Norfolk Botanical Gardens Sept. 09

This past Friday there was a garden blogger's mini-meet up here in Norfolk. Racquel of Perennial Gardener Lover and Janet the Queen of Seaford met at my house where I was able to show them my little patch of Earth. Between the barking hounds and the workmen installing a new chimney liner, it was a little chaotic. Fortunately it was much more peaceful at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens where we went next.

I don't usually go to the Gardens at this time of year which is a shame, because there is no shortage of things to see, and this summer's abundant rainfall was evident in the thriving plants. Ornamental grasses were at their peak and are used in many places throughout the Gardens. Here is Miscanthus playing a supporting role to Agastache x 'Tutti Frutti'.

I don't normally like white Buddleia but it looked good with the Gaura lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies' .

I did not get the name of this clean white Japanese Anenome.

This fountain is the center piece of the Baker Perennial Garden. Its rills were lined with Salvia x 'Coral Nymph' and a linear leaf Zinnia.

We spent a lot time at the WOW (World of Wonder) Children's Garden where there are lots of activities for the kids set among gardens full of child-friendly plants such as Agave, Hardy Orange and Oleander.

The Bicentennial Rose Garden was deeply inhaling its second wind and was looking nearly as good as it did in May.

This Zinnia was nicely backed up by a bed of Black Pearl Peppers.

The Morgan Wildflower Meadow was tall with Ornamental Grasses, giant Ageratum, spent Verbena bonariensis and 6' stalks of yellow.

Also gaining in altitude was the Okra.

This spider and her sisters set up shop in a completely intoxicating Orange Flowering Osmanthus (Osmanthus fragrens 'Aurantiacus').

Whenever this treehugger sees a Chinese Lacebark Elm (Ulmus parvifolia), he can't keep his hands off of it.

I took a lot pictures of this ancient Crabapple. Underneath of it was one of September's iconic plants, Lycoris radiata which was all over the Gardens.

I think this recently irrigated Elephant Ear is Xanthosoma aurea 'Lime Zinger'. It and the plants in the next few shots helped me get my chartreuse fix.

Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’) was paired with what I think is a Veronica.

Margarita Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas 'Margarita') and a white Rain Lily (Zephyranthes candida), two colors I would not normally think work together, but they do here.

Thanks to Flowergardengirl for introducing me to this bizarre plant, Asclepias physocarpa which has many common names including Monkey Balls and The Family Jewels.

Tie-dyed Thai Eggplant is in a similar configuration.

The last shot is like the first shot with Miscanthus in a supporting role again, but this time for one of my favorite fall perennials, Salvia leucantha (Mexican Bush Sage).

If you are interested, I have many more photos of the day on my flickr page, but if you are looking for pictures of Racquel, Janet or myself, you will be disappointed. I was too busy chatting it up and enjoying the Gardens to take any people pics.