October Bloom Day
It’s been a fairly warm autumn so far. Leaves are slow to color, flowers to fade. Though they certainly are fading.
The most common blooms are the Asters, like the Short’s Aster (Symphyotrichum shortii) above.
They still bloom in their mounding masses, accompanied by the dried remains of summer flowers, like these Monarda.
You can peak over the tops of the Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) growing in the Sidewalk Border and see the New England Aster (S. novae-angliae) in bloom.
I know I had pictures of these sweat bees on the New England Aster in my last post, but I just had to include one more. I propose that these green pollinators be called “Martian Bees”.
Though its best months are August and September, the Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia) is still hanging in there, gamely pumping out a few last blooms. One thing that happens this time of year, though, is that the stems, some quite large, start to break off.
The Calamint (Calamintha nepeta) is still blooming, and still looks nice with the dried flowers of Sedum (Hylotelephium spectabile). (A note to taxonomists: Hylotelephium? Really? Have you completely ignored my rule that new genus names cannot have more syllables than the old ones? Apparently so.)
The Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa columbaria) is perkier in the cooler weather, despite the fact that I have neglected the deadheading lately. These were just planted this year, next year they should put on a nice display.
Even as her rose hips ripen, ‘Cassie’ continues flowering. The hips are eaten by birds as they turn red, so you don’t see them in great numbers.
The flowers, though a bit sparse, are still charming.
Among the containers, many plants are fading or have given up. Cigar Plant (Cuphea ignea), despite its subtropical origin, doesn’t seem at all tired.
Some of you may remember that I tried cutting back my Clematis jackmanii after its first flush of blooms on the theory that there would be another bloom period in the fall. For the record, this has resulted in only a tiny number of flower buds as of mid-October. This may work better in milder climates, but I won’t be trying it again.
Garden Bloggers Bloom Day is hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens on the 15th of the month. Check out her site to see more October flowers. Happy Bloom Day!
gardeninacity 
Your Asters are beautiful, and yes, they are still asters to me! I didn’t know that Sedum had changed their name, why can’t they leave these names alone please? Your cigar plant is beautiful, quite stunning!
Apparently they will never leave the names alone. I have suggested guidelines for plant name changes but no one listens to me.
I really do enjoy the changes in the seasons, and there is something rather peaceful about the fading garden in the fall. Your asters still look so nice –mine have pretty much finished. I do still have some zinnias and Four O’Clocks putting out blooms. And I need to figure out what to do about pruning my clematis.
I’ve never grown Four O’Clocks. My Zinnias are looking pretty ratty. Do you know the variety of Clematis?
I have one very tall Aster that hasn’t opened its flowers yet. It’s taking its time. I agree with you about the new name for Sedum. I just still call it Sedum. I like your Martian Bee.
Thanks. There is definitely a long period of time during which different Aster species will bloom.
Looks good! I love the grouping with the cuphea. Fall would feel weird without the annual ester explosion.
I kind of chanced on the combo of Cuphea, ‘Mystic Spires’ Salvia, and red Pentas. I really like it.
A lovely autumnal feeling to your garden. Like the idea of “Martian bees”!
Little green bees from Mars.
Great photos and enjoy your poetic descriptions. I especially like the Tithonias with the backdrop of your home.
They’re definitely one of my favorite plants.
Lots to enjoy still in your autumnal garden (I live the autumnal, you can’t say ‘fallen’ garden can you?!). I pulled out my Tithonia because it was taking over the space allocated to the Dahlias but there are seedlings now; I’m sure they won’t survive winter but I’ll leave them for now just to see what happens to them. Your R. Cassie looks so crisp and new, the white is pristine not creamy or dirty at all, so beautiful. Love all the Asters too.
Tithonias can get a little overbearing. ‘Cassie’ is a real jewel.
Enjoy your posts and pix. We’ve had great success with Clematis paniculata – sweet autumn clematis (planted 2000?). Pretty much carefree enjoyment after hard pruning in early spring. Needs full sun from spring until autumn. Beautifully green all summer, then covered with white blossoms (and bees) around mid-September. Right outside my back door – first thing I see and smell when I let the dog out every morning. We’re in USDA hardiness zone 6a.
Clematis paniculata sounds great, but can’t it get pretty invasive?
Your Tithonias still look strong and healthy, whereas mine are browning and beginning to dwindle. And your asters are lasting well too. 🙂
Enjoyed your post, the Asters, that lovely rose Cassie, and the towering Tithonia.
Hylotelephium, yeah. What were they thinking?
Taxonomists are just plain malicious.
I’m at the stage where remembering the original plant name is hard enough. I’m not even trying to learn new names. They are never shorter or easier.
That’s very true. It seems wrong.
A lovely assortment of blooms!
Thank you.
You have to search some to find the natives but we still have the odd aster, goldenrod and sweet everlastings blooming.
It’s all about fall foliage here now and nobody seems to care what’s blooming.
Foliage here is just starting to turn.
It appears that the flower namers got together with the folks who name dinosaurs. I’m sticking with sedum. ‘ Now you sedum’ is a blog post title of mine. ‘ Now you hylotelephium’ sounds ridiculous.
As a lover of puns, I admire “Now You Sedum” very much.
Plenty of blooms still in your garden! Looks fantastic!
I wasn’t aware of the name change for Sedum – yikes, that’s quite the mouthful!
Thanks. The new name for Sedum may be too much to swallow.
Happy GBBD! It’s awesome to have flowers still in mid-October, isn’t it? And you have so many! I really like the color and form of the Short’s Aster. It appears we will have a short “autumn” in its true colors this year. I’m not complaining–it’s nice to be able to walk around without a jacket in October!
I’m wondering when we’ll see the first frost – could it hold off until mid-November?
Lots of pretties, the asters are certainly in fine form. And the Pincushion Flower–I’ve never grown them, but a neighbor has some and they’re darling.
They are very appealing. The Scabiosa flowers are very similar to Knautia – but the plant is much smaller and less aggressive.
You still have lots of flowers and colour in fall which is lovely to see. What a pity your Clematis did not flower again, but at least you know for next year…the photos you showed in summer of the Clematis were wonderful.
Thanks. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Happy GBBD Jason! Your garden is full of flowering plants I especially liked ‘Cassie’ rose and its hips, very nice. I have never did any experiments with my clematis because am afraid it won’t survive winter.
Happy GBBD to you, Nadezda! “Cassie’ is a very fine rose.
I have to say, I like “Martian bees” better than “Sweat bees”. Happy GBBD, Jason!
‘Martian Bees’ certainly sounds a lot more mysterious.
Love those asters!
Me too!
I can feel the transition of fall in your photos. Enjoy the remaining blooms of the season. They sure are beautiful.
Thanks. I do enjoy the autumn flowers.
I am loving fall flowers, and I love Martian Bees, too! Great name! From now on that is what I will call them.
Me too. Sweat bees sounds kind of like they should be leaning on shovels in their undershirts.
Lovely blooms, your tithonia is really impressive. Hylo- what? Oh dear, that one passed me by.
The Tithonia is quite impressive into October, when it starts literally falling apart.
Martian bee? I do like that! Casa really is a lovely rose, she does you proud. The birds don’t bother with our rose hips, maybe times aren’t hard for them yet.xxx
The hips on both ‘Cassie’ and ‘Sally Holmes’ tend to disappear pretty fast. I suppose some rose hips are tastier than others.
Wow on the Tithonia! I am going to have to try it again next year, but give it much more space. You still have so many lovely blooms; we’re going to have to enjoy them every day that we can. I didn’t know Sedum had a new botanical name…I wish the botanists would just leave things alone; I’m still learning the old names:)
I think they have a system whereby as soon as a certain percentage master a difficult name they change it to something even harder.