Bloom Day again! Maybe it's because I love summer and hate to see it go, but it seems like much less than a month since I posted for August's Bloom Day. Nevertheless, time marches on, and now we're very near the autumnal equinox. Although a number of plants are still blooming nicely, there's a definite slowing of energy, and we are expecting our first real rain of the season this weekend.
Let's take a look at what is still in bloom, with a caveat if you hate repeats: you may have seen many of these flowers already this summer...
Starting in the Northwest Territory, we have the fantastic native, Erigeron glaucus. This stalwart of the summer garden looks wonderful, and supports pollinators all season long.
Another winning native in the NW Territory is Heterotheca villosa. I'm in love with this robust summer bloomer and pollinator magnet.
Cyclamen hederifolium is not a native, but it sure turns up at the best time in the NW Territory. I believe the clump of paler blooms on the left are C. hederifolium 'Xera's Sterling'. The ones on the right are probably the straight species.
Moving into the south back garden we come to all the red and orange flowers. This is Bougainvillea 'Camarillo Fiesta' in a container.
Begonia boliviensis.
Unknown Cuphea, possibly 'Vermillionaire'. The hummers are still checking it for nectar.
Dicliptera suberecta also interests the hummingbirds.
Monarda macrantha 'Marian Sampson' is just holding her own against the marauding delosperma.
Here's something that wasn't blooming last month: the delicate flowers of Mahonia gracilipes.
Also new this month: Pelargonium sidoides. This plant came from Alison of Bonney Lassie in 2016, and has lived happily in my front garden with no protection since then.
I have put in multiple low-growing heathers over the years and I have a hard time keeping track of the cultivars. From the tag description this may be Calluna vulgaris 'Silver Cloud'. Whatever it is, it's blooming, and it's cute.
I moved an Arctostaphylos x 'Pajaro Hybrid' from Astoria to Portland, because the deer kept nibbling it. It's responding to the move by putting on some new growth and a few flowers.
One of two gorgeous Correa 'Stawberries and Cream' given to me by Emily Freebird of In Search of Small Things. One will stay in Portland, and one will try life (and the deer population) in Astoria.
Because it's in more shade than it would like, Gardenia 'Frostproof' rations out its fragrant blooms one at a time.
Hesperaloe parviflora stems are still blooming, and they are forming lots of these fat seed pods that tell me they've been attracting hummingbirds and bees.
Agastache "Acapulco Orange' is hanging in there, but pretty ready for fall.
Lastly, in my opinion the seedheads of Chasmanthium latifolium are as beautiful as flowers.
Bloom Day is hosted monthly by the lovely Carol, at May Dreams Gardens.
Happy Bloom Day, all!
