Q: I am growing some penstemon plants (also known as beardtongue) in my backyard and they are blooming beautifully. However, some of the flowers have now passed their prime and are brown and wilted.

The tall western penstemon is part of a genus of plants commonly known as “beardtongues.” Its vivid purple-blue flowers, perched high atop its unusually long stems, make a distinctive and beautiful ...