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:-)

Past and present cont.

My attempt at backtracking continues.... This is Geranium sanguineum 'Ankum's Pride' blooming on May 5th. Plant Delights Nursery says it's a blooming machine for hot and dry sites which remains to be seen. I love the tiny flowers and foliage but the blooms where short lived and have not returned so far this season.



One of my oldest and favorite salvias is Salvia chamaedryoides, Blue Oak Sage. I think I have the right conditions for it because it spreads with abandon in the tiny bed it's in. It normally blooms in spring and fall flushes- some years better than others but the silvery foliage is there year round.



These little guys are hard to beat for simple beauty and bold color. It's a shame that I can't seem to control them in any way,lol. California Poppy is a reseeding annual that is best started by seed in situ in the fall here in the Carolinas but in my garden they seem to just do what they please once started.



I posted a pic of the cool foliage of this Epimedium back in April so here are the flowers. I'm not sure which one this is right now but I believe it to be a species and no particular cultivar. I'm so happy to finally be able to grow some part shade plants successfully. From what I hear Epimediums were a good plant to start with because they're tough.



For the present part of this post I have a summer favorite~ Hibiscus 'Red Flyer'. I belive this is its third or fourth year in the garden and is not as tall this year as in previous years. If it ends up being one of those perennials that peters out I will definitely be repacing it.