Monday, October 14, 2013

Swamp sunflowers and other October stars



One of the little bumble bees that were buzzing over all of the Bidens:


There must have been thousands of them.

Now they are turning their attention to the few Bidens
that are left, the asters and the swamp sunflowers.


The swamp sunflowers provide brilliant splashes in a landscape that is beginning to fade. These are the sunflowers grown from seed from the NC Botanical Garden, Helianthus angustifolius, with very narrow ribbon-like leaves. I also have what I think is H. simulans, bought as H. angustifolius from Niche Gardens several years ago. Both species are behemoths, easily reaching 8 feet in feet and sometimes topping 10. H. angustifolius has very clean leaves but is at its peak for only about two or maybe three weeks. H. simulans tends to have terrible fungus that kills the leaves on the lower third to half of the plant late in the season unless cultivation conditions are perfect; still, it's worth growing because the flowers are beautiful for so long, at least 4 weeks.


There's nothing quite like the golden punch of a swamp sunflower in October.


I don't know where this aster came from, but I like it! I think it's willow leaf aster. Distinctly different from 'Miss Bessie'; much more dainty, blooms about a month earlier, with a softer more pinkish color. 'Miss Bessie' tends to be more of a steely violet, and I swear the color changes from year to year; some years the flowers have a gray cast and some years they look more purple to me.


Purple is a great complement to all of the yellow. One of the purple muhly grasses that hasn't been crowded out yet.


American Beautyberries


This is the first time in about FOUR years that Anemone 'Honorine Jobert' has bloomed. Black blister beetles have been chomping them down, but not this year. Perhaps they like hot dry weather. This summer, thankfully, like most of the eastern seaboard, was mild and rainy. In contrast, large populations of striped blister beetles here died off in drought (Thank goodness! Have you ever gotten a blister from a blister beetle?).



Typically I do not care for red in the garden, but there are ALWAYS exceptions. Especially for reds tending to pink or very pure red or a bluish red. Exceptions include a pure red rose ('Fields of the Wood' comes to mind), cardinal flower, St. Joseph's lily (Hippeastrum x johnsonii), a few red daylilies like 'Red Volunteer' and 'Ruby Spider', and
pineapple sage.

DH picked up the sage when he was buying potting mix for the tomatoes. Always puts in a hurrah at the last moment but well worth the wait, and sulfurs love them.


'Hot Lips' Sage is now also on the exception(al) list.


I haven't seen any Monarchs yet but it's been a banner year here for many other butterflies. Tons of swallowtails -- tiger, black, spicebush -- even a zebra swallowtail in the middle of summer, when they are usually just passing through in March. We were graced by the presence of lots of sulfurs all summer, when typically there are only large numbers in the fall. They would gather together to puddle at the edge of the tiny pond next to the water trough and then disperse into fanciful clouds.

The quail have gathered together too, into a covey of at least 15. Occasionally I will see the little partridge silhouette of a quail running around the corner of the garden. I've seen them flush from the neighbor's fence next to our land, and twice flushed them out in the garden here. It's always a little startling when they fly up like little torpedoes. If they scatter they will call to each with a two syllable call, different from the male's territorial "bobwhite" call. You can hear those calls after 15 seconds on this audio clip. The calls typical to the bobwhite here sounds like the ones 15-25 seconds on the clip.

Anyone else ready for the sun to come out?? We could use some sun. When I rode the horses in the pasture yesterday it was a little difficult finding areas that didn't have slick spongy footing, and we got more rain again last night.

I've debated blogging about the horses but it might be kind of boring. So many problems. Sometimes I think of them as walking billboards against the pitfalls of horse ownership. lol Prince is healthy now but this summer he gave us a couple of scares with a swollen right leg and an instance of going briefly staggering lame. He's 10 months out from his front left injury (many small deep AND superficial digital flexor tendon lesions, and even some check ligament involvement) and after miles and hours of walking and some trotwork he's back to doing some light dressage work 2-3 times a week. The pony, on the other hand, is lame again. Laminitis is probably at the bottom of it, in spite of the fact that they are still on the dry lot behind the house, and she's getting bermuda hay, which is typically low in sugars.

17 comments:

  1. I am so sorry you have so many leg problems with your horses, hope they recover and that you can keep them healthy.
    But........your flowers look gorgeous! and your American beautyberries, an interesting shrub.

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  2. So good to see all of your lovely blooms once again. We've not had any rain for a few weeks now, so I have to hand water to keep things in containers looking good and alive.

    Years ago when our road out front was a 2 laner, and it wasn't so populated and built up around here, we used to hear Bob Whites and they were always thrilling to me.

    Hope your dear horses get well soon.

    FlowerLady

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  3. I'm a huge fan of swamp sunflowers as well. Mine, I think, are also the Helianthus simulans (per Niche Gardens) but I can't be sure. For the first time this year, I have noticed a mildew. But as you say, who cares? They never fail in October. Plus, as you say, they look great with all the fall purples. I know I am doing something right when my garden and yours are in sync!

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  4. Oh my, those swamp sunflowers are delightful. If I had a damp spot I would grow them and the Bidens that look so special in your garden. So glad you have exceptions to the red flower rule. The ones on your exceptions list are marvelous~Salvia elegans just began blooming here and the Sulfurs are in heaven.

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  5. I feel very at home walking through your garden...we have many of the same blooms! Do you still have any hummers hanging around?

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    1. Karin I haven't seen any hummers for a few weeks now, but that doesn't mean I'm not missing some migrants passing through. I don't put up feeders so never have any over the winter.

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  6. It is great that the beetles let you have your anemones this year . . . lovely. All the blooms you have now are lush and beautiful. I only had three Monarchs in my garden this year but as with you many many other species were here too. Best of health to your Prince.

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  7. Your photos are wonderful. I'm seeing the same plants blooming here, although the pineapple sage is getting off to a slow start. And thanks for telling me about the dog fennel!

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  8. How pretty are your fall flowers!I am sorry to hear about the problems your horses have had. I can identify with them a bit, as I am a bit lame myself. Unfortunately, I had complications from a nerve block given during my hip surgery, and I have some damaged nerves in my leg as a result. Progress is much slower than I would like. I am walking with a cane now, and full recovery may take 6 months or longer. But at last I have time for some writing I have been planning for a long time, so I am trying to seize new opportunities.

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    Replies
    1. Deb, I am so sorry to hear about the nerve damage. Hip replacement is a big enough surgery without a complication like that. I hope you can do the writing you've been planning; you're a talented writer!!

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  9. American Beauty Berry..awesome!! as for the butterflies..way way down in population in our garden here in Nova Scotia. We did have a wet spring though. Does that make a difference? I don't know.

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    Replies
    1. A wet spring can be detrimental to butterflies, particularly if it's cold. One year our area had fewer butterflies than usual and experts claimed it was the unusually cool wet spring; however eventually the numbers did rebound later the summer.

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    2. I am pleased to see your reply re the butterflies. We normally see admirals about now but none. Lots of bees on the Asters though. Thanks Sweetbay and for your kind comment on my blog.

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  10. Wow! I am just in awe of those huge beautyberries! What a stunning display. I like your attitude of "Nobody's Perfect"; those cheery yellow faces of the swampflowers make up for any flaws--who would look at their stems anyway?:) I'm glad to hear you had so many butterflies this year. We had so few, that I hope it just means they were visiting you and other more hospitable gardens this summer.

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  11. I always admire the yellow bidens whenever you show them. How pretty your American Beautyberry looks laden with purple berries. I love the lipstick red of the Pineapple Sage- must add this herb to my wish list for next year. I am sorry to read that there are so many health issues with the horses. I always enjoy reading about them and the other animals that visit your garden.

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  12. Love the yellows and purples of fall in your garden. The beautyberries are especially nice. Little jealous of your brood of quail, love those little birds and how they run with their heads bobbing. too cute.

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  13. I love the sunflowers and anemones and the touches of red here and there.
    I'm sorry to hear of all your horse woes. I hope they'll be better soon.

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