Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - October 15, 2010

I finally remembered!

It seems like during the week I was gone, the garden declined suddenly, maybe it really needs me to walk around daily and check in on how everything is going :-) In any case, although many plants are winding down, some are still in their full glory.


Agastache 'Blue Fortune', with Rudbeckia triloba in background - I think these are pretty much reaching the end of their bloom...although they've performed admirably, and I really like them in combination with the Rudbeckia next to them and the Knautia in front.


Persicaria 'Taurus' - This plant just keeps growing and flowering. Unlike many plants that look a little ratty at this time of year, these look fresh and vibrant.


Eupatorium 'Chocolate' - I have to say, my main reason for growing this plant is its lovely, dark foliage, which is attractive throughout the entire growing season. The flowers, which I rarely even think about, are quite lovely at this time of year, however. They are a wonderful, bright, pure white and look like a cloud floating near the back of the garden.


Geranium 'Ann Folkard' - These took a little break during the heat of summer, but have re-grown their crowns and are blooming again.


Geranium 'Rozanne' - What can I say about this plant that hasn't already been said. They are wonderful and have bloomed continuously since I planted them in June. They are truly one of my garden all-stars.


Another Geranium whose name escapes me and a native Malva...the Checker Mallow.


Persicaria virginiana - Although I planted this for the foliage (having never seen them in flower), I have to say I kinda love these blooms. They are really weird looking and completely transform the plant!


Persicaria 'Red Dragon' and Centranthus ruber - 'Red Dragon' continues to put forth its sprays of small, white flowers. They aren't particularly noticeable, but are charming, nonetheless. The Centranthus has bloomed constantly since this spring, but has decreased in flowering over the past month or so. The plants are starting to get bushier, however.


Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' - What a performer, these workhorses continue to flower, but the end is in sight, they are still forming buds, but are definitely slowing down. I've stopped dead-heading so I can enjoy the seed heads this winter.


Agastache 'Summer Sky' - Maybe my new favorite Agastache, this plant has bloomed since I planted it, on July 4. It has withstood every adversity and never once flagged in its performance. These are supposedly not tolerant of winter wet, but I'm hoping they will survive since they are planted on a slope...if not, I won't hesitate to buy new ones next year.


Knautia 'Mars Midget' - Another non-stop bloomer, planted at the same time as the above Agastache, and has bloomed just as long...I will never be without these, even if they don't over-winter, I wouldn't hesitate to plant more.


Verbena bonariensis - Shown with Miscanthus purparescens behind it, this is another non-stop bloomer...I've realized I just can't have too much of this wonderful, versatile plant.


Anemone 'Honorine Jorbert' - My first (but definitely not last) Japanese Anemone. Planted just a month or 2 ago, I didn't expect it to bloom this year. Hopefully this is a sign it is happy and will thrive in this location, which has proven very tricky.


Rudbeckia triloba - This plant just keeps going and going, showing no sign of letting up. I love the bright, cheery cloud of yellow it provides.


Salvia 'Purple Majesty' - While I love these flowers, the plants have proven to be unbelievably sprawly. The stems are so fragile that they are constantly snapping. Amazingly, they stems continue to grow, even if just a tiny bit is still attached. I'm hoping the fragile stems are just a result of them being mail-order plants, so oddly shaped when planted. Time will tell, if they are this fragile next year, I may have to replace them...or move them to a VERY sheltered location.


Salvia 'Black & Blue' - Have been blooming for about 3 months now, just wonderful and beloved of the family of hummingbirds that frequent the garden.


Agastache 'Tutti Frutti' - While I love the flowers of this Agastache, there is no plant in my garden that flops to such a degree. They start out well, but as the stems elongate and get taller, they sprawl, then flop, covering any other plant nearby. I'm not sure if it's just me, but it's really aggravating this summer. I'm not sure what I'll do with them, as they are the longest-blooming plant in my garden, and extremely though.


Fragraria 'Pink Panda' - my little ornamental strawberry is putting out a few new, little blooms!


Eupatorium atropurpurea - Although the older Joe Pye Weeds finished blooming a month ago, this one I planted later this summer has a new flush of flowers, since I cut it back after planting.


Erysimum 'Bowles Mauve' - With the cooler weather, the remaining Erysimum have started putting up flower stalk again, not many, but nice, nonetheless.


Echinacea 'Prairie Splendour' - I think this may be the last of these for the season.


Agastache 'Acapulco Orange' and Origanum 'Walter's Gift' - Two more long-blooming beauties, in the last stages of their bloom.


Sedum 'Autumn Joy' - My favorite stage of their bloom, aging from rose to a deep red.


Helenium 'Mardi Gras' - While not as abundant as earlier, with regular deadheading, these will bloom until frost cuts them down.


Monarda 'Jacob Cline' - I cut this back a month or so ago, I think this may be the last bloom this year.


Last, but not least, is my little patch of Muhlenbergia capillaris, also known as Pink Muhly Grass. I was inspired to plant these, along with an Amsonia hubrichtii, after seeing them planted in a book by Nan Ondra. These are just starting to bloom, and are only a year old, so the display isn't as intense as it will be in following years. Even so, in person, it looks like a wonderful, metallic pink cloud! In the background, you can see Aster 'Purple Prince'.





Well, there it is, in all its glory! I tried to take all of these pics in one day (yesterday) to get an accurate idea of what was blooming, and in what condition. Unfortunately, due to the angle of the sun and the orientation of our house (and neighbors' houses) much of the garden is in full shade all day long! No wonder I have trouble finding plants that will work :-)