In many ways, this year has become less of a growing season and more of an endurance test. Just as it looked like the summer’s sultry weather was getting cooler and drier, setting up for a beautiful fall, we ended up with over 15 inches of rain over the last 3 weeks (over half of that in just one day), and the multiple rounds of stormy weather really did a number on the many tall beauties just coming into their glory. As you can imagine, the current garden views aren’t at all photogenic, and I was seriously considering skipping Bloom Day altogether this month. There are still many wonderful things happening here and there, though, so I hope you’ll join me for a closer look.
Let’s start with the perennials that are still in bloom, or just coming into flower. These are all North American native species or “nativars” (cultivars of natives):
The apetalous blooms of ‘Nally’s Lime Dots’ boltonia (Boltonia asterioides) 
Pink turtlehead (Chelone lyonii) 
Flowering since June and still looking lovely: whiteleaf leather flower (Clematis glaucophylla) 
American dittany (Cunila origanoides) 
Starting to go from bloom to seed: rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium) 
A particularly good seedling of ‘Jocius’ Variegate’ snakeroot (Ageratina or Eupatorium) 
‘Carine’ perennial sunflower (Helianthus): grown from a lovely seed gift, this beauty flowered its first year; think of it as a more-compact form of ‘Lemon Queen’, with slightly softer yellow blooms on dark stems 
Smooth rose mallow (Hibiscus laevis), also known as halberd-leaved rose mallow 
Another pretty-in-pink mallow: seashore mallow (Kosteletzkya virginica) 
Round-headed bush clover (Lespedeza capitata) with stiff goldenrod (Oligoneuron rigidum) 
It’s taken a few years for this creeping bush clover (Lespedeza repens) to settle in, but it’s finally filling out nicely 
A closeup of the flowers forming now on creeping bush clover (Lespedeza repens) 
Mohr’s rosinweed (Silphium mohrii) with a white form of great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica ‘Alba’) that showed up in the meadow here a few years ago 
Rough goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) with spotted Joe-Pye weed (Eutrochium maculatum) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) 
‘Prairie Glow’ brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba) 
Royal catchfly (Silene regia): hard to beat for a spectacular splash of color! 
Tall ironweed (Vernonia gigantea) 
Narrow-leaved ironweed (Vernonia lettermannii)
A few non-native perennials are looking good now too, including…
Just coming into flower: bluebeard (Tripora divaricata, formerly Caryopteris divaricata) 
Corydalis ochotensis: self-sows freely, like so many other yellow corydalis, but it’s a nice bit of fresh color this time of year 
‘September Charm’ anemone (formerly Anemone, now Eriocapitella, apparently; sigh) 
Golden lace (Patrinia scabiosifolia) with Deam’s orange coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida var. deamii) 
Purple Japanese burnet (Sanguisorba tenuifolia var. purpurea) with Diabolo ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Monlo’)
A number of annuals are still looking respectable, or even peaking now, including…
Sunset hibiscus (Abelmoschus manihot): I love, love, love this species! 
‘Mischief’ musk mallow (Malva moschata): much shorter but also lovely, and easy to grow 
‘Elephant Head’ amaranth (Amaranthus) in front of ‘Cramer’s Amazon’ spike celosia (Celosia argentea var. spicata) 
Why has it been so long since I last grew strawflowers (Xerochrysum bracteatum)? I’m really enjoying the color mix in ‘Strawberry Banana Sundae’. 
I am completely smitten by the gaudy crests of Celosia argentea var. cristata ‘Variegata’ 
Filled with flowers since June: ‘Firefly’ cuphea (Cuphea) 
Another annual that’s been blooming for months and just keeps getting better: climbing Chinese bleeding heart (Dactylicapnos torulosa) 
‘Mandarin Orange’ globe amaranth (Gomphrena haageana) with plains coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria) 
Show-stopping ‘Sunspots’ annual sunflower (Helianthus annuus). I was able to collect seeds from some earlier-sown plants—yay! 
Another outstanding thing from a generous seed gift: a spotted touch-me-not or jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) with bright yellow foliage. I’ve been calling it ‘Joel’s Gold’. One seed collected so far: the first of many, I hope! 
The morning glories are finally doing their thing in earnest. This is ‘Fuji no Murasaki’ Japanese morning glory (Ipomoea nil). 
‘Keiryu’ Japanese morning glory (Ipomoea nil): tie-dye flowers with foliage that is both chartreuse and variegated 
‘Kikyo Snowflakes’ Japanese morning glory (Ipomoea nil) 
‘Sazanami’ Japanese morning glory (Ipomoea nil), with a bit of ‘Hopi Red Dye’ amaranth (Amaranthus) in the background 
‘Jamie Lynn’ morning glory (Ipomoea purpurea) 
Pink cypress vine (Ipomoea quamoclit ‘Rosea’) 
Cardinal climber (Ipomoea x multifida) 
Tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca) 
Red mallow (Pavonia missionum) 
Scarlet pentapetes (Pentapetes phoenicea) 
Variegated kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate (Persicaria orientalis ‘Shiro-gane Nishiki’) 
Japanese indigo (Persicaria tinctoria) 
Aztec sweet herb (Phyla dulcis) 
Sesame (Sesamum indicum) 
Porcupine tomato (Solanum pyracanthum, or pyrocanthos, or pyracanthon, depending on who you listen to) 
Amberique bean (Strophostyles helvola)
It’s a little early for a color change, but there is still some interesting foliage now…
White-veined Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia fimbriata) 
‘Peppermint Stick’ giant reed (Arundo donax) 
‘Moon and Stars’ watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) 
Bed of nails (Solanum quitoense)
Warm-season grasses are also a key part of the early autumn show here at Hayefield. Some that look particularly good now include…
Korean feather reed grass (Calamagrostis brachytricha) 
Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) 
Frost grass (Spodiopogon sibiricus) 
Purpletop tridens (Triodia flava) 
Northern sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)
And to finish, a sampling of some of the bountiful fruits and seedpods that round out the seasonal show.
Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)—not quite ripe yet, but getting there 
How’s THAT for a seedpod? I’m hoping these sword beans (Canavalia gladiata) will have time to mature before the first frost. 
Fish pepper (Capsicum annuum ‘Fish’) 
These pods are pretty cool too. I should have lots of Cardiocrinum cordatum seeds available later this fall! 
Love in a puff (Cardiospermum halicacabum) 
Another good year for the American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana). I guess it’s not a fluke that this tree produces seedless fruits, as it has happened two years in a row now. Makes eating them very easy, but I would have loved to get the seeds too. 
No lack of spicebush (Lindera benzoin) fruits—and seeds—this year 
Isn’t this a neat one? It’s the aptly named native perennial known as seedbox (Ludwigia alternifolia) 
Ripening seeds on ‘Black Madras’ rice (Oryza sativa) 
Pretty pods on Chinese lantern (Physalis alkekengi) 
Yummy rugosa rose (Rosa rugosa) hips 
Er…when I first saw this, I was admittedly taken aback. Then I realized, thanks to the new growth next to the “pile,” that it’s the seedpod of skunk cabbage (Symlocarpus foetidus). Hardly ornamental, but actually quite exciting.
Not a bad show from a garden that I first thought was a total disaster. Now it’s time to get back to gathering more seeds before yet another round of rain. I hope that, wherever you live, you get to enjoy the best of whatever fall has to offer in your own garden!
Truly some of your best photos! I am astounded at the number of plants that you grow. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much, Carol. Happy Bloom Day to you!
-Nan
Nancy, Thanks for this virtual walk in your garden this damp September morning! I’m dreaming of next year. Such wonderful exciting plants here–I’ve made note of a few to try!
Yes, it’s gloomy this morning, isn’t it? And yet more rain coming for us tonight. Yay. Well, I’m glad to have tempted you to try some new plants; that’s always good for a mood lift!
-Nan
Nan, your garden photos are always a joy to see! My garden has suffered a bit as well from the heavy and constant rain. There are a few plants that surprise me by continuing to bloom. I had never had Gazanias until this year and their brightly colored flowers have been a delight! Like all worthwhile things in life we have to have keep moving forward. Regardless of how many things fail there are enough beautiful things that bloom and make you smile.
Warm wishes for a happy fall
Jean
That’s so interesting, Jean, about your success with gazanias this year. I may need to try them again; they always look great in photos but haven’t been thrilled with me in the past. I quite often send good thoughts your way when I’m out in the garden enjoying some of the things you have shared with me; hope you get the good vibes!
-Nan
Just love your pictures and blog! You have the most interesting plants and your photos are fabulous!
Aw, thank you so much, Joy. I appreciate you taking the time to stop by today. Happy Bloom Day to you and your garden!
-Nan
Really? ‘Mischief’ is musk mallow? It looks so different!
Well, Abelmoschus moschatus is “musk mallow” in the same way that Malva moschata is “musk mallow.” I have seen ‘Mischief’ attributed to A. sagittifolius, but RHS and others list it under A. moschatus. So yes, it is musk mallow. Unless/until some taxonomist decides different.
-Nan
Your plants are beautiful even when your garden is soggy, Nan! I really wish Mother Nature was more even-handed with respect to rain. Here on the left coast, we’re as dry as as I’ve ever seen things.
I know…it’s so unfair. I too wish we could share with you!!!
-Nan
Beautiful and inspiring, Nan…..i just love Seed box. Thank you for sharing with us. Sandy
Hi Sandy! Yes, isn’t that cool? Funny thing: I bought seed from the Brandywine River Museum because I really wanted to grow it, and then I found it is already growing here and I just hadn’t noticed it.
-Nan
Oh my! There are too many to see them all.
Sorry you found it to be too much, Tony.
-Nan
Your garden posts are SO inspiring! Thank you, thank you!
Gosh, Esme, thank *you* for reading and commenting!
-Nan
I get excited by the odd plants, the beautiful blooms and foliage are staples of the flower borders, of course, but the odd ones always get me wanting to try them. Such as: sword beans; seed box; skunk cabbage and the giant lily (Cardiocrinum cordatum). If/when you have seeds available I will be excited to purchase them. :)
I feel exactly the same way, Lynda. It’s always nice to see familiar faces, but the oddities grab my attention. I already have the seed box and skunk cabbage seeds collected and should get those listings up in the next day or two. The other two will likely take a month or more yet to fully ripen.
-Nan
I love seeing your pictures and recognizing the plants that just grow wild in my meadows! (Like Ironweed, goldenrod and purpletop tridens to name a few!)
Hi Jenny! I bet we have many other meadow denizens in common as well. I see the asters are finally starting to do their thing in the last few days!
-Nan
Hi Nan, thank you, always a pleasure to take an online tour of your beautiful garden, the lovely photos, with interesting descriptions. We are having an ‘Indian summer’ here in England, I had the opportunity today to look around a lovely wild life/flower garden. There was a plant stall, I couldnt resist buying a patrinia scabiosifolia, plus a rudbeckia, which I see you have growing together in your lovely garden, so, taking note from you the expert, I shall plant them together in my garden.
Greetings, Allan! I’m happy to hear that you are enjoying your autumn weather and are getting to acquire some new plants too. I can’t take credit for the patrinia-and-rudbeckia combination; they both seed around willy-nilly, so they did it themselves. I rather like the effect, though. I hope it works out for you!
-Nan
Hi, Nancy – loved the tour as always. So many exciting plants!
Thank you, Jan. Happy Bloom Day! May you and your garden enjoy a glorious fall season.
-Nan
Good morning Nan, loved your post! We have had a lot of rain this year too and my big plants are leaning over like crazy, of course it has to be the fall bloomers. They are still gorgeous though and enjoying everything! I have to find those amazing morning glories,they are outstanding.When I save morning glory seeds I find they all go back to white with pink stripes, still pretty but! I got dutchman’s pipe to come from seed this year but yours is gorgeous, do you keep it in a pot? My 3 seedlings are very small, not sure what to do with them this winter. Do all your sunflower seeds grow variegated? Skunk cabbage is a favorite of mine! Congrats! And free fertilizer too! I must read the description of the tree tobacco. Love the yellow flowers and the foliage is so different. Your Bluebeard is not like the ones I see in the nurseries here. I can’t overwinter them for some reason, maybe too wet! Love that seashore mallow too, looks like you had to get under it for a pic! I really like the white lobelia combo with the yellow rosinweed, the white lobelia just showed up in my garden this year, lots of blue though. will have to mark them so I don’t pull them. You have so many great plants, lots of interesting and fun ones. Thanks so much for posting them! TTFN…Sue
Hey there, Sue! Great to hear from you. I have some of the Aristolochia fimbriata in pots as usual (I overwinter them dormant in my cool basement) and some in the ground for the first time this year. No, not all of the ‘Sunspots’ seedlings are variegated; less than half, maybe. The Caryopteris divaricata isn’t widely grown: it rises late and blooms late and isn’t particularly showy except when in bloom. I’m not sure if you’d be able to get flowers on Nicotiana glauca up there–possibly, with a very early indoor start–but the foliage is indeed lovely. Have a wonderful autumn!
-Nan
Do you keep honey bees? With all of those pollen rich flowers, it would seem a natural fit!
Hi Donna! Yes, it would be cool to keep bees here, and I have seriously thought about it. But I have decided against it, as there are hives nearby that I suspect are not well maintained, and I figure that any hives I had here would be at risk from those. I do have loads of bumblebees that take advantages of the many blooms here, so they don’t go to waste!
-Nan