September Blooms

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 My favorite feature of September is that it's no longer  August. Though the garden still suffers from the late summer blues, I can  recognize the softening of the light and the subtle changes that exhausted plants begin to display. Here in Northern California wine country we have several weeks before the  cool temps set in , and high 90's (or worse) heat is still an occasional visitor.

The Mystic series Dahlias have been outstanding performers in my garden- seen here is Mystic Spirit. The deep bronze foliage is still as clean as it was in spring, flowers are abundant. Stems are strong and I have never had to stake this plant. I plan to add more of the Mystics next year, though I have found that not every variety in the series is as vigorous as this one.


'Bolero' 


 I've been extremely happy with this Persicaria this year, but it clashes horribly with many other plants in it's immediate area. This fall I will replace it with P 'Golden Arrow'.



I let the last small batch or Artichokes go to flower. They add a nice touch of drama .



I think I finally found a spot that my small collection of Fuchsias feel comfortable in.




And Rooguchi continues  to bloom..


This is my Crassula coccinea from Annies; it had some rough treatment involving a squirrel and an upended container , so I was surprised that it  managed to pump out some flowers.


Be sure and head over to May Dreams , where Carol invites bloomy bloggers to share on the 15th of each month.

Comments

  1. AlisonSeptember 15, 2013 at 2:04 PM

    Oh, I do like that Mystic Spirit Dahlia -- bronze foliage and orange flowers sounds yummy. My garden is looking tired too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ksSeptember 15, 2013 at 7:14 PM

      Wish I'd gotten a better photo that included the leaves Alison. All the spirit series have bronze foliage.

      Delete
  2. Kris PetersonSeptember 15, 2013 at 3:45 PM

    Happy GBBD! I was impressed by your reference to the clean foliage on the dahlia. Is it mildew resistant, or is mildew not a problem in your area? I finally planted 2 dahlias here this year (after giving them up at my former house) but, once again, mine were plagued with mildew. If the Mystic series is mildew resistent, dahlias would be worth another try.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ksSeptember 15, 2013 at 7:20 PM

      Kris, my Dahlias get mildew like clockwork, always in fall..no sign of it yet. The mildew comes so late for me that it is a non-issue; by the time it shows up the first frost date is usually looming, and they will turn to black slime anyway. I would say that the Mystic series is less affected than the big poofy -bloomy varietys I grow.

      Delete
  3. DeniseSeptember 15, 2013 at 4:08 PM

    I completely agree with your assessment of September. Along with it not being August anymore, I'm also thankful I don't have little kids in school anymore. So there's two reasons. And Roguchi is up for some kind of award in your garden, isn't he, most entries in Bloom Day posts?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ksSeptember 15, 2013 at 7:27 PM

      Little kids in school ? Perish the thought. How did I survive it ? Roguchi , what can I say ? I planted it after wesaw it growing in Susan Boeschens' garden at IU up here..I figured if it could survive in a hot hellhole like Calistoga , I could make it work down here in Napa, where we are at least 10 degrees-if not more-cooler than up there.

      Delete
  4. outlawgardenerSeptember 15, 2013 at 8:42 PM

    Beautiful September blooms! I'm a little jealous of your warmer winters (you're in zone 9, right?) but not so much of your 90 degree weather right now. Artichokes are so beautiful in bloom but mine all bloomed, the leaves slowly withered and the stalk browned. There are new green shoots at the bottom. I didn't cut the blooms when they were done. Is that the secret to a longer bloom time? This was my first year with artichokes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ksSeptember 16, 2013 at 9:00 PM

      Peter , I'm in a sort of 9-10 zone combo, but firmly in Sunset14 which seems to be a bit more relevant. There are quite a few zone 9 plants that don't make it through the winters here-I think the wetness may be the culprit.My artichoke flowers hold on for a few weeks-or more if earlier in the season. When the flowers brown out I cut the whole thing back to the ground (actually I use my pruning saw---way too big a trunk to cut) and new leaves come up in short order.

      Delete
  5. SueSeptember 16, 2013 at 7:01 AM

    The Mystic dahlias are all I grow now. In my part sun they do need support. Mystic 'Illusion' (yellow) is fabulous if you can find it. Happy Bloom Day! I took the pictures but so far have not had time to write the post. Hopefully today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ksSeptember 16, 2013 at 9:03 PM

      I'm going with all single flower Dahlias next year Sue. The Mystics will be in the mix, whichever I can find. The Bishops series is nice too.

      Delete
  6. danger gardenSeptember 16, 2013 at 12:07 PM

    With every one of your posts I find myself hoping that someday I'll get to see your garden in person.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ksSeptember 16, 2013 at 9:08 PM

      Ah shucks Loree...You are welcome here anytime, though this is not a Loree-Style garden at all. I can provide wine though. C'mon down sometime when it's not 100 !

      Delete
  7. Cerberus German shepherdsSeptember 29, 2013 at 11:27 AM

    You have the touch on the Mystics...mine have been fussy...

    ReplyDelete
  8. LydiaOctober 19, 2013 at 11:00 PM

    A toast to your lovely garden!

    ReplyDelete

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