Feels Like a Fall Morning

This morning’s cool temperatures made it feel like my favorite season is well on its way.  Of course autumn is coming but the extra cool August temperatures we’re having have me hoping for an extended fall season.  Here’s a look at a few things from around the garden this morning!

‘Arizona Sun’ Gaillardia – Blanket Flower is a good native plant to have around.  It works well as a border plant at the front of gardens that tend to be relatively dry.  I’ve grown ‘Oranges and Lemons’ before but lost the last one to aster yellows disease.  I’ve removed every plant I’ve seen that shows the aster yellows signs so hopefully we’re in the clear.

‘Primal Scream’ daylily – I was surprised a couple weeks ago when I saw another scape growing from this daylily!  I don’t think ‘Primal Scream’ is normally a rebloomer, but maybe I hit the jackpot.  The blooms are about 8 inches in diameter.

Purple Smoke Tree ‘Grace’ – I’m really excited to see my purple smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria x obovatusGrace‘) bloom this year.  Every year it has been nibbled on by deer until this year.  I’m not sure how it avoided the deer but I’m glad it has. Hopefully it will start to grow taller now!  It’s been in the ground for 3 years and is still around 3 feet tall.

It looks stunning in the morning dew!

Have you planted a purple smoke tree?