Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - September 2011

Short's Goldenrod, Solidago shortii

Welcome to Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day for September 2011.

Here in my USDA Hardiness Zone 5b garden in central Indiana, I feel as though I am reliving the same September that we had in 2010, yearning for some rain to fall.

The primary difference is that this year, I have a garden border that was designed and planted to be in prime bloom late in the season. I spent most of my time there looking at blooms, mostly because I couldn't look at the mess that some of the other areas of the garden are in right now.

In my late blooming border, though, I have goldenrod blooming, in particular the world's rarest goldenrod, Solidago shortii.

I also have some new asters starting to bloom. One is a dark reddish pink ('Alma Potschke') and the other one is more the traditional violet blue.

This is Symphyotrichum novae-angliae 'Purple Dome'.

Nearby, Boltonia asteroides 'Snowbank' covers part of the high summer blooming border.

When I squint to look through it, it does make it appear like I'm looking through falling snow to see the garden. Falling snow? Perish the thought of it now, though it has turned much cooler as of yesterday and I thought I heard the weatherman say "patchy frost".

Elsewhere in the garden, I have some OSO EASY™ Cherry Pie roses, Rosa 'Meiboulka' that have survived in full sun with almost no extra watering.

Imagine how they would do if I actually gave them a little care. This one's a keeper for sure, even though it is as red as any flower in my "I don't like red flowers" garden.

It's fun to see what we end up with when we forget about what we don't do, and just go ahead and do it anyway. I must credit my garden designer and the hort-enabler for pushing me a bit to allow this "red" rose to be planted in my garden.

Out in the front, another keeper rose is Sunny Knock Out® Rose, Rosa x 'Radsunny'.

It's got a little bit of everything going on right now. Buds, blooms, faded blooms, and the beginnings of rose hips. I do nothing to it. Nothing. And look at that beautiful foliage. Not a hint of black spot.

I'd like to claim it is all my doing, but really, since I do nothing, that would be taking way too much credit. I might as well give credit to the praying mantis that seems to have taken up residence in its branches.

I am a traditionalist at heart so I'll wrap up this bloom day post with a traditional September bloom - tall sedum, Hylotelephium sp.

These plants are also carefree and seemed to have thrived in the hot, dry summer. All in bloom now in September. They are buzzing with bees and butterflies which flock to them like a gardener flocks to a plant sale. They just can't seem to get enough.

I'd show you more blooms, but the rest of the blooms shall be noted to have looked as though they just survived another hot, dry summer, with 42 days of temperatures that were 90F or above and very little rain. The edges of their leaves are crispy, their blooms are all mussed up, and they have seen better seasons.

They, and I, are happy to see the beginnings of fall, a time to renew the garden, renew are spirits, and plan for another spring.

What’s blooming in your garden?

We would love to have you join in for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day. It’s easy to participate and all are invited!

Just post on your blog about what is blooming in your garden on the 15th of the month and leave a comment to tell us what you have waiting for us to see so we can pay you a virtual visit. Then leave your name and the url to your bloom day post in the Mr. Linky widget below so we'll know where to find you.

“We can have flowers nearly every month of the year.” ~ Elizabeth Lawrence