Friday, September 18, 2009

Blooming Friday -- September Queen


Our native wildflower Bidens (species either aristosa or polylepis) is the queen of the garden during the month of September. Bidens is a reseeding annual native to wetlands in the eastern United States. It's fairly inconspicuous until it starts growing rapidly to its full size of 4-5' high and wide in August. The pinnate foliage is a deep bluish green if the plant receives enough food and water and I think it's very handsome. In September it puts on a wonderful show, when it is completely covered in bright sunshine-yellow flowers. The flowers are even fragrant, especially en masse.




The plants are completely abuzz with insects feeding to their hearts'
content. There are literally hundreds of bees working the flowers.



For more Blooming Friday posts, visit Katarina at roses and stuff.


29 comments:

  1. Sweetbay, I have never seen Bidens en masse like in your garden. It looks so beautiful, natural, the flowers are so pretty. I used to plant them in pots, and loved their golden, cute flowers. I did not know that it was a wildflower of the eastern US. I am pleased to know now. Next time I see Bidens available at the nursery I buy a tub and think of yours flowering in abundance.

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  2. Wow, you have everything in abundance Sweet Bay including these! How sunny and bright they are. I really want to make a bigger effort to plant things that pollinators like next year, even in my containers. I've tried in the garden beds to do that but not so much with my pots and I've noticed so many annuals that don't attract anything. I wonder what's up with that?

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  3. I do love yellow flowers, yours are no exception. Nice with those sunshine spots in Garden, prolongs the summer feeling, doesn't it :)

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  4. Great pictures of those happy-yellow flower! Have a great weekend//Eva

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  5. Hi Sweetbay.

    What a stunning show.

    I reckon this is my favourite post of yours. Beautiful selfseeders 'en masse' as they say.
    What a glorious approach down your drive. Totally natural.

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  6. bidens looking pretty. you have captured nice shot of bee. thanks for sharing

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  7. It is as if the sun fell down. So bright and yellow. Is that your house on the pictures? Lovely. Have a nice weekend!

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  8. So beautiful! The shot with the hose at the back---absolutely loved it!!

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  9. How wonderful to have such a prolific bloomer. Love all the pictures, especially the one with the winding road and the one of your house. Thanks for the little tour this morning. Enjoy your wonderful piece of creation, it is all just lovely and oh so peaceful.

    FlowerLady

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  10. Lovely garden views, Sweet Bay!
    Have a great weekend!/
    AnnA

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  11. It does give off a glow of sunshine! Beautiful.

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  12. I don't see why your husband does not love that wildflower? What's not to love?
    Love the bee shots!
    Rosey

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  13. I agree, it's a wonderful plant. Huge sunny patches. I havent' seen any in this area.
    Marnie

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  14. Sure is gorgeous! Love the long shots!

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  15. Lovely golden glowing in the sun Sweet bay... love the landscape and your close up photos too. Have a good weekend! Carol

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  16. Such a joyful post! I really hope the busy bees will continue to enjoy our gardens in future - what a dreadful world we would have without them!

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  17. I'm jealous. Fall bloomers are as welcome as the first flowers in spring. I just hate to see the season end.

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  18. Lovely pictures. I am not so fond of yellow in the garden but in the wild it's great.
    Where in US do you live? It seems as if you still have Summer.
    Birgitta

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  19. Beautiful! I've never heard of them before. I'm learning about so many new flowers on your blog! I'd love to see fields of those. I wish I could smell them :)

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  20. it's absolutely stunning Sweetbay! I can't think of anything prettier then massed plants buzzing with bees! The road shot is excellent. If I had the moisture..well, this year we did, I would see if bidens would grow here! We like yellow! gail

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  21. Wow! You live in a heavenly place. I feel more peaceful just looking at these photos.

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  22. What a nice September treat for the bees! Very pretty too :)

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  23. simply beautifully captured shots....lovely view of the yellow flowers...magnificent!

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  24. I am full of admiration for the photographs of your house and garden. It amazes me that shots taken from a similar viewpoint through out the year can be so varied and interesting. You well deserve your faithful and enthusiastic following, count me amongst the flock! I would love to see a frame a day movie taken from the same place of the changing colours and moods that gently sweep through your garden from season to season. Just beautiful!

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  25. I love the mass of yellow flowers. Very beautiful. I also really like your cozy country lane and lovely house with gables.

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  26. Well, you sure have the perfect place for such a show! I love your photos, including the close ups and wider views. The bloom itself almost reminds me of a coreopsis.

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  27. I don't know this one, but it sure is pretty!

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  28. Thank you everyone for your comments! Lillabeth yes that's my house. Rosey, I agree, what's not to love? DH likes the Bidens when they bloom but not before. I think they're beautiful even before they bloom. Gladjekallan, I live in the Southeastern US, in central North Carolina. We generally get our first frost around the third week in October. The weather is still warm here, during the '80's F during the day.

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  29. Where can I get Bidens? I live two states over from you, and don't recall seeing any. Of course, we have this Georgia red clay. I am always on the lookout for flowers that our honeybees could use especially towards fall when they can really use it.

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