So Few August Blooms

It's windy and cloudy today, but that didn't stop the kids from La Ronge who got to talk to Canadian astronaut Dave Williams this morning! Yes, from space to La Ronge, Saskatchewan. Apparently, Williams has roots in Saskatoon.

In more terrestial news: the garden seems so dull in August. Sigh. At least other garden bloggers note similar feelings at this time of year. I don't feel so alone. The cleome were a fantastic idea though; they light up the back of the flowerbeds.

Here are some blooms and colors I did manage to capture:

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) from last year's plant that self-seeded, to my delight. I planted Digitalis mertonensis next to these seedlings and those should bloom next year.

Fall colors creep onto this large Bergenia cordifolia.

Gayfeather (Liatris spicata) has feathery purple spikes and combines well with purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) and Monarda didyma (both seen in the background). All three are wildflowers that can live in dry soil and are fantastic for attracting butterflies and bees.

Threadleaf coreopsis: very delicate-looking pale yellow flowers float above a plant that appears to be composed mainly of air! These flowers bloom in August, adding some much-needed color. They spread only minimally and seem to need a sunny, open location.

Blanket Flower (Gaillardia grandiflora "Yellow Queen"): This plant produces large numbers of flowers and spreads by its roots to form huge clumps. I have realized that I need to divide or remove large portions of the clumps to keep the plants healthy and blooming.

The Slow Farewell to Summer

I don't want to admit it, but our summer will be over soon. There will be no more transplanting perennials as if it were a botanical game of musical chairs. I've made some fall bulb orders and am waiting a while until I order the rest, so at least they will be spread out on two different credit card bills.

Butterflies and bees are loving the Liatris spicata "Floristan violet", Echinacea purpurea and Monarda didyma at this time of year. I cut my delphiniums back to the ground and they are producing new foliage. Last year they rebloomed in September.

You can click on this photo to see it enlarged!

A elegant-looking white Echinacea purpurea.

Echinacea purpurea "Ruby Star", remarkable for its dark red central "cone". I also noticed the stems on this plant to be dark red.
Monarda didyma (Bergamot, Bee balm) in full bloom, buzzing with bees! This clump was started from seed two years ago.
Zinnia "Profusion cherry" along with other annuals in a barrel planter.










I am getting bored with some of the perennials I planted in large numbers last year. I ripped a few out, leaving spaces as an excuse to grow some new ones from seed. Sound silly? I suppose it is. I really need some more flowerbeds! The need to garden is getting out of control and I am already plotting some new plants for mom's yard.

Early August Flower Garden

I woke up and went out to get some pictures just after 7 am this morning. The sky is overcast, distant thunder rumbles, and raindrops land on my Tilley hat. The lighting is perfect. I crouch down among the plants near the front walk. I wonder if drivers-by think I'm aiming to break into the house. Nobody has called police yet about my crazy plant obsession.

Echinacea purpurea, bought as a pink variety, but clearly it is not! It was labelled "Ruby Star", but I think the dark-red-stemmed plant next to it is the real "Ruby Star".

Monarda didyma, started from seed 2 years ago. I haven't had any mildew problems here, as is common for this plant. It creeps slowly, spreading to form a large bunch, but is not really invasive in my garden. It is very attractive to bees and butterflies. Thalictrum rochebruneanum "Lavender Mist" (a meadow rue). A visitor to the garden commented that this perennial looks more like a tree. It certainly is taller than me! Papaver somniferum seed heads with purple Cleome spinosa in the background.

Echinacea and Bee Balm

Two well-known perennials are blooming this week. Both are big butterfly favourites and grow as wildflowers elsewhere in the world.

Pictured: A purple Mondarda didyma (Bergamot, Bee Balm). This plant does spread by rhizomes, popping up several new plants around the base, but it is not yet the worst of the garden thugs. If you have this plant, you need to either regularly hack up the growth around the base or give the new plants away to friends.

Pictured: Pink Echinacea, some melon-colored short lilies, and a background of pink Malva Moschata (Mallow).

My Echinacea is the old fashioned type whichI grew from seed. Of course, now they have the hybrids with orange and yellow flowers, double-flowered and double-decker flowers, and ones that can operate heavy machinery...