The Garden in Mid-September
Happy Bloom Day! On the 15th of every month Carol from May Dreams Gardens hosts Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day, enabling gardeners to share and compare what’s in flower in their little patch of earth.
In our garden the most bountiful blooms at the moment are provided by Brown-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba). This Rudbeckia makes me happy with its clouds of little golden yellow flowers with cute little cones in the center. They call them “eyes” but they look to me more like noses. This Susan self-sows freely, as they say, but I consider that a virtue.
Though I’ve got to confess that keeping this Susan upright has been an ongoing battle, especially after she’s had plenty to drink (not that kind of drink – I’m talking about rain).
The Mexican Sunflowers (Tithonia rotundifolia) keep pumping out flowers like champs, though in a couple of weeks they will literally start to fall apart as stems start to break.
A big clump of ‘Gateway’ Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium maculatum) stands between two Mexican Sunflowers. E. maculatum flowers last much longer into the season than Sweet Joe Pye Weed (E. purpureum). They also have nice purple stems.
The birds are eating up the cones of Yellow Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata), but there are still some in bloom.
At the sidewalk end of the Driveway Border, the compact ‘Blue Adonis’ Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) is still perfuming the air with racemes of blue flowers. I placed it here so people could smell the honey scent as they walk by. I’m very pleased with this plant so far, it blooms pretty well, is very fragrant, and doesn’t overwhelm the border with its size (only about 3′ this year).
Orange Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida) and ‘Matrona’ Sedum spectabilis are blooming nicely together in the East Parkway Bed. 
In the same bed there’s a sizable and growing patch of Plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides). This picture really doesn’t do justice to the deep blue flowers. This is a really nice late-blooming groundcover for sunny areas.
On the other side of the driveway, in the Lamppost Bed, Helenium autumnale ‘Short’n’Sassy’ has been blooming since June. I’m beginning to worry it’s going to be so exhausted soon it won’t survive the winter. Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) is cozying up to the Helenium, but just a handful of buds have actually opened. Soon, though, it will be covered in flowers.
Most plants in this new bed were planted just this spring, however ‘Orange Profusion’ Zinnias (Zinnia elegans) have done an admirable job of filling in empty spaces and providing lots of zippy color.
In September, of course, a gardener’s fancy turns to Asters and Goldenrods. While Aromatic Aster is just dipping its toe in the seasonal waters, Short’s Aster (S. shortii) has gotten about knee deep.
On the other hand, in the back garden the Crooked Stem Asters (S. prenanthoides) have already peaked. Or to continue the metaphor, they’re done swimming laps and are starting to think it might be time to get out of the water. The flowers of this aster open light blue and fade to almost white.
The Big Leaf Asters (S. macrophyllum) have also peaked. Their flowers have a kind of gap-toothed look, but they make up for this by growing contentedly in dry shade and also by being a pretty decent groundcover.
Anise Scented Goldenrod (Solidago odora), which grows in the Left Bank Bed, has peaked. This is a nice little Goldenrod that tops out at 2-3′ and takes some shade. Some people make tea from the leaves.
There’s also a NOID wild Goldenrod growing in the back garden. On the other hand, Blue Stemmed and Zigzag Goldenrod (S. caesia and flexicaulis) only have a few sporadic blooms as of yet.
In terms of container plants, the Nicotiana and Nasturtiums have pretty much thrown in the towel blooming-wise. On the other hand, other container plants have found renewed vigor in September. The ‘Disco Red’ Marigolds (Tagetes patula), for example.
Also the Pentas (Pentas lanceolata). Great hummingbird plants, by the way.
And the annual Salvias (Salvia farinacea ‘Evolution Violet’ and S. ‘Mystic Spires Blue’).
So that’s about it for September Bloom Day. Which blooms are making you happy right now?
gardeninacity 
A lovely series of photos!
Happy Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day!
Happy bloom day to you!
Lots to enjoy in your garden, have a good week.
Thanks, Christina.
Lots of lovely colour and interest going on Jason, lovely to see. Thank you. We are currently being buffeted by gale force winds and driving rain, and I daren’t look to see what’s happening in our garden!
We had some high winds shortly after our return, lots of plants bowed down with wind and rain. I hope your weather calms soon!
I think I saw Cathy refer to your posts on Tithonia; then I went on a garden visit at the weekend and really understood what all the Tithonia fuss is about. Needless to say, I fell in love. Lots of lovely autumn colour going on in your garden!
The Tithonia has such vibrant color, and all it really wants is warm sun.
Wow. Still lots of blooms in your late summer garden!
I like to have a lot of late-season flowers.
My marigolds are still going strong while the susans and hosta are starting to fade along with the butterfly bushes. I have one Knockout Rose that is getting her second wind so I’m enjoying that and the grasses are in full bloom. Your gardens still look lovely. 🙂
Thanks! I hope the Susans are still blooming when the New England Aster comes into flower.
Fantastic post. I love orange! Your garden is absolutely beautiful. I don’t know how I’ve missed your blog in the past. I’m following now and look forward to reading more.
Orange and blue are probably my two favorite colors in the garden. Thanks for following!
Wow, I’m envious, you have a chock load of blooms to enjoy this late in the season. Love those Mexican sunflowers, are they easy to grow? We’ve downsized and moved to the city too, I think I may have mentioned that before, not a blade of grass, but quite a few flower beds in the back and front. You have an urban setting too it seems, but gosh you’ve got a ton of space?
Mexican Sunflowers are easy to grow as long as they get sun and you don’t put them out to early. As to space, we have what is a little larger than a standard suburban lot. It’s just that the entire front has been turned into beds and borders so there is a lot going on.
Your garden looks like it’s summer with the amount of color and bloom (if I did not know those are late season bloomers). Gorgeous.
There are lots of plants that bloom in September and October.
A great display for September Jason. Goldenrod is blooming all along our roadsides, looking very lovely.
When we were in Quebec there were massive amounts of Joe Pye Weed and Fireweed blooming on the sides of the roads.
I will have to get out later to see what is blooming here. Not a whole lot unfortunately. The drought has taken its toll. Happy GBBD.
A good reminder to be grateful for all the rain we’ve gotten this year. I hate droughts.
Your garden is looking phenomenal in September. Here the drought has taken its toll and plants are looking past their best. Winding down time!
We’ve escaped drought this year, for which I am very grateful.
Such great late summer color! I’m a fan of the asters and coneflowers as well. Enjoy!
Thanks!
What a marvelous variety of color in your garden. Thanks for sharing with us.
You’re welcome!
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A lot going on in the late summer garden! I really love the dusky, velvety colours at the end of the season
Asters and goldenrod are my favorites for color, and the Rudbeckias.
Your garden is still very beautiful. I can’t think of one near here with so many flowers still blooming.
Fall may be further along where you are.
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So many blooms in your garden. My garden still has asters, coneflowers, lots of Susans, and more. I like this time of year to have all the late bloomers making an appearance. I just don’t work the garden after September.
I work it less, but can’t restrain myself completely.
What a lot of colour in your garden…and orange flowers especially ……l love them…..lots of inspiration for me there…
I’m very partial to orange flowers myself … Zinnias, Tithonia, Daylilies Asiatic Lilies … such a vibrant color.
I enjoyed seeing all of your blooms. I have quite a few of the same ones in our yard. I planted a clump of big leaf aster a couple years ago, and it has not bloomed yet. The clump has expanded a bit, though. I hope it blooms next year. I hope winter goes by as quickly as the summer has.
I think the Big Leaf Aster prefers some shade. Amen to your thoughts on winter.
Lovely blooms, Jason! Red Pentas belong in your garden. In mine, they simply clash. I’m opting for pink or purple (I think those are options?) next season. Blooms are fading here, along with my enthusiasm for my own garden. I think I need another trip to a botanical garden. 😉
There are definitely pink Pentas, also white. Not sure about purple.
There is so much going on in your garden right now–lovely! It’s interesting to see how different the blooms times are for your plants compared to mine–my yellow coneflowers, for example finished a long time ago. But another plant we share–the Brown-eyed Susans–are still going strong here, too. They do self-seed, but it’s hard to get upset with them when they bloom so prolifically in fall, isn’t it? Glad to see the Mexican Sunflowers still blooming–they’re definitely on my wish list for next year, and I’m happy to know they have such a long bloom time.
I can’t get upset with the Brown Eyed Susans – they’re easy to pull up and if at all possible I let them grow where they plant themselves.
You have such a stunning garden! I really like those Mexican sunflowers, how pretty. I adore Goldenrod, the bees flock to it in the fall. Happy to have found your blog 🙂 Have a great weekend
Thank you, Angie. Glad to have found your blog as well, it is beautifully put together.
Lots of things going on this time of year in your garden. I did not participate this month because there isn’t much happening that is different from last month.
Ray
I like the sunflowers in your last post, though.
Everything looks wonderful! We have many of the same plants. I love my Short’s asters, too. 🙂
Funny that Short’s asters are not more popular. Maybe they should be called Tall and Handsome Asters.
Asters are blooming everywhere….making me very happy! Your late summer garden is just lovely and full of colorful blooms.
The asters are coming into their own right about now.