Now that it's October, much of the garden is looking decidedly "past tense" but luckily not everything. Thank goodness for late bloomers, right?! One perennial ~ Eupatorium rugosum 'chocolate' or Chocolate Snakeroot ~ is just now peaking:
Gotta love that, right? It opened a little too late to attract butterflies, which is why I purchased it (I haven't seen any for a couple weeks now) but it's still a beautiful late season perennial. Those dark stems are what got it into the cart!
They should stay in bloom until our first hard frost which, sadly, could happen any time now. You know I always hope it's later rather than sooner!
Another perennial just starting to open is ~ Helianthus maximiliani or Maximilani Sunflower:
This native prairie perennial doesn't require a lot of water which is why it came to live in my front garden. I wish it would spread more but the five stalks that came up this year are the most since being planted three years ago. Their height is impressive ~ two are at least eight feet tall! It's hard to tell scale in a photo but maybe you can get the idea from the pic below:
I don't remember them waiting so late to bloom before but it's been a strange year as many of you know.
An annual that has kept me waiting is Leonotis nepetifolia 'staircase.' Started from seed & planted in the new oval bed, the plants grew and grew, eclipsing the birdhouse tuteur long ago. It was the end of September before a speck of color could be seen on the buds tho.
See them towering over the birdhouse?? They are so tall, they're first to catch the morning sun! Despite their height & unique bloom structure, I'm on the fence about whether they'll be included in any future garden. They always bloom so late (some years frosting before the buds open) I'm thinking I'd prefer something that would be in flower for a longer period of time...
The orange whirls are pretty cool tho and they provide great winter interest so who knows? I could change my mind again by next spring!
We had our first taste of cold weather this weekend. Blustery winds and highs Saturday in the low 40's. Brrr... I was busy all afternoon hauling tender plants indoors & covering others because of a freeze warning. It didn't happen but still, better safe than sorry, right?
Now I have the difficult choice of what to try & overwinter and what to let go.... I'm playing out the odds (in my head) of keeping everything!!!
Lovely details of the white blossoms of the Chocolate Snakeroot (what a name)
Posted by: Kala | October 10, 2011 at 01:07 AM
That chocolate snakeroot is a winner in my garden too. Your pictures of it are gorgeous as I can never photograph white. I too have Maximillion but I cut mine in half in July as I like it shorter. The height in your garden is impressive. So glad you didn't get a freeze and got your plants in. I'm starting on that today.
Posted by: tina | October 10, 2011 at 06:47 AM
Beautiful images at the top of your blog, Kathleen! And I love the Sunflower shot! Looks like you have a lot of beautiful blooms still going strong.
Posted by: PlantPostings | October 10, 2011 at 09:03 PM
Kathleen, I love the Helianthus maximiliani against your brilliant blue Colorado sky! I have a photo of it in bloom from my long ago visit. I would love to see you and your garden again. Have a sweet day. gail
Posted by: Gail | October 11, 2011 at 06:28 AM
Those Helianthus are huge!! I have a spot for some...will have to see about getting some next year. Love the black stems on your Eupatorium. Lovely photos...really captures the snowy white against those dark stems.
Posted by: Janet, The Queen of Seaford | October 11, 2011 at 08:52 PM
Great phrase ... 'Past Tense'! Your Chocolate Snakeroot is especially stunning, Kathleen.
Posted by: joey | October 12, 2011 at 09:34 AM