Thursday, September 15, 2011

September Bloom Day

September has been a month of extreme mood swings so far, with temperatures fluctuating all over the place, including a few days in the high '90's to a forecast for the low 30's the next few nights.  Instead of worrying about watering, I may need to dig out the blankets and cover up my tomatoes and annuals instead!  But fall is definitely in the air, and there are visible signs in the garden.


Sedum is putting on its fall wardrobe, and the asters are beginning to bloom.  As I was going through my photos for today's post, I was surprised to see from a similar picture I took last week how much the sedum has changed in such a short time.  Last week this 'Autumn Joy' was just a pale pink, while today it sports a much rosier hue.


In the Arbor Bed another sedum looks even more like fall.  This new sedum was a passalong from my aunt who said it was also an 'Autumn Joy.'  But it must be some other cultivar because its stems are burgundy, and its florets are also more of a burgundy, much darker than they appear here.  Whatever cultivar it is, I do like it, especially since it has a sturdy upright habit, unlike some of my 'Autumn Joys.'


Most of the true fall bloomers are in the butterfly garden where self-seeders goldenrod and native asters have really taken hold.  And to think, just two years ago there was only one aster here and no goldenrod.  These two are almost as prolific as rabbits!


Two years ago there was also only one Obedient Plant, and that one never bloomed.  Anyone wanting to establish a native garden in a hurry could plant these three species and cover a lot of garden in no time.


A new favorite in the Arbor Bed this year is the Beautyberry.  I planted several new shrubs this year, and of all of them, the Beautyberry has done the best.  I've admired this plant on other blogs for several years, and I'm happy to finally have my own purple berries this fall.


'Limelight' is still going strong in the shade garden; its flowers are now taking on a subtle pink tinge.


Coreopsis 'Moonbeam' is putting on a new flush of blooms after taking a rest for the past month.


Nearby, the volunteer cleome have been blooming for over a month 
and show no signs of giving up anytime soon.


  In fact, if it weren't for the annuals, I wouldn't have had many blooms the past few weeks. From Angelonia to Zinnias, the many different annuals have provided lots of color during the transitional time from the summer garden to the fall garden.  I'm beginning to think my procrastination in planting seeds this summer actually turned out to be a good idea.  These are 'Cool Crayon Colors' zinnias from Renee's Garden.


'Snow Sonata' cosmos are a shorter variety than most cosmos, and not as prone to flop over.  Also from seeds from Renee's Garden, they have just started to bloom. 


'Victoria Blue' salvia has always been a favorite of mine for late color in the garden.  This year I added some 'Victoria White' in the Arbor Bed as well, and it's performed just as well.  Bumblebees and other pollinators seem to find it just as appealing as the native plants in the garden.


But the annual that has out-performed all the others this year, at least when it comes to size, has been the Hyacinth Bean vine.  I'll have to talk about this plant in more detail in a later post, but let's just say that a few seeds are more than enough to cover a trellis:)


The hummingbirds have loved this plant, though, and now besides the pretty purple blossoms, we have these cool purple bean pods. 

What is blooming in your garden today?  Join garden bloggers from all over the world in celebrating Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, hosted each month by gardening guru Carol at May Dreams Gardens.



42 comments:

  1. Rose, it is wonderful to see all of your annuals still giving you some liveliness in the garden. Happy GBBD.

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  2. Beautfiful post. SO many beautiful flowers. Happy GBBD!

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  3. You got some good stuff going on in your early fall garden! Sedum always looks good, it's such a reliable (and overused) plant, but everyone needs them in the fall garden, they are always so interesting looking at this time.

    Your photo of the beautyberry shows a lovely lavender-berried plant, but the ones I have seen in real life have such oddly colored berries. I have to say I'm not a fan of the strange purple color!

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  4. Rose girl you still have a lot going on in your garden and WOW! on the purple bean pods .. they are fantastic !
    We have a cool rain day today and the garden can use all the rain drops that are falling .. I see the temps will be cooler .. so I better get my act in gear and do Autumn chores soon !
    Very pretty bloom day pictures Rose : )
    Joy

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  5. I don't like any mention of rabbits! Even metaphorical rabbits. Things are looking great in your garden. We've had temperature swings, too, and the weatherman is threatening us with frost.

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  6. Your garden is lovely!!! I am especially taken with the white cosmos ... any sort of white flower instantly makes my heart beat a little bit faster.

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  7. I have to be honest: I hate zinnias but I'm very envious of your asters and solidago! Nice plantings and color combinations!

    Alberto.

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  8. Rose, that Hyacinthe Bean vine looks interesting. I'm always on the lookout for things the hummingbirds will like. And I like your white salvia too, I didn't know it was available in white. Thanks, Sheri.

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  9. All your blooms are lovely but I particularly like the 'Snow Sonata' cosmos! Very pretty.
    Happy GBBD :)

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  10. Breathtaking blooms! My favorite are the sedums...gorgeous! Happy GBBD!

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  11. I was thinking recently that I want some asters. We had some just like yours in the garden when I was a little girl.

    It looks as if there is plenty of colour and life in your garden. And I love the purple bean pods!

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  12. Just lovely...I really like the rich color of the mystery Sedum!

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  13. That hyacinth bean is glorious. Perhaps I can try it come next spring.

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  14. Lots of lovely blossoms, but that beautyberry is a stunner!

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  15. Still lots of stuff blooming in your garden Rose! Love the white cosmos and salvia. Your beauty berry sure is living up to its name! Happy Bloom Day!

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  16. Love your September blooms. Sedum really shines doesn't it? We have Goldenrod growing wild across the state....really a sunny yellow. I planted Obediant Plant ONCE in Virginia....lucky for me it didn't like salt water....one flood took care of the evergrowing mass.
    I love Hyacinth bean vine. I harvested the little oreo looking seeds and decorated a little paper mache box lid and fill the box with the seeds for my sister. Fun box and filled with seeds for her to enjoy.

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  17. Love your blooms Rose! You have given me some new ideas as I think ahead to next year!

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  18. Thank you, Rose! You have shown me two plants that I must try: Beautyberry and Hyacinth Bean vine. The Beautyberry is stunning! And I see that it survives to zone 5. I suppose I'm on the edge of its range, but I must try it! Beautiful post!

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  19. Rose, you have so many pretty flowers right now. I have none except my Autumn Joy is beautiful and I also have a few blooms on my Moonbeam. That's about it. Our hot, dry summer wasn't much fun.

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  20. How wonderful to have so many different flowers at this time of the year.
    I have Sedums and the ceanothus is in flower again and a late flowering clematis.
    Maggie X

    Nuts in May

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  21. Your mystery sedum might be 'Matrona'; which has 'Autumn Joy' as a parent. It's supposed to be a good sedums. I think the sedums are my favorite fall bloomers of them all. Very nice!

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  22. I'm looking forward to hearing more about that hyacinth bean vine.

    My 'Moonbeam' coreopsis is re-blooming now, too, and complements the sedum beautifully.

    I like the look of the obedient plant, and, as the mother of an 11 and 13 year old, I like its name, too! I gather I should put it somewhere where it will have lots of room!

    Beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing!

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  23. Your garden is flourishing and happy-looking! Even with these drastic temperature changes. Mine's just about done!

    Those purple beans look so intriguing. I've never seen them before.

    I laughed at your "obedient" plant not blooming. You should name it "disobedient" LOL

    Hope your garden continues to bloom and grow throughout the autumn. I've seen geese beginning their migration already, so autumn is really here.
    p.s. love your pics, especially the little bee.

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  24. Yes, thank goodness for the annuals. Obedient plant in my garden is a bit of a nemesis. It spreads everywhere as do the garlic chives. I can't believe we went from hotter than hades in one minute to full blown autumn the next. Thanks for sharing your beautiful bloomers. I do love hyacinth bean too.~~Dee

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  25. Annuals are my favorite. They try so hard! I love the cool colors of the zinnia you have planted, are you going to be saving the seed?!
    I would like to have some goldenrod, but am afraid it would take over, as some have said.
    Would you consider it a well behaved perennial?

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  26. You still have so much blooming for September! My funny zinnias just started blooming this week. I keep them in the green house now at night.
    I wish you a happy fall!

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  27. Wow, the beauty berry and the zinnias are particularly striking. And the hyacinth bean! How cool. I'm going to have to look for that in the spring.

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  28. What glorious blooms you have, my dear! Love, love, love white cosmos. Somehow, I have not planted them for several years. On the list for next year and thanks for the reminder.

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  29. Hi Rose, I haven't done a GBBD post in months! I have a few of the plants that you've shown here...but that bean vine flower is 'way cool':-) Now I think I need to plant a Beautyberry bush too...such a pretty shade of purple!

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  30. Autumn Joy has always been one of my favorite plants. I love that passalong cultivar, whatever it is. I hope the frost holds off for a while yet. Enjoy that lovely midwest autumn!

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  31. Oooh I love that 'Beauty Berry'


    Can't believe summers over already.

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  32. I love the name 'Cool Crayon Colors'. The past couple of years I have returned to using annuals (other than Bidens) to fill in places in the garden. So useful and they bloom all season!

    Goldenrod and aster are a classic fall combination aren't they, and beautiful together.

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  33. Thanks for visiting everyone! It's been a busy week, and I've been trying to visit everyone's Bloom Day posts instead of replying individually here. The hyacinth bean vine is worth trying; Janet, you reminded me to pick some seedpods for decorative projects. To all who liked the white cosmos--this is the first year I've had it, and it's beautiful!

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  34. Beautiful collection of blooms! I should turn my entire gardens to sedum with their wanting little water. We have had a dry summer and low water usage plants might be the way to go for me! Ah, the beauty berry, I have asked Tina for one of her sprigs when I go to TN in Oct. I have since seen them growing wild in a nearby park! They must be natives here. I love the Bean and their purple blooms. The bugs like them here so I have a difficult time keeping them well in my gardens...

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  35. We're having the same weather here. Hot and then cool and even a frost warning this past week. I dug out blankets last night to cover the peppers and some dahlias. The buds on the dahlias haven't even opened yet and I can't lose them before even seeing a flower!

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  36. You have some nice looking blooms. I love that pass a long sedum and the hyacinth beans. I tried scarlet runner beans on my front trellis, but the rabbits ate the plants. I wonder if they would eat the hyacinth bean vine, and if it would do well there.

    You asked me if I have had a lot of blooms on the pitcher sage. I have planted some each year for the past 3 years or so. There's a woman who sells her divisions at a community garden plant sale. The first ones didn't bloom the first year, but now, they all seem to be blooming. They just started blooming a week or two ago. The blue is very pretty.

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  37. Lots of good stuff still popping, Rose. Sedum is definitely wearing its fall wardrobe here too. Lots of perky pinks including my dear turtlehead.

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  38. Rose a glorious Autumn garden you have! I like to cut stems of Sedum and sunflowers and place in a vase for a cheery autumn display!
    A colorful garden for sure!

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  39. Beautiful photos of fall in your garden - taking notes, esp noting that less floppy white cosmos and the hyacinth bean - wouldn't have guessed it was a hummingbird plant!

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  40. What a bevy of blooms you have on your hands. I'm glad you have discovered beautyberry. And staying on purple, ruby bean looks even better in the fall. Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work.

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  41. Looking at your flowers always makes me happy. We grow a lot of the same things (great minds and all that), but it's always also fun to see things you have that I don't, like that lovely hyacinth bean vine. I like them and haven't grown them in a long time, and I have no idea why! For sure will sow for next year. I love the pods, too! The 'Victoria White' salvia is also stunning. I also love my beautyberry; it gets so vibrantly purple you think someone Photoshopped it!

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  42. Wow Rose, beautiful view of what's flowering in your garden.
    Gr. Marijke

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