An unapologetic plant geek shares advice and opinions on gardening, the contrived and the natural landscape, as well as occasional topics from the other side of the gate.

September 15, 2010

Bloom Day - September, or August 2.0

Several of the bloggers I follow have mentioned a change in the air and are looking forward to fall. Here in Tidewater September is usually just an extension of August. In fact, I am thinking about petitioning the U.N. to have the first three weeks of the month ceded to August and October can get the fourth. Other than seeing school buses on the road and mums appearing outside the grocery store, there are few signs of a change here. The same can be said of my garden. Most of the players from Bloom Day August are still going strong, so I will spare you more Lantana and Zinnia shots.

Our often hot and dry summer was of no consequence to Portulaca 'Rio Scarlet'. My only issue with this plant is that the flowers keep banker's hours and do not open until mid-morning and close by mid-afternoon, so I rarely saw them bloom this summer.

Portulaca oleracea 'Rio Scarlet'


Another annual that has not been so stingy with its blooms are Impatiens. I know they are used ad nauseum, but some things are common for a reason.

Impatiens


One plant that I wish would not bloom so much is one of my worst weeds, Passiflora lutea.

Passiflora lutea


I will repeat a photo of Asclepias curassavica, mainly because it is such a good annual. Most of mine were stripped of foliage and flowers by the caterpillars in August. Now they have recovered, re-leafed and re-bloomed.

Asclepias curassavica


Another repeat is this unknown Dahlia, that rather than stake, I run up through other shrubs.

Dahlia unknown


Several years ago a co-worker and I noticed that one Liriope muscari out of hundreds seemed to bloom with an extra effort in an extra purple color. We pooled our money together and bought this one for the extravagant sum of $3 and divided it in two.

Liriope muscari


Abelia x 'Sunrise' is no stranger to my Bloom Day posts.

Abelia 'Sunrise'


I do have a couple of things that say "September is here". This is Poncirus trifoliata ...

Poncirus trifoliata


... and Fireworks Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks').

Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks'


If you would like to see what is blooming in other blogger's gardens, then you should visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens who hosts Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. She always knows what month it is.

20 comments:

  1. Very nice selection of plants. I love the little ants. Hard at work as usual. The passiflora is really pretty. A weed?

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's tricky, since the mornings are a bit cooler but the afternoons feel like the brunt of summer still. Looks like we have some rain in our forecast for next week. That would be much appreciated. You still have some great bloomers to show off this month. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful plants. We haven't felt any fall whatsoever yet, but if you are, then I'm hopeful. Thank you for your comment -- the poem Pied Beauty means a lot to me and I'm glad it meant a lot to you too. Happy Bloom Day!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very pretty flowers. The muscari is beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  5. So glad you highlighted the tropical milkweed-I think it is such a great plant! Let us know if you get September ceded to August-that would be something! Still dry here and above normal temps but a definite change for us in Tennessee.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lovely photos! I would normally agree with you on September, in past years, it's been as hot (or hotter) than August, but this year has been a lot cooler (which is kind of pleasant, although it makes summer seem pretty short!).

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am experiencing a continuation of August blooms here as well, but unfortunately can't claim a continuation of August weather, not this year. I long for a Passiflora I can refer to as weedy, instead I have to be content with one or two blooms. You certainly appeared to capture the blue of the Muscari. Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  8. aloha les,

    i love what you have presented to us this september, your macro and individual plant studies are presented so nicely, i love the light infused in your photos also, very beautiful :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Dear Les, When I grow up and learn to use my new canon I want to take photos as brilliant as your! The Asclepias curassavica, is fantastic! I do have to chuckle~It's not fall here (92 forecast for today) and Gardening Gone Wild is calling for autumn shots! Maybe sometime in October and November!

    ReplyDelete
  10. In spite of your extended heat, your garden is lovely as always Les. Uhm, I was born 9/7 so could we keep September please? Otherwise, my driver's license is way past due. :)

    Happy Bloom Day.~~Dee

    ReplyDelete
  11. Asclepias curassavica -- gorgeous flower and photograph!

    Very crisp air today in NYC.

    ReplyDelete
  12. i wish the aphids would take a banker's holiday from my asclepias... glad to see yours are reblooming. nice bitter orange you have there too... what do you do with the fruit? a few of our citrus trees didn't make it through last winter's frosts, but it didn't harm the trifoliate root stock they were growing on.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I agree with you on your analogy of the month of September! Although, the humidity is practically gone from the GA air. I can take the 90-plus degree heat so much better with little to no humidity! Beautiful blooms you have there Les…

    ReplyDelete
  14. Beautiful photography Les! Your Goldenrod shot is stunning and original. Lovely blooms. ;>)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your photos are amazing. What kind of a camera do you have?

    ReplyDelete
  16. GWGT,
    If I was an ant, that is where I would spend the day.

    Racquel,
    I did not see rain, just 7 days of bright sun, great weather if you are not a gardener.

    Elizabeth,
    Thank you for reminding me of that poem.

    Lotusleaf,
    The Liriope muscari is as easy as it is beautiful.

    Tina,
    If I get my wish, I'll post about it.

    Scott,
    No short summers, please.

    Loree,
    Thanks for coming by. I am surprised you have trouble with Passiflora.

    Noel,
    Thanks for you kind comments.

    Gail,
    I guess it is Autumn somewhere.

    Dee,
    I let my license slip and spent an hour at DMV today. I will not do that again. Maybe we can keep 9/7 as an extra special day.

    Georgia,
    You must have written that before the storm. Very dramatic pictues more typical of some other part of the country.

    Andrea,
    I have not done anything with the fruit, other then bring them into the house in a bowl for fragrance.

    Skeeter,
    Yes even though we are still hot, the humidity is down and makes it great to be outside.

    Carol,
    Thank you very much.

    Nancy,
    I use a Nikon D5000 which I am still learning how to use.

    Les

    ReplyDelete
  17. Gorgeous-every one of them, Les! I especially like the bright red and yellow that asclepias bloom. I have not planted that one. It's not really 'fall' here yet, either...but the temps have gone down from what they were. Today was in the high 70's. Much better than close to 100. I love your photography and expert eye;-)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Beautiful photographs. A mini-vacation!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Jan,
    The asclepias is showing up more and more each year. You should try one next summer.

    Pen and Ink,
    I am glad you came along for the trip.

    Les

    ReplyDelete
  20. Pretty nice assortment for an "off" month. I was very interested to see the goldenrod as my son gave me the same one this spring. My wife keeps wanting to pull it out as a weed. I must say there are sure a lot of the wild goldenrod near the pasture here.

    ReplyDelete