This will be a short tour today because it's pretty nippy out there--about 40 degrees. And I do hope you have brought your umbrella and some old gardening shoes for sloshing through the mud. We have had rain, rain, and more rain for the past few weeks, but I did hear we might have a change in the weather soon--a chance for snow this weekend! Looks like we'd better hurry . . .
Aside from the potted mums purchased already in bloom, there are still some spots of color in my garden. One of those mums purchased two years ago has happily established itself in my shade garden.
What has surprised me, though, are the annuals that are still blooming. After being gone for the weekend when we had a freeze here in central Illinois, I didn't expect to see anything still alive in my garden when I returned. But the "Victoria Blue" salvias and Homestead Verbena are still going strong, though the Victorias are beginning to lose some blooms and turn to their silvery winter coat.
In Roco's memory garden the Profusion White zinnias are full of blooms and show no sign of giving into the cold just yet.
Most of the blooms in the Butterfly & Friends garden have given up, but the nasturtiums are still looking good.
Not a great photo, but I have been so pleased with this begonia, its name buried somewhere in my archives. I don't think I have ever been able to keep a potted begonia alive all summer before, but this one has continually bloomed on my porch all summer.
The "Rozanne" geranium in Roco's garden also seems undaunted by the cold.
As is the Salvia "Black and Blue." This is one annual that will definitely be purchased again.
Not a great photo, but I have been so pleased with this begonia, its name buried somewhere in my archives. I don't think I have ever been able to keep a potted begonia alive all summer before, but this one has continually bloomed on my porch all summer.
And, of course, the old standbys geraniums/pelarogoniums are loving this cool weather. It will take a hard freeze to make them give up for the year.
The Butterfly & Friends garden was a new addition this year, and it took some time for some of the plants to achieve their full potential. This pineapple sage has really taken off and is finally in full bloom. I don't know much about this plant, including whether it is an annual or a perennial, but I need to do some research soon. If it's an annual, I need to see if I can collect some seeds for next year--this one is definitely a keeper.
This one I know will be back, though--a chocolate Joe Pye, a gift from Monica, seems unfazed by the cool weather and is setting out more blooms.
Of the few perennials still in bloom here, the Knockout Roses, are putting out the best display. I think they're just so happy that all those pesky insects that plagued them all season have finally left. They will bloom their heads off until a hard freeze.
The "Rozanne" geranium in Roco's garden also seems undaunted by the cold.
I wasn't surprised to see this "Becky" daisy nearby still in bloom, but I was amazed that we still had some bees in the garden. Apparently, these hoverflies
are hardier than most of the other species of bees.
It has been a strange fall with much cooler and wetter conditions than last year's ideal autumn. This hydrangea "Let's Dance in the Moonlight" still is hanging onto its faded blooms, but the foliage hasn't turned to the bronze color I liked so much when I bought it last fall. I think everything in the garden is a bit confused this year.
Nothing, though, is as confused as this clematis. You might remember last year when I showed two different blooms on this clematis, finally deciding that I must have gotten a "two-fer" in the pot I purchased. In the spring I had a mass of blooms from what I think is a "Nelly Moser," but last August I also had these lavender, unnamed blooms. I have been waiting since late summer to see if they would bloom again and had given up on them. To my surprise, this bloom just opened up. If there are going to be any more buds on this plant, they had better hurry up before the snow flies!
While my garden is definitely winding down for the winter, I know that many of you in warmer climates are still enjoying spending time in the garden. These lovely asters are not in my garden, but from the "mystery" garden I posted about on Tuesday. On our way home from Tennessee we made a slight detour to visit one of several gardens I've always longed to visit. Many of you recognized that peaceful scene of the chairs in the front garden . . .
Yes, I finally got to see in person Gail's Garden of Benign Neglect! As much as I love this name, though, it really doesn't fit this wonderful setting of native and native-friendly plants. Gail's friendly bumbles weren't sleeping on this morning; they were busy going from one bloom to another, enjoying their feast. Our visit was short, as Husband was anxious to get home before dark and, truth be told, I was anxious to see Sophie, but we managed to fit in a grand tour of Clay and Limestone before leaving. I wasn't sure we were going to be able to fit in a visit at all, so I arrived empty-handed--shame on me!--but left with a bounty of Tennessee plants. Next year on this Bloom Day, I hope I'll be able to show you a giant aster now blooming in my Illinois garden! Thanks, Gail, for being such a gracious hostess and the tour of such a beautiful garden.
