The Begining of Fall

Summer officially ends in a few days but we've already gone from a prolonged heat wave to cooler than average temperatures that feel very fall-like.  Considering that summer started early, I guess it's only fair that fall should too. Fortunately the garden is still happy. I'm loving all of the late and repeat bloomers. 

Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate is coming into its own right now. The plants reseed themselves and if I'm diligent with the slug bait, the tiny seedlings grow and flourish and repeat the cycle. That is, if they're not eaten by a hungry bird which I witnessed this morning but didn't get a photo of.

Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate

Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate

Most of my Echinacea are done but this little flower popped open a few days ago. The cooler temps mean richer hued petals.

Echinacea tennessensis 'Rocky Top Hybrids'

 All of the hardy fuchsias are at their beautiful best right now. The hummers are fighting over them.

Fuchsia 'Santa Cruz'

There are a few repeat bloomers in the Clematis department. In the case of 'Princess Diana' the intermission was very short. She's a prolific and boisterous gal. 

Clematis 'Princess Diana'

And because of her happy ways, once she goes dormant, I will be moving her.

Clematis 'Princess Diana'

Here's a new, unnamed Clematis. It looks like it has some crispa parentage and perhaps a cousin or sibling of C. versicolor. No matter the name. I love it.

Here's another newbie. I've never met a small-flowered Clematis I didn't love.

 And one more. Don't you love that coloring?

Japanese Anemone is the quintessential fall flower. I dug out all of these 'Prince Heinrich' a few years ago. But I missed a few and now I'm glad I did.

Anemone japonica 'Prinz Heinrich'

And, of course, no fall garden would be complete without Aster (or whatever we're supposed to call them now). My favorite of the clan is vibrant pink 'Alma Potschke'. 

Aster novae-angliae 'Alma Potschke'

I'm thrilled to pieces with how well my new Cirsium has done this year. And this bumblebee seems to be too.

Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpeum'

Begonia grandis

Rehmannia elata (Chinese Foxglove)

This hybrid Mimulus comes from Annie's Annuals & Perennials. I'm going to protect it this winter even though it's purported to be hardy down to Zone 7. Its flowers have been nonstop since I purchased the plant last spring.

Mimulus x aurantiacus 'Cherry'

I am hoping my new Correa will bloom this winter like it's supposed to do. It's had a few bells all summer and now it's loaded with them. What a sweet plant.

Correa 'Dusky Bells'

I've already picked a bunch of hydrangea stems for drying. I still need to get some 'Limelight' ones but I want them to get as pink as they want first. 

Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight'

I think the 'Glowing Embers' blossoms are ready.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers'

And now for some wide shots.

Thanks for visiting.

Clematis Love

Although there are people here in Oregon who are lamenting the lack of rain, I'm kind of glad the torrents are holding off a little while longer. It gives me a chance to enjoy the reblooming Clematis. No waterlogged petals here! 

Clematis 'Ville de Lyon'

C. 'Venosa Violacea'

C. 'Polish Spirit'

C. 'Pagoda'

C. 'Julia Correvon'

The Chinese Foxglove, (Rehmannia elata) continue to pump out blooms!

Rehmannia elata

Aren't you all loving our Asters, right now? Are you calling them by their new and "improved" name, Symphytotrichum yet? It's taken me several days just to figure out how to pronounce it. 

"Sim-fy-oh-TRY-kum"

Okay, I guess that's not too terrible.

My garden definitely didn't need another Aster but I couldn't resist this double, deep purple one I saw at a nursery last week while looking at bulbs. 

Newbie Aster--Symphyotrichum novi-belgii 'Marie III"
Hopefully there's still enough yellow fluff for the honeybees.

Argyranthemum 'Comet Red' (Sorry it's blurry.)

Callirhoe involucrata is still pumping out a few blooms.

Next spring I will be sorry for letting my 'Painter's Palette' Persicaria bloom.
But it's so perty!

Last week, my daughter and I found another trough for sale at the Corvallis Habitat for Humanity ReStore. 

SCORE!
I think it's ideal for holding more veggies next year.

The hot summer was kind of brutal to this Acanthus so I couldn't resist take a photo of the new, luscious foliage. 

Acanthus mollis

We're still getting lots of strawberries.

Strawberries, 'Tri-Star'

And finally....

Miscanthus at dusk...

Take care my sweet garden peeps!

Turtle, Turtle...

Years ago I had a three foot wide clump of Turtle Head (Chelone obliqua). It was gorgeous when it flowered in mid-September. The rest of the time it was a mass of boring leaves taking up precious garden space. So on a whim, I yanked it all out for something more worthy.

Because I'm a bit weird, last year I planted a little four-inch pot of Turtle Head. Have I changed my mind? Do I like it now? I guess so. This past April, not remembering where I had planted it, I thought it might have been dead because I couldn't find it anywhere. Eventually I figured out that the little insignificant-leaved plant that had popped up between a vast clump of Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light' and a generous spread of 'David' Phlox (P. paniculata) was indeed my little Turtle Head. Gold star for plant placement, I mumbled to myself. The thing almost died from lack of water in July and finally a few weeks ago, pink blossoms appeared! Not very many but enough to tell me it's a survivor. 

Chelone obliqua

There are other plants that behave the same way. Sedum spectable, Asters (are we still calling them "Asters"?) and Japanese Anemones come to mind--green until bloom time. I've gotten over it. In fact, I kind of like it. The idea that something fresh and lovely takes its time getting here. Gives me something to look forward to. 

Sedum spectable 'Autumn Joy'

Sedum 'Autumn Charm'

Aster novi-belgii 'Coombe Margaret' riding on a wisp of Miscanthus.

Aster novae-angliae 'Alma Potschke'

Aster novi-belgii 'Bahamas'

Aster novi-belgii 'Wood's Purple'

And its nice that the bees love them.

Anemone japonica 'September Charm'

 I've got a few re-blooming Clematis to charm the September garden:

Clematis texensis 'Pagoda'

Clematis viticella 'Confetti'

Alstroemeria x 'Tri-Color' is also re-blooming!

I hope you're enjoying your gardens!