'Solar Cascade' goldenrod. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
I think I’m about as worn out as the garden. Sure, there are a few things blooming, but mostly, the yard seems over run with weeds, especially a sedge. We all know how hard sedges are to get rid of.
Bush clover (Lespedeza). (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
I potted up everything I picked up at the trade show of Garden Writers Association’s annual symposium in Indianapolis last month. I only bought one plant throughout all of the tours, a Hosta ‘Guacamole,’ which is fragrant.
The bulb catalogs have been arriving and so far, I’ve refrained from ordering anything. But today came Old House Gardens to tempt me with something unusual. The last few years I’ve been entranced by Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica) because they bloom unexpectedly late.
Lemon A Peel climbing black-eyed Susan. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
I gave a program this week in Indianapolis on perennial companions for spring bulbs to the Cultivating Garden Club. It’s one of my favorite talks because it helps solve what some gardeners think of as a problem — all that foliage that has to ripen.
But as the growing season winds down, gardeners need to affirm all that is good in nature with an act of faith and hope for another season. So, we plant spring bulbs, transplant perennials and other plants, fertilize the lawn, water trees and shrubs, especially conifers, and prepare for the long winter of our discontent.
But today, we’ll celebrate nature’s bounty:
The rare ‘Solar Cascade’ goldenrod (Solidago shortii) is in full bloom, but I can’t say it’s the most upright plant the in garden. It’s practically prostrate, nearly covering ‘Frosty Morn’ dendranthema, one of Blooms of Bressingham’s Igloo series.
'Sellwood Glory' dahlia with 'Alma Potschke' aster. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
‘Sellwood Glory dahlia has opened just in time to pair with ‘Alma Potschke’ aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae). No rust on the aster this year, amazingly enough. I think I lost ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ though.
A plant that shows up on invasive lists in other regions is bush clover, (Lespedeza thunbergia), a late-blooming perennial that has a shrub like form covered with pink, pealike flowers. I think I have ‘Pink Fountain.’
In the ‘will wonders never cease department’ is the climbing black-eyed Susan (Thunbergia alata) Lemon a Peel, a Proven Winners offering. It has spent the summer in a gallon pot, climbing the plastic arch hoop that came with it. It totally dried out except for one leaf, I watered it and bam! It’s back to life.
These are Dazzler Mix impatiens. The larger ones got more sun. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
Patchwork Lavender impatiens. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
Patchwork Lavender impatiens has done well, sporting large blooms through the summer in considerable shade. One of my favorite impatiens, Dazzler Mix is planted in the long box that is attached to the front of the house. You can tell a huge difference in the amount of light the plants get by their size. I think there’s a lesson here.
Lastly, the promise of the next season, as the oakleaf hydrangea takes on its autumn hues.
The colors have begun to change on the oakleaf hydrangea. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
The gardens around here are definitely winding down now. Like you, I’ve got just a few plants in bloom, but I’m buying many bulbs for spring. I just hope we get enough rain so that I don’t have to use a jack hammer to plant them.