Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day: September 2019

I wasn't sure what to expect when I returned from my trips to Utah and Arizona; I was pleasantly surprised to find so many blooms. Of course, the kitchen garden looks rather overgrown and messy. My first job must be canning the remaining beets. There are still lots of zinnias, marigolds, and the beautiful nasturtium 'Empress of India' that won Best of Show when I entered it in the West End Fair. I see the corn has grown high in the field behind the potting shed.

Top: Messy kitchen garden and field corn. Bottom: Beets and 'Empress of India',

The feathery cosmos plants haven't produced too many flowers yet in the cutting garden.

My biggest surprise in the Cottage Garden was the blooming foxglove 'Foxlight Plum Gold'. It usually blooms from early summer to fall. This year, foliage but no flowers all season -- until now.

Foxglove 'Foxlight Plum Gold'

Every month I photograph the hydrangeas to show how their colors change. Today, 'Pinky Winky' is a much deeper pink while 'Annabelle's' white petals are blushing prettily. Roses are making a last showing.

Top: Red rose 'Double Knockout,' Bottom right: Hydrangea 'Pinky Winky'. Bottom left: Hydrangea 'Annabelle'

The asters are late this year

I was amazed to see shasta daisies still blooming ...

Shasta daisies (needing deadheading)

Another surprise -- blooms on the clematis that I cut down to the ground in the spring when it had spots on its leaves from a virus. It looks healthy now.

Clematis spp.

My favorite fall-blooming shrub, Caryopteris 'Dark Knight' is making a statement in the Cottage Garden.

End of summer blues: Caryopteris 'Dark Knight'

The Proven Winners' 'Blue chip' buddleia that I planted this year (to replace the invasive butterfly bushes in my garden) kept its promise to bloom all season.

Miniature butterfly bush Buddleia Lo and Behold® 'Blue Chip'

In the Serenity Garden, sedum 'Autumn Joy' is making splashes of pink color as turtlehead blooms begin to fade. Leaves are falling. Many of them are from the old catalpa tree that we scheduled for removal next month. I'll tell you its story then.

The Serenity Garden today

One plant I didn't want to bloom is the Japanese stiltgrass that surrounds my gardens. This invasive annual grass spreads through a high production of seeds. Cutting it down before it goes to seed is the best control method. Unfortunately, some of it had gone to seed before Duane could remove it with the weedwacker. I'll be solarizing the areas closest to my flower beds with the hope that I can restrict its dreadful progress. For more information about Japanese stiltgrass read my article HERE.

Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum)

Today is Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and I'm linking with the lovely Carol who hosts everyone's favorite meme at May Dreams Gardens. Her garden fairies have beautiful blooms to show us this month.

Happy GBBD, dear gardening friends. I look forward to checking out what is blooming in your gardens today.

Pamela x

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