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.

Believe It or Not

Here it is, the middle of December. Despite an ice storm last week, I've still got a few flowers hanging on. Granted the temperatures didn't drop that low, just barely enough to freeze the pouring rain onto bare tree branches. But it was interesting. 

The following day, it melted and my plants are no worse for the wear. However, we have more cold weather coming later this week. Boo!

Here's what's going on. 

The final flower on this Rehmannia (Chinese Foxglove) is looking a bit tattered. Oh I forgot to mention that we had hail yesterday too. 

Rehmannia elata

This Geranium flower is also a bit tattered. I wonder if the bud will bloom before the cold snap.

Geranium 'Jolly Bee'

Despite the weather, I still have two summer-blooming Clematis hanging on. The C. Venosa Violacea typically has much more purple but this one is pretty, I think.

Clematis 'Venosa Violacea'

I bought this C. florida sieboldii in September. It had buds so I let it bloom and it just keeps on. 

Older bloom of Clematis florida sieboldii

Newer blooms of Clematis florida sieboldii

I purchased this dainty small-flowered rose bush last summer. It's been in bloom nonstop since then. The flowers are dime-sized in diameter--tiny and sweet. I've got it under the protection of my patio roof. 

NOID  Rosebush

Fuchsia 'Olympics Sunset'

My Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox) shrub is loaded with buds! A few flowers have opened early but oh boy do I have a fragrant fest in my near future. 

Chimonanthus praecox

I was a little lax in getting my slug bait down, as evidenced by this poor Hellebore. But, it has buds!

Helleborus x ericsmithii 'Ruby Glow'

More buds!

Helleborus x ericsmithii 'Ruby Glow'

But more importantly, the foliage, look at the foliage!

Helleborus x ericsmithii 'Ruby Glow' foliage

My green-leaved Daphne odora has buds too!

Daphne odora

And check out the tiny flowers on this Heather.

Erica carnea 'December Red'

 And tons of buds on this Viburnum.

Viburnum bodnantense 'Dawn'

Check out the reluctant buds on my Tetrapanax. It will be interesting to see how they respond to the cold weather. I hope they'll bloom so the winter bees and hummers can have a treat.

Tetrapanax papyfifera 'Steroidal Giant'

My daylilies are really messed up. Look at the buds! This must be the result of a warm fall.

Hemerocallis 'Coming Up Roses'

Hemerocallis 'Final Touch'

I'm thrilled that last summer I got myself an evergreen Maidenhair fern. I'm going to keep it in its pot under the patio for this year. Then plant it out next spring. 

Adiantum venusum Himalayan Maidenhair Fern

The Beesia is blushing...

Beesia deltophylla

Although surrounded by dying deciduous neighbors, my Schefflera looks happy.

Schefflera delavayi

I'm in love with this Farfugium. Look at those leaves! 

Farfugium japonicum 'Crispatum'

And this Fatsia:

Fatsia japonicum 'Spider's Web'

Here you can see what the 32 °F did to my hardy banana.

Musa basjoo ~~ Before

Musa basjoo ~~ After

Finally, a photo of my patio pond. There is a large Japanese maple that drops a ton of leaves here. I was finally able to get out and gather them. Now I can look outside and not be nagged by that mess.

Patio pond

I hope you're enjoying your garden.