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.

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~ Favorite Wildflower

For Blooming Friday this week Katarina at roses and stuff asks us what our favorite wildflower is. My favorite wildflower may be different on any given day. I would not say that any flower currently blooming in my garden would be my favorite but I do have one on the verge of blooming that's a contender.

I received the seeds for Georgia Aster from a generous Garden Webber and native plant enthusiast from Georgia. I hope that all is well with her given the current state of affairs in parts of Georgia. I didn't even know what the plant and flowers would look like. I love it! It reseeds like a good wildflower too.

























This is a new acquisition from Plant Delights Nursery in July 09~ Vernonia lettermannii. I wish I still had some of the tall ironweed that is blooming in the wild here in NC.



Eupatorium coelestinum aka Wild Ageratum ~ definitely a "wild' flower.



I discovered these blooms for the first time this morning on this mystery Salvia. I suspect it's a microphylla but I don't remember planting it and I've had lots of salvias as trades and from seeds. An ID would be most welcome!