The weather here in the American South continues to be wonderful. It has been just a little cooler each morning. Each afternoon we have been having a little bit of rain. The sky is a clearer blue each morning as the humidity has fallen.
It has been time to take on some fall tasks such as clearing the vegetable garden, pruning some of the spent perennials and planning some hardscape projects.
This weekend is the Fall Plant Sale at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. I have volunteered for this sale for several years now. I took the time to stroll through the gardens and took some photos for you there.
I began my walk crossing this bridge leading into the area of the Bog Garden.
Along the way, I found this Paw Paw tree (Asimina triloba) with plenty of hanging fruit. The pawpaws have a sweet taste said to be a blend of mango, banana, berries and pineapple. It is the host plant for the Zebra Swallowtail although I did not see any.
A little further along, I found these seed pods of the strawberry bush (Eunonymous americana). Its common names include bursting-heart and hearts-a-bustin derived from the image of the fruit I suppose.
I then spied this flower of the jewel weed. It is common along creeks and ditches since it likes bottomland soil. It is just past its prime but there were abundant blooms remaining.
This is the fall panicle of the oak leaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia). It is a common plant in our woods. The blooms linger after the spring and gradually take on a bronze color like this gem.
I next found this inland wood oats near the water of the bog. It is very popular as a low maintenance shade grass. Its color transitions from green in the spring to ivory in the fall to a brown during winter.
Out near the vegetable garden, I saw this cotton at near maturity.
Next, I saw this eyecatching orange cosmos.
Finally, as I exited the garden I saw this planting of a dwarf sunflower. It was very happily showing off its bright yellow color in the bright sunshine.
I hope you enjoyed these glimpses of my stroll in the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
Happy Gardening.
Be sure to take a look at the efforts of the Propagator.
Leave a Reply