Still Blooming in September...

The weather is cooling down and it's been comfortable, in the 60's and 70's, lately. A few days we've even woken up to 45 degrees here in northern VA. The plants are much happier than they were this summer, and I haven't added any additional water in weeks. It has rained on and off, which is just what my garden needed to lose that 'crispy' look.

Aster novae angliae (New England Aster) -- with a friendly fly visitor

Since I didn't get around to posting a 'Bloom-day' post on the 15th, I thought I would do it now because it helps me to keep a record of what's happening in my garden from year to year.  I don't have much to write about--so you can just scroll down and view the photos.

Clockwise, from top L: Rudbeckia hirta (the last Black-Eyed Susan bloom), Gaura, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides,
Phlox paniculata 'Andre', Echinacea purpurea 'Pink Double Delight', Veronica spicata 'Royal Candles',
and center: Perovskia (Russian Sage) with Verbena bonariensis (Purpletop Verbane)

Liriope muscari 'variegata' (Variegated Liriope)

Clockwise, from top L: Coreopsis 'Limerick Ruby' (overwintered well here in zone 7-A), Caryopteris (Blue Mist Shrub), Agastache cana 'purple pygmy' (Hummingbird Mint), Rudbeckia laciniata (Tall Yellow Coneflower),
Coreopsis 'Sienna Sunset', and center: Veronica spicata 'icicle' (Spike Speedwell) -- with friend

Agastache 'Purple Pygmy' with a lighter, orangy-yellow Agastache variety that I planted last year,
which I seem to have forgotten the name of.

Carpet Rose (red and pink varieties) and hips from Rosa rugosa 

Buddleia davidii 'Adonis Blue' (L) & a lighter blue variety -- with a spider friend

Clockwise, from top:  Chelone (Pink Turtlehead), Sedum 'Autumn Joy',
Salvia greggii 'Flame', Salvia greggii 'Wild Thing', Commonelina communis (Common Dayflower -
a 'weed' to some), and center: Kalimeris pinnatafida (Japanese Aster)

(Another photo/collage of Turtlehead with Bluebeard...makes me want to dig them up and plant them closer together!):

In various areas around the front, side and back yards, I have annuals both in the ground, and in pots:

Impatiens

Zinnia

Clockwise, from top L:  Salvia (a variety I planted from seed several years ago, reappears every year in the pot);
Lantana camara (Lantana 'Ham & Eggs' -- NOT a perennial here in zone 7a); Heliotrope; Geranium;
False Heather; Bacoba 'Giant Snowflake'; and center: Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'

There are a few plants I haven't featured (such as Agastache 'Blue Fortune') but that's because it is looking scraggly now so I didn't bother to include it. This time last year, it looked quite a lot better and was loaded with butterflies. Unfortunately, the butterflies were far and few between this year. I do have photos of a few, however, which I'll include in a later post.

For more mid-September blooms, visit Carol's May Dreams Gardens, where gardeners around the world feature what is currently blooming in their gardens.

Words and photos ©Thanks for today.™, by Jan Huston Doble @ http://www.thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/

Not to be reproduced or re-blogged without express permission of the author.

Colorful Perennials in June

Colorful perennials have been showing their beauty in my front gardens this month. As you can see, there are a lot of native plants in bloom, and of course, the bees just love them all. My collages can help you see what's happening right now:

Natives: Asclepias tuberosa, Echinacea purpurea, and Coreopsis grandiflora

Native Monarda didyma

Clematis (ID unknown)

Veronica spicata: 'Icicle', 'Royal Candles' and 'Red Fox'

Front gardens on either side of the driveway contain a variety of native perennials,
mostly natives and/or native cultivars

Day Lilies at the top of the driveway

Asiac Lilies, originally planted in my back gardens, were moved to pots and used for cutting

The back gardens are 'busy' too...but I'll share those in another post. Meanwhile I am joining Fertilizer Friday, where many garden bloggers are 'Flaunting their Flowers' this week. Why not go over and visit Tootsie Time and check it out?! Happy Friday!

Words and photos ©Thanks for today.™, by Jan Huston Doble @ http://www.thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/

Not to be reproduced or re-blogged without express permission of the author.