We have had some rain this past week. Thank goodness for that. The temperatures have been moderate with just a hint of coolness in the morning. Long range there is not danger of frost for the next 10 days. The most striking feature is the bright blue skies. The summer haze is gone. Colors just seem to pop in the landscape.
Speaking of pop, here are my photos for this week.
The fennel in the fall vegetable bed bloomed this week. Very perky color. Sorry for the bit of unfocused blooms but you get the idea.
The Camellia sasanqua is at its peak. It is loaded with multiple blooms. I caught this one with just enough light to cause it to sparkle.
The swamp sunflower (Helianthus augustifolia) is also at its peak. It is set against the purple of the Japanese maple but the mid day sun has overwhelmed that color.
The purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpura) are continuing to give a wonderful display. This is one of our magnificent natives. It shamefully self seeds but I do not protest.
I found an intruder this week. It is a Japanese climbing fern (Lygodium japonicum). It is mildly invasive but it is exotic enough to be forgiven as long as it minds its manners and stays out of the shrubbery.
Finally, I have purchased some fall annuals which will be planted soon. The pansies are in the Mystic series and the poppies called champagne bubbles are a new candidate for the Mens Garden.
Happy gardening.
Six on Saturday continues Garden Ruminations. Check it out tomorrow.
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I’ve seen and admired climbing ferns in Australia and New Zealand but have yet to find one hardy enough to grow here, though some of our natives will grow as non trailing epiphytes. I’m not even sure what I’d climb it up but I still fancy the idea of having one.
The name of the swamp sunflower just made me chuckle, it looks happy though.
The echinacea is very healthy and I’m surprised to read that it self seeds. I’ve had little luck in growing any, but have a small plant that looks as though it might survive. Fingers crossed!
The Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas is a wonderful resource. I have some native plant fans who collect the seeds and spread them in their yards.
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ecpu