Blasted Garden(Snowflurry in July)

It's not just me~ since the beginning of June this summer has been a real scorcher. The garden is crying out for attention that I can't give it. There will be casualties but some recent rain has helped many plants revive and a few plants are just survivors anyway.

A little Verbena 'Snowflurry' in July is a wonderful thing. This plant amazes me with its transient nature. It dies out here and pops up there with fresh blooming plants appearing at any time of the year~ willy nilly,lol.



This is what I would expect to see thriving in this weather. This sedum was a special trade with Gardenweb friend Nancedar. I'm afraid I haven't labeled it so its identity is in question. Have yet to see blooms from this one.



You can't keep a good wildflower down. Rudbeckia triloba is a welcome sight with fresh blooms and a visitor.



The bronze fennel has been a pleasure this year for the gardener and the insects. Black Swallowtail caterpillars in all stages were feasting on Tuesday morning.



A little less than perfect but the bees still love the Bog Sage~ Salvia uliginosa.

My casualties from last year's round of new plants from Plant Delights Nursery were numerous~ this new ironweed, Vernonia lettermannii was not among them.

The last of my Bachman seedlings to bloom~ this was the last flower:(

and the Energizer Bunny award for daylilies this year goes to 'Cripple Creek'~ I can't praise this one enough. Mwah!

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!