Seasons Change...

and so do blogs,lol. I have done quite a bit of rearranging in my personal blogosphere and freed up this delightful background for use here at Little Wing Garden. I hope you like it as much as I do. Yes, I know the Black Swallowtail butterfly in my header pic is not in focus. I meant to do that:^)

Although the garden hasn't had time to catch up yet Fall did indeed arrive this past weekend. The past few nights have been downright cold. It's like an actual knob has been turned to Autumn. This photo of Japanese Beautyberry with Lindheimer's Muhly Grass in the background is probably the most seasonally approriate pic that I have to share today.



This is the first flower open on the Georgia Aster that was in bud in my last post. with a visitor. Not sure if it's a bee or a fly~ perhaps both? lol.



I feel certain the abundant rain is to thank for this new bloom stalk from Crinum 'Ellen Bosanquet' who has been on strike since June.

a.m.~


p.m.~


Persicaria 'Firetail' is happily blooming beside my deck where it has rooted through its nursery pot



and spiderwort 'Sweet Kate' decided she liked the rain as well.



Guess what this is:)



or who,lol. My perfect Yin and Yang Poms: boy/girl, black/white, old/young~ well maybe not perfect~ sweet/sweet.

Keeping It Real

Like all other garden bloggers I take alot of pictures of my garden. I want the glamour shots as much as anyone does but this post is more about the garden the way it really is- imperfections and all.

This is a good example of what the weekend was like here. Sunday was cold and windy with drizzle on and off all day.



My noid aster that was supposed to be Climbing Aster. It appears to be a variety of Aromatic Aster.





This Groundsel bush seeded into a foundation bed right at the corner of my house. I'll probably have to get rid of it after this season because of its size but I really like this native and I'm enjoying it this year. At least I now know what a young one looks like for future reference.



This is what the individual volunteer Georgia Asters look like- not much of a statement but still irresistable to me.



The spring show has been meager on this Forsythia but I really love the fall color.



A distant view of Chrysanthemum 'Single Apricot Koren' from a cross the big bed.



More Swamp Sunflower:)



This Muhly pic is from Monday 10.19- we had a light frost this morning(10.20). Arrggh- here's hoping!



This Nolina suffered some winter damage and was bedraggled for much of the season this year. I'm glad to see it looking this good with a bonus self seeded Aromatic aster as a companion.



My offering of wabi-sabi: Hibiscus grandiflorus.



For a more polished views of the flowers in my garden stay tuned...

Autumn Continued...

I can barely believe that it is almost mid October. All the usual signs are present but I keep wondering... did this bloom this late last year? It could frost anytime you know. It would be early but very possible. Hurry up mums! Unfurl Muhly! I have a new aster to ID that's still only budded( was labeled Climbing Aster but is not- it's just tall,lol).

This aging Eucomis definately looks like late fall. The golden hues complement the Blue Oak Sage which is finally starting its fall show.



I've titled this shot- "Why I Love the Fall Garden"



The Swamp Sunflower is crowded I think- I'll remove the giants after they're done blooming to make room for the continuous spread.



Autumn Sunshine



I can finally stop lamenting on no Monarch sightings this year. I saw this one from my back door floating high above the big bed. I grabbed the camera and went in search, finding it just in time to get one shot before it went on its way.



Muhly watch: it's unflurling ever so slowly.


Happy Columbus Day!

Sunny September Farewell

The last Sunday in September brought some much appreciated sunshine. Don't get me wrong- my sandy soil appreciates all the rain it can get but my spirit was in need of some light. Most of these pictures were captured on Sunday morning as the clouds were trying to clear out~ after lunch we had glorious sunshine!

I guess I haven't quite caught the hang of having distinct topics to my posts. The way I see it, winter will be here soon enough and their will be plenty of time to think about subjects. I want to revel in the wonders of the autumn garden until they're gone.

I believe these are the first blooms this year for Zephyranthes citrina. These are not heavy blooming rain lilies for me but the blooms always produce seeds that germinate readily if sown fresh.



More of the Vernonia lettermannii




And more of Viburnum bracteatum 'Emerald Luster'~ I really need to learn how best to propogate this one because it's a real winner.



This is a Spirea that was given to me marked 'Beryl Road'. It has been passed thru a couple of gardeners hands and I do know that it originated from NC State in one way or another. Either from the PAX Sale or the Friends of the JC Raulston Arboretum annual plant grab. The arboretum in on Beryl Road. It blooms for me in Spring and again in Fall taking the Summer off.



My Rugosa rose that Sweetbay grew from seed.



This passalong pink Brugmansia has really bloomed its heart out this year. I walked by it one night last week and was treated to its wonderful fragrance that's not there in the daylight hours.



Stokesia 'Peachie's Pick' is still blooming even without deadheading from this lazy gardener.



A landscape shot of my newest bed. The building in the background is the back of my neighbor's house.



I love the foliage of Geranium sanguineum ~ which is a good thing since it hasn't bloomed alot for me.



A fully opened Georgia aster bloom~



Persicaria 'Firetail' blooming in the pot I brought it home in over a year ago(blushing).






Streptocarpus 'Falling Stars' is still blooming its little heart out while hidden under a swing on my deck for sun protection.



Can't remember the new name~ I know this as Gloxinia 'Evita'~ a new addition to the garden this year from a plant swap.



Salvia greggii 'California Sunset'~ just because I love it:)



I also caught some pretty cool butterfly pics but I'm saving those for Camera Critters since I haven't posted there in a couple of weeks.

Happy Fall Gardening!!! Bring on October:-)

Blooming Friday~ Shades of Purple

Our hostess posted lilac colors for her Blooming Friday entry so I decided to follow her lead and share some of the different shades of purple that are currently blooming in my garden.

The lovely Buddleia 'Potter's Purple'(courtesy of a trade with Sweetbay) and a visiting Painted Lady butterfly.



The first flowers opening on Salvia leucantha, Mexican Bush Sage.



The ever blooming Perennial heliotrope



Another Sweetbay trade- Salvia greggii 'Diane'~ a very reddish purple.



A personal favorite for performance~ Salvia 'Indigo Spires'



Thanks to Katarina at roses and stuff for hosting Blooming Friday.

First Day of September 2009

After a hot weekend and a gloomy Monday the first day of September dawned to one of those perfect fall weather days. The air was crisp and the sky beautifully clear. It was gut wrenching to get dressed and leave for work but it had to be done.

I started Salvia transylvanica from seeds a few years ago and it has reseeded around my garden nicely since. The main bloom is usually in Spring but I have sporadic blooms throughout the season. This one has the "wings" of an Asclepias seed captured at the bottom of the bloom stalk.



A wide view.



Pretty when blooming but one to be watched. I've managed to keep the Garlic Chives from reseeding for a few seasons now.



Cameron at Defining Your Home Garden had an article featuring Feather celosia- Celosia spicata- Fluff and Stuff. This is the foliage of one of mine that has reseeded for a few years here.



I finally planted Salvia greggii 'California Sunset' this weekend. Here it is in the garden with a visiting bee.



For some reason my Abutilon megapotamicum stays small even though it's had a few years to settle in. I still like it in this location though and think I'll try another plant elsewhere to see how it fares. The bunnies love to nibble the stems in cold weather and may be the reason it's stunted.