Behold the mummobile.
Usually my head is consumed by class preparations that include reading and responding to students’ conversations about their readings, and planning, planning, planning. September has always been about teaching and barely about gardening. But, I’m retired. And, I’ve decided that I need to see more things blooming in September. So, I went out and bought a bunch of hardy mums and a few asters. Take that, September.
Bridget and I needed a photo for our West Michigan Therapy Dog name badge, and since we were sitting in the entrance garden, I thought I’d include us in the “what’s bloomin’” post.
Bridget and I continue to bloom, too.
Here are the two containers in the entrance garden. By this point they are a bit tattered
Though the blackberry lilies are long since past blooming,
their seed pods and seeds are interesting.
The rudbekia still has a few blooms. The bees like them and the birds will soon start eating the seeds.
This clematis has kicked out a couple more blooms.
Here are a few of the mums that I bought. Note the two clematis
blooms and the pot of geraniums that, like the
other containers, is looking a bit leggy.
This container brings a nice bit of color to the hostas in the Secret Garden.
This container also brings some color to the Secret Garden.
The medal, though, has to go to Walkers Low Catmint.
It just keeps blooming. The bees,
wasps, and butterflies love it.The wonderful thing about hydrangeas is that once their blooms have “faded”
you can pick them and keep them for years, looking exactly the way there were the day they were picked. This is Limelight. Many of its flower clusters will go in a winter bouquet along with Tardiva, and some allium and blackberry lily seed pods.The State Fair zinnias were not as spectacular this year as last, but they provide much needed color and lots of bouquets.I confess that this Knockout Rose has become the star of the rose medallion. It has bloomed all summer and it stands up to japanese beetles and black spot. There is no fragrance, though.What DOES have a fragrance is Sweet Autumn Clematis. It’s a late bloomer. And, sadly, it sometimes doesn’t survive our winters, but it’s a fast grower and I don’t mind planting it again and again.Last are the marigolds that I plant every spring so that when the perennials have gone through their cycle, there is still color in the garden until the first hard frost.
I haven’t always been a gardener, but I have always loved gardens. It has taken 16 years to get my gardens into the shape they are today. And, I’ve had help. I’m 74 years old, have rheumatoid arthritis, and had a late stage cancer six years ago. I am, though, intrepid. I’m the kind of person who plods along, tailoring my goals as I go. Last November I had a long overdue knee replacement surgery and I’m hoping this spring, summer, and fall will be able to maintain and find even more joy working in all of my garden beds. Full disclosure, though. I have a garden guy who comes once a week to work in my gardens.
Garden 337 