So I did a little research, and learned that princess flowers are late-summer bloomers that typically flower in August. OK. I could be patient.

As August came and went, I studied my plants every day, looking for something -- anything -- that might turn into a flower. Then on Sept. 1, a tiny bud appeared on one plant. Finally! I couldn't wait to see those purple flowers.

But I'm still waiting. The bud has grown, but it's still tightly closed, without a hint of purple peeking through its silver-green leaves. Even this week's balmy summer weather has failed to coax it to open.

At this point, with October looming, I don't think I'm going to get a single bloom, which has definitely diminished my motivation to grow princess flowers. Anybody out there had any experience with this plant? And is there anything you're still waiting to see in YOUR garden?