GBBD: September's Changing Colors

Tomorrow is that ever-important day of the month for garden bloggers--Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, hosted by the indefatigable Carol of May Dreams Gardens. I'm posting a little early because I had planned to combine my Bloom Day post with my ABC Wednesday post, since they're closely related, until I realized how long this post would be. Instead, I've turned them into two different posts; I hope you'll come back on Wednesday for some "Bugs and Blooms."





I'm sure the question that has been on everyone's mind for the past month is, "Where are Rose's zinnas???"

Well, here they are! The zinnias got a late start; though a few were just beginning to bloom for the August GBBD, only now are the flowers really making a show. However, I don't have nearly as many as last year, so their "statement" is not quite as dramatic. In looking at the roadside garden, I realized that when I transplanted some lilies in the spring, I took up some valuable zinnia territory. Something to think about for next year . . . I must have more zinnias than this!

Besides the zinnias, there aren't a lot of new blooms. Another point to consider over the winter--adding more fall color to the garden. Yes, there are a few asters providing a fresh focal point . . .

. . . and some fresh nectar for the butterflies. It's hard to see the yellow sulphur in this photo, but I've saved a better one for my next post.


And the sedum has begun to put on its fall fashion show. The "Autumn Joy" here in the roadside garden is doing well, much fuller than last year. But the "Autumn Joy" in my main garden is not as healthy. I've lost at least one plant--the leaves dried up and the stems just broke off in my hand. Tina suggested that I might have voles, and indeed the soil underneath the dead plant feels suspiciously light. Hmmm, perhaps I should let Sophie loose in this garden and see what she digs up.

Another plant that has been blooming for the past month is the goldenrod. This is not your polite and refined hybrid---this is the real thing! In other words, Mr. Procrastinator hasn't been able to keep up with all the weeds around the farm this summer:) While some of the goldenrod has already turned to a burnished brown, other plants are still in full bloom. Of all the "weeds" that grow around the outbuildings, this has to be one of my favorites.

I know I included the Black-eyed Susans on my last post, but they have really come into their own the last two weeks. I couldn't tell you from these photos which are which, but I have a couple of Rudbeckia "Goldsturm" and a couple of Rudbeckia hirta.

Can you believe these are the first Black-eyed Susans here at the "Prairie"? I don't know how I lived without them before. One look at these, coupled with the "Bachelor's Buttons," is sure to make you smile:)

Add some orange and red nasturtiums with some orange--and pink--cosmos hiding behind, and I think you have what Gail refers to as "clown pants." I've mentioned before that, unlike other beds, the Butterfly and Friends garden has no planned color scheme, which is pretty obvious. This is a garden of diversity, where everyone is welcome, regardless of color, size, or aggressive tendencies!

While it was intended to attract creatures with wings, four-legged creatures are welcome, too, as long as they don't dig too much:) This, by the way, is Marmalade, the only cat at our home who has never gotten her photo on this blog; she's very shy. In case you're wondering, those ratty-looking leaves belong to some volunteer hollyhocks which need to be removed to make more room for the nasturtiums. This was the first year for planting both cosmos and nasturtiums--they will definitely be planted again next year.

Four-legged creatures aside, there are some other surprises in the Butterfly garden. The pineapple sage, which has grown fuller and fuller, has finally put out one stalk of blooms. I'm hoping for more before the cold sets in.

But my biggest surprise on Sunday was finding all of these blooms not far from the sage! This must be an aster, but I don't even remember planting one. I did find the tag still in the ground after some digging around, but unfortunately the elements obliterated all the writing. Judging by the type of plant tag, it must be one I purchased from the local Prairie Plant Society last spring. Note to self: write down your purchases as well as tagging the plants.

There are other plants still blooming--the nepeta, the coreopsis, the salvia and Stellas putting out a second flush of blooms, just to name a few. And there are the annuals, most of which are still in full bloom, although some of my containers are looking a bit tired and run-down, due to neglect from the gardener. But there is definitely a change in the air, as other perennials are turning brown and giving up for the season. Nowhere is the change more obvious than in the hollyhocks pictured above--most have long since dried up and formed seed pods ready for collecting, while a few stalks show promise of sticking around a little longer.

Some of the lantana is putting more energy into producing berries than blooms.

And other plants have gone into end-of-season mode completely. Aren't these seed pods cool? They're nigella, or "love-in-the-mist," seeds given to me by Cheryl. I'm hoping to collect some seeds from these for next year. Yes, fall is definitely in the air and the garden is winding down, except . . .

. . . my crabapple trees are blooming! The trees have lost almost all their leaves, but they've been full of these blooms since the middle of August. Monica and Beckie can attest to the fact that this is not a staged photo, since they both saw them on their visit in late August. If anyone can explain this strange phenomenon, I'd love to find out why this has happened. If not, I think I might be in line for an award for one of the strangest September blooms ever.

Happy Bloom Day to all! And do take the time to check out all the other wonderful Bloom Day posts from around the world, listed on May Dreams Gardens.