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| September 2018 Garden |
Welcome to my September garden! I can hardly believe that summer is ending with fall just around the corner. After a hot and humid start to September with several days in the upper 80's to lower 90's, a cold front has set in bringing showers and cooler temperatures. The garden is starting to look autumn-like as late summer blooms set in, along with a few lingering raindrops on roses. There may be more prolonged rain in the future as hurricane season has arrived. Before we start the tour, my thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by hurricane Josephine. I hope you are safe and out of harms way.
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| Patio Planters |
As we start the tour this month, here is the patio garden with one of the new Dwarf Butterfly Bushes thriving in a large planter. The fig tree to the right is getting full of ripening delicious fruit.
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| It's Fig Season! |
September is fig season and it is a good year for them! I planted this fig tree for my husband a number of years back and the fruit keeps getting better and better.
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| Monarch Butterfly on Butterfly Bush |
It seems to be a much better year for Monarchs! This one frequents the Butterfly Bush on the patio.
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| Dwarf Buddleia 'Pugster Blue' |
Dwarf Butterfly Bush 'Pugster Blue' is a dwarf form of Buddleia, growing to just 2-3 feet in height and width, yet having the same large fragrant blooms of a full-sized butterfly bush.
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| Garden Love! |
Another trip out east and end of summer sale at the nursery made it hard to pass up this new decor to add to the garden. Late summer blooming Dwarf Rudbeckia 'Little Goldstar' surrounds the new addition with Hosta 'Patriot' behind it.
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| Sedum 'Mr. Goodbud' |
The Sedum 'Mr. Goodbud' I planted last summer is doing well and I am enjoying the bright neon blooms that are lasting through a couple of months. The pollinators are enjoying them too!
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| Hemerocallis 'Stella D Oro' September |
Here is one of the most reliable perennials in my garden, Hemerocallis 'Stella D Oro', blooming again after its August rejuvenation. It blooms from June throughout fall with some simple maintenance.
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| Spirea and Variegated Iris |
The Variegated Iris, which was added to the garden last year has also proven itself. Its variegated foliage can still be enjoyed once the blooms have faded.
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| Blue Atlas Cedar Forming Cones |
Now that summer is winding down and fall is on the way, focus comes back to the evergreens in the garden as they form large attractive seed cones...
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| Skylands Golden Oriental Spruce |
and display their colorful foliage. The Blue Atlas Cedar and Skyland's Oriental Spruce with its golden hue are two of my favorites.
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| Tree Hydrangea 'Tardivia' |
Along the north side of the property, Hydrangea 'Tardivia' is showing off its panicle blooms and its mild fragrance can be enjoyed by passers by.
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| Tree Hydrangea 'Tardivia' Individual Bloom |
Here is one of the panicle blooms up close. Each bloom measures approximately six to seven inches in length.
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| September Perennial Border |
Let's venture back around towards the west facing perennial border, where the garden is starting to look very fall-like. Lamb's Ear with its tall stalks of pink blooms look much brighter against the fading blooms of Astilbe and Balloon Flower (right of Astilbe) can still be seen displaying its blue blooms as it towers above evergreen Blue Star Juniper.
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| Sedum 'Brilliant' |
In the southern border, Sedum 'Brilliant' and Salvia 'May Night' are blooming. When your Salvia finishes its first/second major bloom, a little deadheading will encourage blooms to continue into Fall.
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| Salvia nemerosa 'May Night' |
Come along and follow me to the back of the property. This will be the last chance to glance at the pool, since it will likely be covered by the next Bloom Day.
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| Pool Garden |
As you can see it is starting to sprinkle again as some rains pass through. The pool garden consists mainly of evergreens, which creates wintertime interest while it is cold outside.
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| Double Knock Out Roses |
For interest through the first frost, Double Red Knock Out Rose continues to bloom in the south facing garden. There have been some "raindrops on roses" this past week.
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| Kousa Dogwood 'Greensleeves' |
The Kousa Dogwood is starting to lose its leaves as Hosta starts to yellow in front of Dwarf Black Eyed Susan. Autumn is definitely in the air.
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| Baby Bunny Visitor |
We've had some baby bunnies this season as one friendly visitor comes to say hello for Bloom Day! I must say they have been very respectful of the garden.
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| September Succulent Planter |
Last, but not least is one of my favorite container plantings consisting of combinations of succulents in a strawberry planter. Succulents are drought tolerant, extremely low maintenance and colorful to look at. They even bloom in mid-late summer!
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| Sunflower Love! |
Do you enjoy sunflowers? I have always had a fascination with sunflowers and every year we would ride past the fields out east here on Long Island. Each time, I had high hopes of stopping to take pictures with the beautiful flowers, but the farms were never open to the public. This year a local farmer opened up his land to visitors. As we spoke with the farmer, he never realized what an attraction the vast fields of sunflowers would create. I must say I was one happy camper because I finally got to achieve my dream!
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| My Motto! |
I am signing off with a little gardening humor. Here is my new tea mug for morning wake-up and gazing out at the garden. Since I am referred to as the "Goddess of all Blooming Things" by some of my colleagues, it could not be more fitting!
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| September 2018 Garden |
I hope your visit to my September garden brightened your day. Please feel welcome to stay for a while and check out some of my other posts. Special thanks go out to our hostess Carol at May Dreams Gardens, who makes it possible to see blooms on the 15th of every month with her meme Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. Also, special thanks to Pam Penick at Digging who has hosted Foliage Follow-Up for all these years, a meme I will still continue to honor. I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Floral Friday Fotos, Macro Monday 2, Nature Notes at Rambling Woods, Dishing It & Digging It on Sunday with Angie the Freckled Rose, Image-in-ing weekly photo share every Tuesday with NC Sue and Gardens Galore Link Up Party on the 17th with Everyday Living.
It's always a good time to plan a garden, so if you're looking for a little guidance and inspiration, you may be interested in checking out my two books! Click on the Amazon links below for a preview and more information.
~As Always...Happy Gardening and Be Safe Everyone~
Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening,© Copyright 2018. All rights reserved.
Love those Sedums! I am just beginning to realize their value in giving more color to the autumn garden. I am going to buy more of them.
ReplyDeleteCute bunny rabbit, and the succulent planter is awesome!
Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!
Thank you and a Happy GBBD to you Lea! I loved your almost fall garden with Solidago, Butterfly Bush, Beautyberry and butterflies. Your photographs are stunning and so is your garden!
DeleteI do not even know where to start but I love everything, especially your pot with succulents. That is just so beautiful. Wow! That deep purple of the butterfly bush is stunning and makes me think I need to add some purple to my garden palette. Here in Minnesota it feels as if we have been catching up on the growing season so I do not expect to see any changes in our evergreens until November probably. Loved visiting your garden!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for stopping by Angie and for your kind words.Your blog and gardens are beautiful and I cannot get over just how magnificent your Dahlias are! You can tell how much care was put into them. I am so glad you stopped by my blog. I have bookmarked yours and hope to see you around often. Happy Bloom Day!
DeleteLee, thank you for stopping by! I am seriously fan crushing right now because I LOVE your blog so much! I don't comment often because I normally read on my community to work or back, but I've learned so mcuh from it! :)
DeleteThat picture of figs makes me want to reach out and pluck one! And I do love and envy your buddleias since I never have any luck with them.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is so colorful for September Dorothy and I love your muscadine grapes! Everything looks fabulous. I even like your new mushroom inhabitants and I agree that it would be fun to learn more about them, especially with all their interesting shapes and sizes! Happy Bloom Day and almost Fall!
DeleteLee - your gardens look amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed the tour. I love the picture of you in the sunflower field, so cool. Happy gardening for a little bit longer.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by Joanna! Hopefully the gardening season will stick around for a while longer. The sunflower field was amazing!
DeleteLee, I love your gardens, and I wholeheartedly enjoyed the September tour! I can't wait for the figs to come out on my neighbors' plants. I think I'm the only person who harvests any at all, so why should I feel like a thief?! The mug is must-have!
ReplyDeleteThank you Rita! Your garden is so beautiful and lush and I even enjoyed the perfectly shaped mushrooms! Your story about the little squirrel and robin is sweet too.
DeleteWhat an amazing garden you have! Love the sedum and butterfly bush! I always seem to scare away the monarchs before I can get a picture.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Shelly! You have to sneak up quickly on the Monarchs when they are too preoccupied with the flower! Sometimes they even stay for me!
DeleteIt's always a pleasure to visit your garden which looks stellar in all seasons!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for visiting! It is always such a pleasure to visit your garden and you've make so many people happy by getting up at the crack of dawn to share it!
DeleteYou can tell fall is coming to your garden. It looks great. Love your sedum and that fabulous suculent container!
ReplyDeleteThank you Rebecca. I enjoyed my visit to your garden and love all the rain lilies! Your photos of them are gorgeous too!
DeleteWhat a big beautiful garden. My garden is a little at a loss this year, this September because we have had so much rain, and my garden does not drain. There is always next year - when we will have made some further adjustments.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your kind words Pat. It has been very rainy here too. Maybe try weep holes with gravel to help with the drainage.
DeleteYour garden is just stunning! I miss my tardiva hydrangea but have it on my must plant again soon list. Probably not this year. I'm kinda tired of the heat...
ReplyDeleteThank you Christine. I am glad you enjoyed the visit! I now following your twitter page to keep updated.
DeleteLee, I love your Hydrangea 'Tardivia', I should have it in my garden too if it's enough hardy :-)
ReplyDeleteI also think that you between sunflowers look like 'Goodness of all blooming things', they smile as you do.
Happy GBBD in your wonderful garden!
Happy Bloom Day Nadezda! Your garden really shines for the month of September and everything looks so lush and beautiful! Your Hydrangea paniculata and roses are especially gorgeous. I so enjoyed my visit, as I always do!
DeleteLovely succulent planter ...attractive foliage is so perfect...have a nice week
ReplyDeleteThank you Arun. I enjoyed your tropical Ixora. Have a great week!
DeleteYour garden is so beautiful, and you always have the prettiest photos. Thanks for linking up at Hello Fall link party.
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting Carol. I have been enjoying your posts!
DeleteLee, your September garden is stunning with such gorgeous blooms. As much as I love flowers, I also love those lucious looking figs, I can taste them with a drizzle of honey and goat cheese. Your sunflower photo must be framed. Thanks so much for linking to Gardens Galore!
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting Pam. I am glad to have found you and am enjoying your beautiful blog! Have a wonderful week!
DeleteYes, Lee, my visit to your gardens brightened my day. Love your new garden art and that happy sunflower picture! P. x
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words Pam and I am glad to have brightened your day.I cannot believe it is autumn already. Enjoy the garden!
DeleteHi Lee! I just discovered that all the huge salvias in our 17 3-foot-long planters over 3 decks (which have significantly taken over the other 10 types of plants in the containers)are perennials! They are mostly BB, but a number are hot pink. We live in NY and are in zone 7a. I've been reading for hours now trying to find the best way to save them over the winter. We don't have extra inside room for them, and comments on planting outside vary SO much on the internet. But you have salvias in your incredible garden! And you seem like YOU might have the answers. Gonna buy yr book when I finish this comment. We are in a townhouse and have some outside access so I can get them out of the containers and into the ground. They are all over 2.5 feet high and still blooming like crazy. When should I plant in the ground and how low should we cut them down? Thanks in advance for your help!!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to my blog! There are two types of Salvia, annual Salvia, which does not come back after one year and perennial Salvia which does. Mine are Salvia 'Maynight' and grow 12-18 inches tall. I do have another type called 'Caradonna, which is a deep purple and gets 2-3 feet in height as you described. I normally do not plant any hot pink Salvia, but do know there is one that gets about 2 feet tall (Salvia Rose Queen). If you do have the perennial type, they should be planted in the ground, since they may not overwinter in the planters. They need to be planted in a sunny location in a well-drained soil. Normally, the best time to move/divide perennial plants is in spring, but you should be fine to do so now in the fall. Cut them back only part way to give them strength, get a good root ball and plant with a slow release fertilizer. Keep them watered throughout the fall. When the foliage turns completely brown they are done for the season and should be cut completely back. I hope this helps and hopefully you will have a nice Salvia garden next season to enjoy! P.S. Thank you for your interest in my books. I am also in zone 7a (Long Island,New York) so all the plants I discuss are hardy in our area. Good luck with your project!
DeleteYou are an incredible person and gardener. Thank you SO MUCH for replying and so quickly. I have really no idea if my salvia are the 'perennial type' but everyone says that Black and Blue are perennial. [They cost a lot!!!] Definitely planning to plant in the ground in the next few weeks before a frost [have to get permission from our housing assoc, but should be NP]. Thanks so much for the cutting only part way advice which was my sense but so many places on the web say to cut to the bottom rose crescent [that is wrong, but they mean the last array of leaves before the roots]. This is SO helpful. Long live ZONE 7A!!! Thanks again so much for yr help!!!! xo
DeleteYou are so very welcome. Glad I could be of help!
DeleteSo many beautiful blooms in your September garden. I love your adorable visitors too. Thanks so much for sharing with us at the Hello Fall linky. Pinned.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I enjoyed your blog and meme and will look forward to more!
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