Thursday, October 15, 2015

GBBD: Bloomin' October!

Every October, it seems, I get lulled into a sense of complacency.  Although the days are getting shorter, they are warm and sunny, making me think fall will go on forever, and I have all the time in the world to get all my fall clean-up done in the garden.  Instead of planting the bulbs that keep arriving on my doorstep, I spend my time watering, trying to keep a few new planted perennials and the fall mums alive.  I keep hoping for some rain--we haven't had any significant rainfall in over a month--so that I don't have to water, and so that I don't need a jackhammer to drill through the concrete-like soil to plant bulbs.  But time is running out--I know it, and the garden knows it.  Any day a frost could arrive, putting the garden into hibernation till spring.


Although the growing season is winding down, there are a few new blooms since last month, surprisingly.  What would October be without 'October Skies' asters? I especially like these asters because they form nicely mounded masses of sky-blue blooms, perfect for the front of the arbor bed.


The butterfly garden is mostly green and brown these days now that the New England asters and goldenrod have stopped blooming.  But at the back of this area is a latecomer, Tatarian asters that mysteriously appeared here last here and happily have returned again.


In the front of the butterfly garden, as well as several other places throughout the garden, Frost asters have burst into bloom in the last week or two.  While many may think of these as a weed, when they're in bloom, it's hard to think of them as anything but another pretty aster.


A new bloom this month that has me excited is the Pineapple Sage.  I usually plant one plant each spring, but in the past it has bloomed for a week at the most before getting zapped by the first frost.  This year, though, it bloomed early enough so that I have been enjoying it for a couple of weeks.


Not only has it put out numerous blooms, it's grown into quite a monster!


Also new since last month are the Japanese Anemones, which have actually been blooming for at least three weeks now.  It took a few years for this plant (now plants??) to get established, but once it did, it took off and now provides lots of lovely white flowers when the rest of the area is fading away.  I'm pretty sure this is 'Honorine Jobert.'


I have a pink Anemone, too, one I had forgotten I had planted. I don't remember the name for sure, but it may be 'Robustissima.'  It's a shorter variety, which in my garden means it gets lost among all its neighbors, including the dark burgundy sedum flopping to its right.


Not actually a bloom, but one of my favorite sights each fall is the Beautyberry covered in purple berries.  This year the berries are partially hidden by a tall switchgrass that I temporarily planted near it---one more plant that didn't get moved to a proper place this year, sigh.


Everything else that is blooming has been around for awhile.  The 'Golden Guardian' marigolds at the front of the veggie bed are going crazy.  That's a good thing, because they're hiding the rest of this area that desperately needs some pulling of plants and cleaning up.


The Arbor Bed is pretty wild and crazy right now, too.  But this is the time of year when I appreciate all the annuals that are tough survivors, holding up in spite of no rain for what seems like forever and some serious neglect by the head gardener the last two months. Annual salvia, nicotania, zinnias, and gomphrena should keep on blooming right up until frost.


One of my long-time standbys, 'Victoria Blue' Salvia farinacea, can't be beat for a long-term bloom.  It will even stand up to a little frost.


And of course, one of my very favorite annuals can't be overlooked this month--'Zowie Yellow Flame' zinnias still going strong and still attracting the pollinators.

Volunteer Debbie deadheads the Zowies at the nursing home--I rarely deadhead mine, though.

I've not only bragged about this annual over and over again in this blog, but I also convinced my cohorts at the Nursing Home garden to plant some this year.  As you can see, they are doing well, and my fellow volunteers think I'm a genius:)


The trees are just beginning to turn in our area, but there are other signs of autumn everywhere.  'Limelight' hydrangea blooms are tinged now in pink.


Hostas are turning yellow and crinkling up.


Ornamental grasses are swaying with the autumn winds.


The white crabapple is loaded with fruit--the birds make short work of these once it turns cooler.


Pokeberries are turning a deep purple at last.


Blackberry lilies are showing off their seedheads, actually my favorite stage in this flower.


There are other obvious signs of fall in our area, too.  The last two weeks have been a busy time for farmers as they put in long days harvesting all the corn and soybeans.


Surrounded all summer by tall corn, we can now see for miles once again.  Of course, that also means I probably shouldn't go out to the garden in my ratty blue robe anymore:)


It's a time for gathering pumpkins at the popular local pumpkin patch.  We took two of the grandkids when they had a day off from school last week--Jack's sister was too "cool" to have her photo taken.


And it's time to spruce up a few containers with fall annuals.


Although there are near-freezing temps in the forecast for this weekend, next week promises to be warmer once again, and there's even a chance of rain--hallelujah!  I'll be covering up a few plants like the pineapple sage for a couple of nights, trying to prolong the season.  And most of all, I'll be enjoying the garden for as long as I can.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day is hosted the 15th of each month by the indomitable Carol of May Dreams Gardens.

46 comments:

  1. Those asters are so pretty and so are the anemones and, well...all of your blooms, really. I love the beautyberries and pokeberries. Most of mine are gone already. The birds have been hungry for them this fall, including a lot of the migrants we've had passing through.

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    1. I'm surprised, Dorothy, that the birds haven't eaten more of the berries and the little crabapples yet. I'm sure once it gets colder, though, they will find them soon enough. They especially love the crabapples!

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  2. Hi, Rose!
    Love your asters, they are really fall flowers. How pretty white crabapple is now!
    I see your grandson is helping farmers, isn't he?
    I do think to buy some pumpkins for Halloween because I do not grow them in my garden. Yours look wonderful, especially small ones. The last photo is very nice.
    Happy GBBD!

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    1. I don't grow pumpkins either, Nadezda, and have to buy all of them from local farmers who do. Actually, Illinois produces more pumpkins than any other state in the U.S. This year wasn't a good year for them, though--too wet early in the season and then too dry. I'm glad I was able to find enough nearby!

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    1. Thanks, Tina; we're supposed to get down to freezing tonight, so this may be the end of many of my pretties, sigh.

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  4. Rose
    So much lovely colour still, so good to see. I just adore that 'Zowie Yellow Flame' what a brilliant name!

    Super photo of your grandson - ours loves picking pumpkins too.
    Enjoy the remainder of October and the wonderful colours nature brings.

    All the best Jan

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  5. Rose
    So much lovely colour still, so good to see. I just adore that 'Zowie Yellow Flame' what a brilliant name!

    Super photo of your grandson - ours loves picking pumpkins too.
    Enjoy the remainder of October and the wonderful colours nature brings.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thanks, Jan; I think 'Zowie' is a perfect name for this zinnia, too. Grandson was distracted by a toad he found when we went to pick out pumpkins--he caught him and took him home. I'm not so sure his mother was thrilled by having a pet toad in her garage:)

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  6. I admire anyone who can tell one aster from another. Someday I will learn. Your autumns and mine are very similar - and both beautiful. I was late with my post because WE MOVED yesterday. I could record old and new gardens.

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    1. Pat, I really can't tell most asters apart--I bought the 'October Skies,' so I do remember that one. But I had to do a lot of research to discover what the Tatarian and Frost asters were. I'm still trying to figure out how the Tatarians got here:) Glad you are all moved in!

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  7. Great photos, especially the last one!
    Have a beautiful week-end!
    Lea

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    1. Thanks, Lea; I haven't had much time for gardening lately, but I just had to have kale and pansies for the fall.

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  8. This is my first visit to your blog. My favorite flower in your garden is the Japanese anemone. I don't have any in my garden (located in Pasadena, CA), although I do visit a local garden that has them every year. I actually didn't know what they were until I saw them on your blog. I am a renter, so I can only garden in pots. I wonder if they would grow in a container?

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    1. So nice of you to visit, Danielle! I visited your blog, and your container garden is amazing! I don't know why you couldn't grow anemones in containers, too; it's certainly worth a try.

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  9. I love that annuals border - the colours are fantastic! Japanese anemone take a while to get going here too, but once they establish, there is no stopping them. I like the photo of the local pumpkin patch - we have had a dreadful year for pumpkins, so I will have to buy a few in for Halloween. Belated Happy GBBD!

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    1. Thanks, Sarah. I always start out with a color scheme for the annuals, but pretty soon I'm plopping in plants wherever I can find a space, so I never know what kind of wild color scheme I'll wind up with:) It wasn't a good year for pumpkins here either, so I was glad our local pumpkin farmer still had a good supply.

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  10. Great colors! I've never seen better asters. We had hail last night so I hear you on the end being close. Adorable grandson!

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    1. We escaped the frost Friday night, Sarah, but not Saturday. Even the coleus I had covered up wilted with the frost. Time to get busy and start pulling things out!

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  11. Always nice to see these beautiful flowers !!!
    Lovely pictures !!
    Happy weekend :)

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    1. Thanks, Ela! It's always fun to go back through old Bloom Day posts to see what was blooming when. I realized I had much the same blooms this time last year.

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  12. Lovely arbour garden! Those colours look good together.
    Those striking purple berries .... I bet they're poisonous! I've never seen them before.
    You've certainly got a lot in your garden. I have pink Japanese Anemones.....(single petals) that are still looking good.
    Maggie x

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    1. Hi, Maggie, thanks for taking the time to visit. I hope you are doing well and re-adjusting to the changes in your life. If the purple berries you are referring to are the pokeberries, yes, they are poisonous and can also stain your hands. I'm not sure about the beautyberries, but I never try to eat anything I'm not sure about:)

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  13. Wow, you have been busy! Every time I see Beautyberry shrubs on a post, I remember that they're on my "must have" list. We're on the northern edge of their range, but they do survive here. The UW-Arb has several. I'm thinking they would be a great replacement for the invasive Barberries that we need to pull out and discard. Something to look forward to next spring. Your garden is beautiful in every season!

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    1. Thanks, Beth! I think I first saw the beautyberry on a blog somewhere and just had to have one. It's such a great plant for fall interest.

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  14. Even at this time of the year your garden looks so beautiful. The Asters are really gorgeous Rose. I hope you get some rain!
    Have a wonderful week ahead.

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    1. Thanks, Marijke! Since I posted this, we've had a frost, so the garden isn't looking as good--lots of brown annuals:) And still no rain!

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  15. Hello Rose girl and wow ! You have s o many pretty plants to highlight for this post ... they all look wonderful.
    I read that you hadn't known about Kahome filipendula .. it is a dwarf and very sweet plus it can randomly bloom through out the garden season once it starts. I have three different types of filipendulas and those frothy pink flowers get me every time !
    I love pineapple sage too .. I can't get over how those leaves smell just like pineapple how funny is mother nature ?
    I am on the look out for dwarf asters for next year .. already making a plant list now that is bad when I don't have my chores finished yet ?
    Love those Beauty Berries .. I have Dream catcher but keep it in a mound form so it never gets to that stage .. kind of sad .. I must be a mean gardener? LOL
    Take care
    Joy : )

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    1. Thanks for the info, Joy--I looked it up and discovered I knew it by its common name, Queen of the Prairie. That's been on my wish list for awhile! The pineapple sage has done so well this year--I'm really pleased by it, and I think it managed to survive the frost. Of course, I had a heavy blanket over it for two nights:)

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  16. Wow, love those orange zinnias! And I love Pineapple Sage. Beautyberry bush is so pretty. I just got one I found on sale a few weeks ago, though I was a little disappointed to realize it wasn't a native one. That's awesome you have so many asters. I have a lot of different ones that grow around naturally. I wish I knew the names of them. I, too, am working on prolonging the season. Pretty soon, though, it will be time to work on all those bulbs!

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    1. I don't think my beautyberry is the native either, Indie, but I planted it several years ago and naturally I don't remember:) Trying to work on bulbs a little at a time here, but a good soaking rain would sure make my job easier!

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    1. Thanks, Sally; things have changed quickly since I posted this, since a frost took out many of my annuals.

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  18. I hope the frost didn't get the plants you tried to protect. You have lots of blooms going on this month. Your Zowies are always on my list but I have yet to plant them. Maybe next year. Happy GBBD.

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    1. I thought they had all survived at first, Lisa, but now I see how many plants didn't make it, including the Zowies. I probably should have covered up more and more carefully, but it was getting late, and I ran out of old blankets and sheets:)

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  19. Fantastic asters! And I consider myself an Aster afficianado. I used more S. farinacea this year, it is a great plant, though I like 'Mystic Spires Blue'. Very impressed that you have Pokeberries in your garden. The fruit on that crabapple is very impressive, so pretty.

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    1. I've heard a lot about 'Mystic Spires'--I might check that one out next year. The Victorias are usually the ones readily available in our local nurseries, though. I may be sorry about leaving that Pokeberry plant:)

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  20. Shame about losing "ratty blue robe" gardening privelidges! Love your asters, and the zinnias are amazing too, I always have terrible trouble growing them here and have pretty much given up. I know exactly what you mean about thinking the lovely autumn will go on forever. I have timed the delivery of new plants to coincide with the end of a run of perfect planting weather, not sure we will be getting frost just yet, but I do know I will be planting plants and bulbs under heavy grey skies, taking cover from rain showers. Mind you, like yourselves we really need the rain by now! Enjoy your fall garden, there is lots to delight in.

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    1. Actually, Janet, we're far enough away from our neighbors that they would have to get out binoculars to really see me, though they can probably see a blue blob walking through the garden:) We are in desperate need of rain, too, which is why I'm putting off so much--easier to pull out plants and plant bulbs when the ground isn't so hard!

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  21. Asters are so reliable Rose. They seem to last forever. The plants in my garden were given to me by my father. I remember him telling me, plant those and you will end up with them everywhere in years to come. He was right but I love them.
    Your garden is so full.......mine stands in its shadow. I have some blooms but by no means as many as you.

    Lovely displays Rose, and good to see your Grandson...............

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    1. The warm weather has kept many of the blooms going this year, Cheryl. Your father was very wise:) Grandson is now 8; they do grow up too fast.

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  22. I always admire the beautyberries when I see them at this time of year, I have now decided I will get my own bush even if I have to prune it every year to keep it in check. I assume it doesn’t grow too fast, so for the first few years it will probably be OK in my garden.

    And I agree with you on the Victoria Blue, they look gorgeous, so does your zinnias. Hope you stay frost-free for just a little while longer :-)

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    1. Helene, I cut the beautyberry back to the ground every spring, so it shouldn't be a problem in your garden. The frost did take out most of my annuals, but the Victoria Blues just keep on going!

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  23. Lovely photos. I have a few fall asters from my father but do want to add more. I had Victoria Blue a few years ago and loved it. Hard to find a source.

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    1. I'm surprised the Victorias are hard to find in your area, Marnie. I can buy flats of them at nearly every nursery here, but some of the other varieties are much harder to find. I found a pretty azure salvia--in fact, that might have been the name of it--a few years ago at one of the nurseries, but haven't found it since.

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  24. Hi Rose,
    I enjoyed doing some catching up of your posts. It was nice to see all of those asters blooming, and see the scenes of fall. I love that you have some pokeweed, too. I always let one or two plants grow across the street for the birds.

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