Summer Finale: August 2013 GBBD
We are at the mid-point of August. Mid-summer flowers are fading, late summer bloomers are peaking, and the very first flowers of autumn begin to open, like scouts checking out a new territory.
I am very impressed with Yellow Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata). The flowers are very long-lasting, and the bright clear yellow wears well through the summer. This spring I planted several more Ratibida. For this year they are growing only basal foliage, but I am confident that next year they will bloom, providing me with a more dramatic swath of this plant.
Three other stand-out plants at this time of year are Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum), Joe Pye Weed ‘Gateway’ (Eutrochium purpureum subsp. maculatum), and Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum). The Anise Hyssop was slow to start blooming this year but is providing lots of very blue flower spikes right now. It goes well with the pink/purple umbels of ‘Gateway’ and the yellow daisies of the Ratibida and Cup Plant.
Tall Ironweed (Vernonia altissima) is blooming for me for the first time this year. I’m looking forward to larger and more dramatic clumps of this plant.
‘Prairie Sunset’ Heliopsis (Heliopsis helianthoides) continues to bloom effortlessly, as they have since the end of June. You can see that the flowers of the Wild Bergamot are close to played out, though. The clump of Bergamot in the Sidewalk Border became afflicted with powdery mildew, so I cut them way back.
The ‘Rasberry Wine’ Bee Balm, on the other hand, still has a fair amount of color.
The Susans have arrived, both the shorter Orange Coneflower or Black Eyed Susan (Rudbecia fulgida), and the taller Brown Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba).
In the parkway, Sedum spectabilis ‘Matronna’ has begun blooming. These are the first Sedum I’ve ever planted, for some reason. Also Calamint (Calamintha nepetoides) has formed low mounds filled with tiny white flowers much favored by pollinators.
Across the driveway, the very first aster flowers are opening – the low-growing, blue Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolius). Odd, because usually these asters tend to open later in the season.
Near the front door, the compact Summersweet ‘Hummingbird’ (Clethra alnifolia) is blooming and scenting the air with a sweet fragrance.
The last of the Clematis jackmanii are blooming on their west-facing wall. They certainly were magnificent this year. And the rose ‘Cassie’ is having a new flush of blooms.
Not a great deal to see in the back garden in terms of flowers right at the moment. There are Cup Plant growing against the outside of the alley fence, plus containers, fading ‘Annabelle’ Hydrangeas, and the very beginnings of Brown Eyed Susan.
Garden Blogger Bloom Day is graciously hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. Check out the link to see the flowers blooming in other gardens.
gardeninacity 
Hard to believe that we only have a month left of summer! Sad that the end is in sight. So many plants, so little summer!
To make the most of the remaining time, I’ve bought several cases of energy drinks.
Still looking wonderful late summer. The yellow coneflower is fabulous Jason, I love it’s long drooping petals.
I do too. The petals seem somehow dignified yet goofy, and the cone makes me think of a clown’s nose.
it all looks fab and so floriforous and well cared for. I havent heard of cup flower before
Well, if you want a really tall perennial yellow daisy that is easy to grow (other than the staking), it’s the way to go.
Everything fabulous, but that lone bee in a sea of white petite blooms is so elegant. And the spikes of the violet hyssop is my favorite too.
Yes, the Calamint is very nice, but you need a mass to have an impact.
As we say in UK, this looks like Prairie Planting ,lovely.
Haven’t heard that expression, but thanks.
I can see that we have a love for the same plants. They all suit my soil, and they attract bees and butterflies. I have to get the blue anise hyssop and Raspbery Wine Bee Balm. It really looks good in your garden, although the summer is almost gone.
I still have lots of plants blooming, so I must make a post soon.
Will you have asters and goldenrod blooming in Autumn?
Really beautiful!
I especially like all the yellows and purples
Happy GBBD!
Lea
Lea’s Menagerie
Yellow and Purple, Blue and Orange are my favorite color combinations. Happy GBBD, Lea!
As always your garden is stunning, the colors are lovely. And I do appreciate having some new plants to put on my late summer list. This is the hardest time to find a plant that will survive the heat of our summers, the drought, the bugs, and the fluctuating spring weather.
Jen
Yellow Coneflower is pretty tough, I think, You might want to try it.
It all looks wonderful. Love those tall prairie cup plants along the fence. My summersweet ‘Hummingbird’ blooms completely white, but yours is pink — I do have ‘Ruby Spice’ that is a soft pink though. In any event, the scent of clethra is lovely! I like seeing the re-bloom on the purple Jackmanii clematis, always a plus at this time of year.
You know what, I keep mixing up ‘Hummingbird’ and ‘Ruby Spice’. The picture was ‘Ruby Spice’, not ‘Hummingbird’. And I agree with you about the fragrance of Clethra!
Some beautiful tall plants there Jason, I’m amazed by how much you always mange to have in flower.xxxx
I manage by cramming way too many plants into the available space. Both Judy and I have a weakness for tall plants.
Everything looks fantastic! You have so much color, particularly by your front door. You’ve also reminded me (probably not for the first time) that I miss my anise hyssop and ought to get some again.
Anise Hyssop is a great plant – reliable, long blooming, disease free. Only thing challenge is keeping it pinched back and staked so that it doesn’t flop.
Your summer garden is just gorgeous. i am envious.
I just noted on your blog that I am envious of your butterflies!
I will have to remember to look into the yellow coneflowers. I wonder if they would do as well in my area. How is your fringe tree doing?
Fringe tree seems to be taking well, though things have been dry lately and I may need to water them. I bet the yellow coneflowers are worth trying where you are.
Jason, your gardens are a forest of flowers. Beautiful late summer show.
Thank you. I’ve been enjoying it leaving home in the morning are returning after work. Of course, morning garden inspection has made me late for work more than once.
Your garden looks lovely!
Thank you!
Thanks so much for these beautiful photographs. No wonder you attract so many birds, butterflies and bees! I am just now getting excited about the prospect of having some of these beautiful plants in my front yard, albeit a tiny space. A couple weeks ago Art and Linda’s Wildflowers planted and designed over what was formerly hated dying grass and detested shrubs… I am watering and fertilizing and praying.
The good news is temps have been mild. Bad news is that its pretty dry. Don’t know what Art and Linda said but I would say the main need now is water, fertilizer not so much. Long deep waterings with a soaker hose is best. Regarding prayer – hey, it can’t hurt. Eager to see how your new garden turns out. What plants did you get?
Yeah, I’ve been watering more than fertilizing but Art was so disgusted with my soil (I never cared for my lawn, so it just took whatever it could from the soil) that he even dropped off extra compost last week (I had already put some around everything). The variety of plants is too long to list here – he almost did a “sampler” given the conditions. I think it will even out as things take, probably not everything will survive, but right now I’m excited that he did plant a few things I craved like Prairie Smoke and a Sweet Joe Pye Weed. Most of the plants are so small it’s hard to tell what they will eventually look like, but that’s exciting, I get to watch them grow. There are a couple Blazing Stars that are starting to bloom, and I had put some others myself on the side of the house. Anyway it’s an eastern exposure thing so in the afternoon it’s not in full sun. I must be doing something “right” – the grass we “killed” is starting to come back in a few spots!…
You have quite a display going on there. Very impressive. I especially like that your Anise Hyssop is such a nice deep blue. I have Black Adder because I’m not fond of Blue Fortune’s color, but even Black Adder looks a little washed out in my yard.
Anise Hyssop has been a favorite of mine since I first planted it 10 years ago. I grow the straight native species Agastache foeniculum. I think Blue Fortune and most of the other blue Agastaches are hybrids between A. foeniculum and the Korean species. The main problem I have with the native is controlling the height.
Lovely!!! I’m amazed that your jackmani is still blooming!!
For a little white I was doing some deadheading and that seems to be where the blooms are now. Maybe I’ll do more deadheading next year.
Seeing so many fall flowers blooming is painful and beautiful at the same time. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a summer go by as fast as this one.
These are mostly more in the category of late summer, or that’s what I’m telling myself.
“like scouts checking out a new territory” – love that, isn’t it so true? Most of my plants look the same since I do a lot of container gardening. The Black and Blue Salvia is attracting hummingbirds every day, and the Rose of Sharon has called every bee in the neighborhood. I think your late summer garden looks great!
The hummers do like Black and Blue, it’s just not flowering for me all that much.
I hope my garden looks this good one day in August!!! It is beautiful Jason! Your first photo is a wonderful combination!!! I have always fancied Anise Hyssop and now you have convinced me to get going with planting it next year!
Thanks, Nicole! You should definitely try Anise Hyssop!
What a great place for the Cup Plant–along the fence! Your gardens look incredible at this time of year. That ‘Raspberry Wine’ Monarda is something special!
Thank you. I planted Cup Plant along the fence since it couldn’t run too wild in the alley, and we can see the flowers from inside the yard.
Very colorful! I love the anise hyssop and the photo of the orange coneflower with the firecracker plant. A great end of summer combination. The raspberry wine monad is also very pretty in that spot. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, I love that picture of the orange coneflower and Firecracker Plant as well, really nice contrasting colors and shapes.
Heavenly, and not only for us looking at all the flowers but especially for insects and butterflies. You must have plenty of them.
There are many, many bees and other pollinators. Butterflies have been pretty uncommon this year, however.
Judging by the fullness of your garden, you must be getting the same sort of rainfall we have. Sometimes I think it is also filled with weed seeds and Miracle-gro.
I thought Scott’s was already marketing that as a concentrated spray – they’re trying to serve all niches in the market.
Jason, pretty summer final you have. I love Yellow Coneflower, it remind me the dancing figures in yellow dresses. Your hydrangea in backyard is in full bloom, the flowers are round, very nice!
I never thought of the Yellow Coneflowers as dancers in yellow dresses, but that’s a nice description.
What a great combination of natives you have! I planted my first yellow coneflower seedlings this spring; I’m hoping to see some blooms like yours next year. Your garden must be buzzing with pollinators!
We are seeing tons of bees, etc, though there weren’t so many earlier in the season.
I just found my cup plant nipped by deer so I must find a more protected area…and I do want Ironweed in the meadow as well. Your late summer garden is a feast fr our eyes and the critters.
Surprised that deer will eat Cup Plant as the leaves have a rough texture.
The bed in front of the house is fantastic. Happy GBBD!
Happy GBBD to you! Glad you like our front garden.
A real feast of beauties! I love the combination of Sedum spectabilis ‘Matronna’ and Calamint (Calamintha nepetoides); not something I’d ever thought of but just perfect!
I like that combo too, but I think the Calamint needs cutting back.
Love all the color in your garden. Beautiful blooms — well done. I have Clethra alnifolia ‘Vanilla Spice’ and now ‘Ruby Spice’. love its fragrance!!!
We are enjoying ‘Ruby Spice’, it is right by the landing so we smell it when we walk out the door.
I love your coneflowers! I’ve been out and bought some since reading your blog!! I’ve tried to grow them so many times but really want to succeed this time because yours look so good!!!