Every day is one less day of summer... This is the mantra I have been repeating every evening at twilight since early June as soon as the weather turned summery. I didn't want to waste a minute of it, knowing it would be over in a flash.
Here we are in mid-September, already. Some people are tired and ready for the change that fall will bring. I'm not. Well, I am looking forward to soft, rain-soaked soil to dig in so I can get everything planted. But I don't want to say goodbye to sunshine and warm tempertures. Not yet.
Here are photos of things...
Recently I picked up the Mukgenia--a generic cross between Mukdenia and Bergenia. It's a neat, leafy, low growing thing for the shade border. I was pleasantly surprised to see these unique and very pink flowers adorning it.
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| Mukgenia nova 'Flame' |
This poor Dahlia. It didn't die like so many others did after last winter's record cold but it didn't really live either. At least not in the ground. In June I dug it up and put it in a pot. It finally bloomed.
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| A troubled Dahlia |
Ditto for the Digiplexis. It survived the winter in a pot but sat around for most of the spring and early summer doing nothing. Finally it's aglow.
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| Digiplexis 'Illumination Flame' |
I have a few Clematis blooming. Check out this newbie called 'Chameleon'. Aptly named for the way the coloration changes as the flower ages.
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| Clematis 'Chameleon' new |
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| Clematis 'Chameleon' after three days |
It reminds me of how the double-flowered clematis blooms change as they age.
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| Clematis florida 'Alba Plena' newly blooming |
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| Clematis florida 'Alba Plena' after several days |
Below is another newbie for me this spring. I'm tempted to think the buds are prettier than the actual flower.
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| Clematis versicolor buds |
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| Clematis versicolor in flower |
One last interesting floral evolution is the morning glory. Check it out in the morning.
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| Morning Glory ~~ Ipomoea 'Pretty n Pink' Morning |
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Morning Glory flower in the afternoon... as the petals age,
they lose the lavender tint and turn a warm pink |
Which do you like better? Personally, I'm not much of a morning person.
I was a bit slow in cutting back my Clematis x triternata 'Rubromarginata' but in like two weeks it is blooming again! This time much lower so I can catch a whiff of the flowers without a ladder.
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| Clematis x triternata 'Rubromarginata' |
It's Aster time! (I'm reluctant to embrace the new name, Sym...something or other.)
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| Aster 'Alma Postchke' |
And there are other bloomers...
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| Saponaria x 'Max Frei' blooming from a cutting |
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| Nerium oleander 'Hardy Red' |
I bought Persicaria 'Fat Domino' after reading all the hype about it being a showier, fat spike. I think it has lived up to that hype, compared to the species. Tell me what you think.
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| Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Fat Domino' |
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Persicaria amplexicaulis
with Clematis 'Polish Spirit and C. 'Confetti' |
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| Impatiens arguta such a quirky little flower |
I am really impressed with this Euphorbia. I grew it from seed sown last year. It started blooming in July and has been going non-stop since. Tiny white flowers in profusion.
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| Euphorbia corollata |
Speaking of white flowers, another Aster. This one is for my shady white garden.
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| Eurybia divaricata 'Eastern Star' (Aster) |
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| Fuchsia 'Debron's Black Cherry' |
The Hibiscus flowers might be the best part about late summer. So big and blousy, they're impossible to ignore.
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| Hibiscus moscheutos 'Torchy' |
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| Hibiscus moscheutos 'Turn of the Century' |
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| Hibiscus moscheutos 'Kopper King' with burgundy leaves! |
Even the smaller-flowered tree Hibiscus (Rose of Sharon) are lookers, aren't they?
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| Hibiscus syriacus 'Aphrodite' |
I had a chance to buy more Pitcher plants recently but didn't. I'm kicking myself now. But at least I've got this one going to town among the other pond goodies.
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| Sarracenia and variegated Acorus |
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| Nicotiana mutabilis and Weigela florida 'Variegata' |
The heat really woke up the Crape Myrtle, another stellar late-season bloomer.
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| NOID Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia) |
Hubby and I are thinking about carving a small creek in this area under the tree. There is a natural slope and I've got tons of rocks I've been collecting. I'm not thrilled about ripping out all these plants but it's almost too shady for them now anyway.
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| These poor Dianthus need more sun. |
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| I could probably make some adjustments and squeeze the Dianthus into this sunny area. |
Some random garden photos...
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| This shiny little sedum, (Sedum oreganum) is such a pleasant little plant. |
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| Penstemon rupicolia, the gray-leaved plant is another easy low-growing plant. |
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| Time to deadhead the Phlox... |
That's all for now. I hope you're enjoying your gardens.
Oops. I published this late last night, forgetting that I promised to make mention of the HPSO Fall PlantFest coming up this Saturday. The esteemed Sean Hogan of
Cistus Nursery will be speaking about his favorite plants, followed by a plant sale. You can find all the information by clicking
here.
