A Little Rain, A Few August Observations

Clockwise from left: Blue Mistflower volunteers (Conoclinium coelestinum), Beacon Impatiens 'Violet Shades' (I. walleriana), Dusty Miller (Jacobaea maritima), and Sweet Potato Vine 'Sweet Georgia Pulse Black' (Ipomoea batatas)

Happily, we had a gentle, plentiful rainfall last weekend. Plants and people are pleased. And while the drought and high heat took their toll, I'll ignore those sad stories and focus on a few pleasant garden happenings for this "Six on Saturday."

The pot in the photo above is hard to capture because it's in a corner--between some fencing, the potager, and the Lilac shrub. It seems to like its location, and the colors and shapes of its elements always capture my eye when I'm working over there.



I almost gave up on the various Hydrangeas. I told the Fishman, "Remind me: Never again plant a Hydrangea!" They are heavy water-suckers, and they're never happy with hot temperatures and no rain. They were near dead for about a month. Then I see them like this after a good soaker, and my soft spot for them returns (a little).



Three beauties are currently blooming on the trellis bordering the potager: an unknown Hollyhock (Alcea rosea) from a seed mix, Maypops (Passiflora incarnata), and Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata). The bees, butterflies, caterpilllars, and hummingbirds enjoy that part of the garden (though I neglected to capture photos of pollinators for this post). 



I've repeatedly tried to capture this duo over the seasons and the years, but photos simply don't do it justice. Threadleaf Bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) surrounded by common variegated Hostas form a break between two paths. It's not the ideal spot for sun-loving Amsonia, but it thrives as a small shrub-like clump, with beautiful blue flowers in late spring and golden foliage in the fall. At this point in the summer, I cut back the spent Hosta flowers so the plants look a little tidier.



Near the porch, False Sunflowers (Heliopsis helianthoides) bloom with Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata), another native plant that's a pollinator favorite.



Finally, American Cranberrybush Viburnum (V. opulus var. americanum) is sporting its late summer, golden-orange berries. They ripen to a beautiful bright red in autumn.

That's it for this "Six on Saturday," a wonderful meme hosted by Jim at Garden Ruminations. Here's the participant guide. Enjoy!

I'm taking a bit of a blog break for a fun event that's been planned for many months. I'll share highlights when I return. "See" you at the end of August!

Wordless Late Summer Blooms and Bugs

Western honey bee on Hylotelephium telephium ‘Autumn Joy’

Cabbage white butterfly on Clinopodium nepeta

Common hoverfly on Conoclinium coelestinum

Shiny sugar ant on Hylotelephium telephium ‘Autumn Joy’

Cocklebur weevil on Echinacea purpurea foliage

Shiny sugar ant on Zinnia elegans ‘State Fair Mix’

Flat-tailed leafcutter bee on Conoclinium coelestinum

Bee and fly on Hylotelephium telephium ‘Autumn Joy’

Common eastern bumble bee on Clinopodium nepeta

Common greenbottle fly on Hylotelephium telephium ‘Autumn Joy’

Goldenrod soldier beetle on Heliopsis helianthoides

Wordless Waning Sunlight

Tithonia rotundifolia 'Goldfinger'

New Blooms for August GBBD

Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day! This month, I'm sharing plants that either recently started blooming, or ones I haven't shared much in previous posts.



In addition to the mix of plants in the potager garden shown in the first photo, many other colorful blooms are brightening my days. The tall Wild Senna (Senna hebecarpa) adds its bright yellow buds and blossoms as a focal point of the backyard shade garden.



Nearby, while the Hyacinth Bean plants (Lablab purpureus) have been blooming and producing pods for many weeks, they're putting on fresh, new growth and towering tendrils.



The Mexican Sunflowers (Tithonia rotundifolia 'Goldfinger') I started from seed are performing much better this summer than last summer. I'm not sure why. They're so bright and hopeful.



Lesser Calamint (Clinopodium nepeta) is blooming with abandon as a ground cover amongst other sun-loving plants near the potager. The flowers are so tiny, but favored by the bumble bees.



This is my first year with Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii 'Black Knight'). Though I'm in a harsh climate where it's unlikely to become invasive, I'm keeping it potted and deadheading the spent blooms to prevent re-seeding. The new buds are as pretty as the open flower heads.



The Surprise Lilies (Lycoris squamigera) are appearing later than usual this year, but some are starting to bloom. I'm thinking the delay might be partially because of our early summer drought. Recent plentiful rains have many plants much happier.



In most years, I often deadhead the nearly spent flower spikes of the mixed, potted Coleus plants (Solenostemon scutellarioides). But this year, I've noticed the hummingbirds nectaring on them, so I'm retaining them longer. I admit: They are very stately. 



Finally, this is the second year my newish Maypops (Passiflora incarnata) have bloomed. Such a fascinating, complicated, intricate flower.

What's blooming in your garden? Check out the other Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day posts at May Dreams Gardens!

A Little Blue Magic

There's something about the cornflower/periwinkle blue of Prairie Gentian (Gentiana puberulenta) that pleases my eye. It's particularly pleasant in late summer and early autumn when the natural landscape is more dominated by the deep yellows of the various goldenrods and sunflowers (which I also love). It provides a little complementary pop of color.



Lately, when hiking at my favorite prairie areas, I've noticed quite a few clumps of this magical little plant. Whether budding or blooming, it adds a touch of surprise and grace to the understory of the tall grasses and prairie plants.

Another common name is Downy Gentian, which is an apt description of this gentle plant, too. It's native to most of northern and central U.S., and a rarer find in parts of the east and south. I'm so thankful it's common here this time of year, although it takes a bit of hunting sometimes to find and notice the foot-tall plant among the much taller prairie plants.

For those who want to add it to their gardens, it grows well in sun and part shade, which makes sense based on its native habitat. I haven't had success trying to start it from seed in my garden, but I think I have too much shade.

In the budding stage, the flowers are so graceful and inviting. Curly and enveloping, they elicit the feeling of a light summer blanket.



And when the buds open, the stripes inside the petals offer added vibrance. It's fun to find pollinators inside, as with this photo I captured a couple of years ago.

Such a beautiful flower, both inside and out, and I'm happy it blooms around here for a few weeks this time of year.

Wordless Wednesday: Late August Fen

Late August Fen
[Insets, L to R: Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium maculatum),
Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica), Sweet Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia subtomentosa)]

July Fen
[Insets, L to R: Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), Sawtooth Sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus),
Virginia Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum), Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya)]

May Fen
[Insets, L to R: Wood Betony (Pedicularis canadensis), Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana), Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea)]

January Fen

Flower and Foliage Vignettes

It's been a funny growing season: different than others I've experienced in ways I'm having trouble describing in words. I'll save the introspection for a cold day in November, but for now I'll focus on the pleasant plant combinations I'm noticing in the garden. Some were planned, others were happy accidents.

The sunny west-facing garden was mostly planned. The Zinnias are going strong, and though the Echinaceas and the Salvias are fading, the Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum) is adding a pretty river of blue. Most of the plants blooming now will continue until the first killing frost. They should provide plenty of pollen and nectar for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Many of the plants will provide seeds for birds into the winter, and I'll harvest the Milkweed seeds for friends' gardens, and for next year.



Speaking of seeds (within nuts) we've had an amazing acorn drop this year. There are so many nuts on the ground, the squirrels and chipmunks are barely bothering to bury them. Walking across the backyard is like walking on ball bearings--I've nearly fallen several times!

Anyway, back to the pleasant plant combinations. Here are a few I noticed recently, in no particular order:



I like the complementary--opposite sides of the colorwheel--effect of Zinnia 'Zowie Yellow Flame' framed by Blue Mistflower.



Lantana 'Landmark Citrus' and Zinnia 'Sahara Sunburst' line the front part of the sunny border.



In dappled shade, Caladium 'Tapestry' plays nice with various Coleus varieties and 'Speedy Sonnet Mix' Snapdragons.



Late-blooming Hostas layer nicely with ferns and Cranberrybush Viburnum (V. trilobum).



An unknown Fuchsia hybrid that snuck in with an overwintering group looks full and lush under the foliage canopy of other potted plants.



Ornamental Kale is expanding to its autumn bulk. I like it with a fancy hat of Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium).



This is myy first year with Dahlias, believe it or not! 'Figaro Yellow Shades' is a nice companion with Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) in a pot.



A couple of years ago, I added Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) to the dappled shade garden. It's taking time to establish, but golly it looks lovely in oblique autumn light. I just added two pots of Aster 'Kickin Lilac Blue' to the garden a couple of days ago, because baby rabbits ate my other Asters down to the ground--even though they were caged. I see more potted native plants and cultivars in my future.



Petunia 'Vista Bubblegum' and several trailing Sedum cultivars are pretty in a hanging pot.



Finally, the Asters backlit by senescing Ostrich Ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris) and more Blue Mistflowers cheerfully capture the golden early autumn light.

What flower and foliage combinations take the stage in your garden? Check out other options at Carol's Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Pam's Foliage Follow-Up.

A Great Hike at Mud Lake Wildlife Area

There are so many wonderful places to hike very close to my home. Nearly every time we hike I take a few photos, but I don't always get around to posting about them. One thing I've learned over the years is that wetlands are great places to see wildlife, and more specifically bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.



A few years ago, we hiked at the Mud Lake Wildlife Area, which includes approximately 1,450 acres of wetland, 590 acres of upland, and 220 acres of wooded habitat. It's near Rio in Columbia County, about 30 minutes north of the Madison area.

At the time of our hike, in early September, quite a few native plants were blooming in full force, including:



New England Asters (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae),



White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima),



Various Goldenrods--I think this one is Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), and



Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium).

This was also the first and only time I've seen Giant Swallowtail caterpillars in the wild, which was very exciting.



They camouflage themselves to look like bird droppings.



We saw the caterpillars on Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum americanum) shrubs, one of their host plants.

As I mentioned before, wetlands are great places to view butterflies, and on this day we saw quite a few:

Viceroy

Pearl Crescent

Monarch

Black Swallowtail

A worn Black Swallowtail sharing Thistle nectar with a Bumble Bee.

When I look back at hiking photos from the past several years, most of them are from late summer and early autumn. It's a beautiful, comfortable time to get out and enjoy nature in the Upper Midwest.