These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

I've been making a somewhat half-hearted attempt at organizing umpteen billion photos I took of the garden this year. What's enjoyable about this otherwise mundane process is being able to see all of my favorite plants again. Here are a few newbies that surprised me with how wonderful they were.

I think this is Allium nutans.
It was just green leaves when I bought it at a garden club plant sale
and the tag said it was a dwarf Agapanthus. I was happy to see that bees found it!

Also on the subject of purple, Clematis x triternata 'Rubromarginata'
Long-blooming, fragrant, pretty... what's not to love?

Of the new Sedums purchased this year is this beauty.
I think it's Sedum hispanicum. Sedum dasyphyllum 'Himalayan Skies'
I love how it's worming around in this container.

My new Fatsia japonica 'Spider's Web' made me very happy
even it is still on the small side.

My Colocasia or Elephant Ear tubers took their sweet time leafing out
but wowzers, did they ever look perty once they did!

I've had lots of hardy Lobelia through the years.
This one, purchased last year did really well again this year.

And because the red one did so well, I bought a bunch of pink ones too.
Dang those flowers are gorgeous!

The jury is still out on Oenothera kunthiana 'Glowing Magenta'
only because in the past I always grew it in a container
and it didn't winter over for me. This spring I planted three of them in
different spots in the garden. Hopefully they'll make it
because I love those soft pink flowers.

My Desert Four O'Clocks bloomed happily for me this year.
I've got them in a pot with fast-draining soil so hopefully they can handle the wet winter.

I grew this tender Alternanthera 'Brazillian Red Hots' with a red-flowered NOID hardy Fuchsia.
Gorgeous all summer. I really should go out and dig it up before the cold weather kills it.

I trust you all are enjoying your fall gardens too. 

Blissful Confusion

Let me explain. When it was sunshine and cloudless, blue sky day in and day out--the typical Oregon summer--it was a given that I needed to religiously haul the hose around and provide much needed hydration for my plants. But then clouds rolled in and teased me with ideas of downpours and soggy soil. Empty promises, mostly. Despite the rainy-looking clouds, I'm still hauling the hose around. Just not as often.

Rudbeckia 'Cherry Brandy' in front of Calamagrosis x acutiflora 'El Dorado'

Dahlia 'Sayonara' I think

Dahlia 'Fatima'

Dahlia 'Mystic Dreamer'

Dahlia 'Wildcat'

Dahlia 'Ivanhoe'

Dahlia .... can't remember the name...
I like the variable petal colors.

See? Some of the flowers are pure white.

Here's another NOID... the petals are dark purple underneath and lighter up top.

It has nice form but I'm not sure if that color is bright enough (or pink enough) for me.

Dahlia 'Dutch Explosion' or is it?

Dahlia 'Juanita'
I love that this blossom is exactly like the pink one above,
only deep red.

Dahlia 'Otto's Thrill' I'm not sure if it's my thrill though...

Clematis 'Haizawa' has been blooming since June. 

I have been cutting off the seed heads and keeping the soil moist.
And this is my reward!

Clematis heracleifolia

Clematis heracleifolia

Epilobium fleisheri

Geranium pretense 'Double Jewel' and Leptodermis oblonga

Both are reblooming!

Pelargonium 'Apple Blossom' before the little bud worms took over

Fuchsia 'Olympics Sunset'

This is one of those impulse purchases. Obviously a double fuchsia which I don't typically
go for. But I love the colors. The name of it escapes me.
I hope it's hardy.

Fuchsia magellianica

Fuchsia 'DeBron's Black Cherry'

Fuchsia 'DeBron's Black Cherry'

Amaranth from my friend Annie

Pink Baby's Breath Gypsophilia repens 'Rosea' 

Four O'Clocks are going crazy this year. (Mirabilis jalapa)

Salvia 'Wendy's Wish'

Salvia 'Wendy's Wish'

A few more blooms on this Loropetalum

Oreganum x 'Bristol Cross' has been blooming nonstop since June.
The bees love it.

The Asters are starting to bloom

Kiss-Me-Over-The-Gate (Polygonum orientale)

I'm very impressed with this Veronica that has been blooming nonstop since May.
Veronica spicata 'First Love'

I've pulled out most of my annual Impatiens glandulifera but a few low-growing
late-bloomers remain to satisfy the bees.

And of course it's time for the Sedums to bloom!

Last week, before the predicted rain was supposed to hit, I picked most of my
Hydrangea serrata 'Preziosa' blossoms. 

However, I left the rest of my hydrangeas.
Here is Hydrangea macrophylla 'Glowing Embers'

Now I understand the reason for the name. This photo doesn't do it justice.

Here is Hydrangea paniculata 'Pinky Winky'

 And now, for some garden shots:

Lots of amending to do in this border.

Look at my new scrap yard score! It's the lower part of a vintage, White sewing machine.

And finally, Japanese Blood Grass (Imperata) through the Seven-Son Flower's Trunks (Heptacodium).

I hope your garden is giving you many late summer pleasures!