Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - October 2013

Kalimeris pinnatifida ‘Hortensis'

Welcome to Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day for October 2013.

Here in my USDA Hardiness Zone 6a garden in central Indiana, the growing season is winding down, though we have not yet had any frost or freeze.

Looking back on past bloom day posts for October, I think the garden is further along this year compared to other years, perhaps because August was so dry.  But there are still blooms for those who go and look for them.

One of the plants with the most blooms is Kalimerias pinnatifida 'Hortensis'.  It's common name is Oxford Orphanage Plant. It is one of the three plants I brought back with me when I visited Elizabeth Lawrence's garden in the summer of 2012.

I'm leaving it alone in hopes that it will self-sow itself throughout the garden. 

Lurking above this plant are the fading asters.

I neglected to cut these back by half in late May and so they are taller than they've ever been.  They look nice in this picture, but halfway down, they look like sticks with no leaves.

Another plant that I forgot to cut back by half in late spring is Short's Goldenrod, Solidago shortii 'Solar Cascade'. It's done blooming and is now flopped over, covering up this plant with yellow blooms.

I wonder what those yellow blooms are? I've been so negligent with plant tags that there is no telling where the tag for the plant is. My best guess is that it is some kind of coreopsis.

I thought the goldenrods were all bloomed out, but discovered this stand of goldenrod getting ready to bloom in another part of the garden.

I'm not sure which goldenrod this is. I can only remember planting S. shortii, but I won't swear that this is a seedling from that one. It could just be a wild goldenrod that sprouted up and I never weeded it out.  I have been negligent in my weeding this year.

I do have a couple of Colchicums in bloom.

They look kind of lonely so I ordered another 36 Colchicum bulbs to keep them company, plus some bulbs for autumn crocus.  I'll plant them in the garden border I call Bird's Blanket as soon as they arrive.

I call this border "Bird's Blanket" because my garden designer described this as a quiet planting area, with repeating plants like quilt squares. It's shaded by a honey locust tree which seems to always be full of birds.  I think Colchicums will be quiet enough for this area in their pale shades of violet and purple.

The other blooms in this border right now include toad lilies, Tricytis sp.

They aren't showy or flashy, but mark the end of our main season of bloom. 

In the days ahead, we'll shift our focus to the leaves as they turn color and to whatever floral flotsam makes it through the first frost which is surely not too far in our future.

How's your garden blooming on this mid-October day?

We would love to have you join in for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day and tell us all about what is blooming in your garden.

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 put your name and the url to your post on the Mr. Linky widget below to make it easy to find you.

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