September Bloom Day

The blooming season is winding down now, but I did manage to find some pretty and interesting pictures to post. I'll start out with some that are semi-related to flowers. Let's just say the pics are about "green sh**t as a non-gardening friend of mine calls it.

Oh no!! A little buck with a taste for hostas. . . .

Fleeing from the scene of the crime. . . .

"Oh, the horror!" to quote Marlon Brando in Apocalypse Now! Thank goodness it's the middle of September and not early June.

Carol is right about ivy - it takes constant vigilance to keep it in check. It was sticking up at least a foot above the roof and is also inside those railroad ties. Notice all the prunings on the ground . And see on either side of the ladder - the plants that look spiky, something like pine trees. That is a rampant grower called Artemisia "Limelight" or something with "lime" in it. Don't grow it in the ground unless you can contain it. It travels by underground runners and comes up everywhere!! Some grew under the ties and out into the lawn - talk about tenacious! It's very pretty with creamy-gold variegation and is getting tiny whitish flowers now, but beware, it will take over the world if allowed!

Here's Steve pruning the Virginia Creeper on the adjacent wall. I like it's larger maple-leaf shaped leaves better than the ivy. It grows very fast too and turns beautiful Fall colors in October. Then in just about one cold night they will all drop off. (Steve didn't want me to post this photo because of the unsafe way he's using the old step ladder. You see both of us are on the Safety Committee at work and "ladder safety" is an important, on-going topic in our meetings. This would be a big "no-no".)

***************************

Now onto the bloomers . . . .

Ravenna Grass ( Saccharum ravennae ) plumes and Coleus in bloom.

Wild Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) and Feverfew (Matricaria) which are terrific self-sowers. They are both very pretty but don't let them go to seed - you'll find them everywhere!

Pretty wax begonias I started indoors.

A paper-like Hydrangea.

Wild little Butter and Eggs - I do love that name. It fits perfectly.

Ah, Lavender. . .

Not a good picture - the beginning blooms of "Fireworks" Goldenrod. This is a big, beautiful plant with little golden flowers down most of the arching stems. I will try to show it next week when it is in full flower - fantastic and highly recommended!

"Sweet Autumn" Clematis running amok in the Main Garden. I put this in a very bad spot and it is growing over everything by Summer's end. But I cannot imagine trying to move this - the roots must go down to China! Here is a close-up of the lovely flowers:

*******************

Gourd blossom and . . .

Gourd behind bars (actually in an empty compost bin). I think its colors are as pretty as any flower.

The butterflies and various bee species are enthralled with the "Autumn Joy" Sedum. This afternoon it was fairly crawling with them. Very neat to see.

And another harbinger of Fall - the wonderful Mum - these are two of my favorite Mum colors. . .

I don't have much luck growing them in the ground so every year I buy a number of pots to set around the steps. These will be bloomed out in a few weeks so I'll probably have to get some more for the Halloween season.

*******************

I still have lots of annuals blooming but some are looking shabby and tomorrow I'll start dumping them into the compost bins. The Impatiens, Cherry Wave Petunia, Wax and fancy-leaved Begonias, and "Lady in Red" Salvia all still look very nice. This was a very successful flower gardening year!

*************************

Sometimes success is due less to ability

than to zeal. - Charles Buxton

******************************

Bye for now,

Alyssa