The First Week of September
As summer winds down we see annuals at their peak and many spring and summer perennials fruiting or readying for the fall. A few are late bloomers, like statice (Limonium sinuatum). It is an annual, known for its uses as a cut flower or as part of an everlasting arrangement. It can be grown from seed (10 weeks) or by buying bedding plants. It is a low maintenance plant. Blue or purple cultivars are welcome additions to the garden.
In late summer, our showy sedum (Hylotelephium sp.) starts to turn color. This one is one of the upright types of stonecrop. Many small red or pink flowers top the stems.
Ageratum is sometimes called floss flower. It is a half-hardy annual that is usually grown as an annual in our area. Originally found in Mexico, it enjoys hot conditions of the summer.
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) is sometimes called bachelor’s button. It is an annual in the aster family. It can be sown from seed in the spring. It can readily self-seed in the flower bed. It has a long history of propagating itself in grain fields. It is edible and has been used as a herbal remedy and as a source of dye. It is valued as a cut flower or as part of an everlasting arrangement.
Mallow is a plant is easy to grow and tends to self-seed (and must be controlled). It is welcome addition to the flower garden while in flower.
Always welcome in the flower garden is coneflower (Rudbeckia hirta). We propagated them from seed over the winter and they are now in flower throughout the garden.
Also shared here are moss rose, zinnia, showy sedum, snapdragons, forget-me-nots, and penstemon. Click an image for a lightbox view and a caption/ID.
In this week, the zinnias are at their best, providing multiple showy flowers. More of these to be featured later this month.