The Last Week of October? No Way!

It's really true that the older we get, the faster time swifts by. Despite the reality of the calendar, there hasn't been a frost yet and my garden is still doing its best to hold on to summer. I have to keep reminding myself to stop all toiling and enjoy the moment.

Clematis 'Ville de Lyon' leaning on Sedum oreganum

A single blossom of Dahlia 'Otto's Thrill'

Dahlia 'Otto's Thrill'

Dahlia 'Otto's Thrill' didn't start blooming until a few weeks ago.
The thrill isn't exclusive to Otto!

Dahlia 'Creme de Cassis' has really cool coloring. 

Volunteer Love-Lies-Bleeding growing with my fragrant! Nemesia.

A delightful surprise on one of my Stachys officinalis 'Pink Cotton Candy'

A few last flowers on my Hollyhock

Finally a few buds on my Climbing Aster Ampelaster carolinianus. 
I purchased this plant last fall so I don't know if this is normal behavior or not.
Anybody know?

 Garden shots:

This is where the pear tree once stood. I'm in the process of redesigning it now. Fun!
You could say this is the "before" photo. The after won't be published until next spring.

The south bed, with tired plants.

A very happy Clematis 'Madame Julia Correvon' 

Just behind the uncharacteristically lush (for this time of year) Canna foliage,
is my burgeoning Gardenia 'Frost Proof' and behind that a blushing Nandina.

Here's another shot. In front of the Nandina is Hellebore foetidus already in bud.
I cast those cement leaves several years ago.

While the Hostas are looking very sad, this variegated Comfrey is still pretty chipper.
Symphytum x uplanicum 'Axminster Gold'

Here's a wider shot. Behind the plants is the area where the pear tree was.

Here's a shot from the far-north end of the garden. The closest raised bed is where I
grow my 'Fall Gold' raspberries. In front of it is an old water meter cover
 I found at the ReStore for a buck. It makes a fun stepping stone.
The shiny grate is another fun piece.

This hypertufa container was looking very sad so last July I gave it fresh soil.
It's responding very well.

And finally, a healthy clump of toadstools making a brief appearance
thanks to the recent rains.

I hope you all are enjoying the final fall days in the garden.

Garden Treasures

The weather is all over the place. Yesterday it was 80 degrees and sunny. Today was 60 degrees and rainy. But fickle weather is the definition of spring. The plants seem to take it in stride.

I'm noticing a few flowers on my Jasminium beesianum.

Jasminium beesianum 

My two Weigelas are so full of blooms you can barely see the foliage!

Weigela florida 'Varigata' 

I found this Lychnis when I was nursery hopping with my sister. I love it.

Lychnis flos-cuculi 

Aquilegia something-or-other. 

Aquilegia 'Nora Barlow' 

There are several ruby-red blossoms on my Grevillea.

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Grivillea rosemarinfolia blossom

The entire plant 

If you're looking for reliable fragrance in your garden, look no further than Nemesia. I don't purchase very many annuals but this one is worth it. It blooms all summer.

Nemesia 

One of the very first plants that went into my garden back in 1997 was this rose. I'm not much of a yellow fan but Rosa 'King Tut' is such a sweet thing, I allow it to stay. 

Rosa 'King Tut'

 And even though yellow is not on my radar, succulents are so I bought this Delosperma.

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Delosperma nubigenum 

In the garden, this Lychnis is really spreading out. It blooms faithfully every spring, then keeps its green understory the rest of the year. 

Lychnis viscaria 

From the opposite angle.

Phlox pilosa or Gail's "Practically Perfect Pink Phlox." It smells like deliciously sweet cloves.  

Phlox pilosa 

And for foliage, oh my I could post a hundred photos! But I'll keep it brief. 

Acer palmatum 'Ben Hime' 

Acer palmatum 'Seiryu' 

Nassella tenuissim

Oxalis crassipes 

Finally, there are baby mushrooms sharing the stage with the colorful foliage of Fuchsia 'Island Sunset' 

Fuchsia 'Island Sunset' and frog umbrellas. 

My Late-Summer Garden

As much as I hate to admit it, my garden is starting to decline. Oh sure, there are lots of plants still looking good and I suppose I should just focus on them. But as I walk my borders, I'm beginning to see yellow leaves and spent stems. Given that it's September now and this is totally normal, I shouldn't let it get to me. But it does. I don't want summer to end. 

This pretty rose, 'Carefree Spirit' is going strong. The bees love this rose as much as I do.

The Japanese Anemones are abloom. 

This one is called 'September Charm' and it is. What do you think, Mary Clark? 

This one is 'Pamina' from another spot in my garden. 

This is a new Aster this year for me. 'Monch' is making me happy with its
clear, light periwinkle-blue blossoms.  

The tiny, red and yellow blossoms on this Nemesia are very fragrant.
On warm days, I walk out to the scent of floral baby powder. One of the few annuals I can't be without.

This planter is outdoing itself. The Fuchsia is 'Island Sunset'. 

These little tassels are adorable. I bought them in May as plugs at Fry Road Nursery. 

I got the pinky Impatiens on clearance in early July. I love the little two-tone flowers. 

On one of my nursery treks with my sister earlier this summer,
I found Clematis herlacifolia. It's just starting to bloom. I love the elegant bells and dark stems. 

This is 'Golden Herald' Fuchsia from Fry Road. I recently planted Sedum oreganum in front of it. 

Finally, this Dahlia decided to bloom. I really like it though so I guess it was worth the wait.

I hope you're all enjoying your late-summer gardens.