Welcome to my bone dry September garden for Wildflower Wednesday! We have an assortment of fall blooming flower pictures to share. You really don’t need a reason other than their beauty to plant wildflowers but the fact that so many of them require little to no care during our current weather conditions is a great bonus. To have something that looks good in drought is absolutely necessary here in TN!
In the front garden: Gaillardia
This gaillardia is a self sown offspring of my ‘Oranges and Lemons’ gaillardia
The flowers appear red and yellow and continue blooming even without dead heading although definitely at a reduced rate.
The Self Sowing Garden:
White Snakeroot – a true wildflower that happens to thrive all around us. It’s billowy white flowers blend nicely with others. I’ll be pulling these plants soon after the blooms have faded to prevent them form taking over the garden. In this photo it mixes well with the celosia – which is also quickly taking over!
Another photo from the self sowing garden reveals some salvia, zinnia, and cosmos that decided it wasn’t going to bloom this year. While these aren’t necessarily native they sure perform like the natives – almost no care required.
In the Wild Garden (my term for the untamed areas around the yard)
Solidago or Goldenrod (no sneezing required). The truth behind the old myth that goldenrod causes hay fever is much more known today than it was a few years ago. Goldenrod is insect pollinated which means unless an insect climbs into your nostrils and delivers the pollen directly to your sinuses you aren’t likely to sneeze because of goldenrod. Although the insect itself might cause more of the nasal irritation than the pollen. 😉
Perennial mist flower can be found just outside the vegetable garden. It popped up last year and I liked it so I left it!
Salvia coccinea is blooming in several places. This one is pink in color but red has also appeared from the same packet of seed. I made sure to collect some of the red earlier in the summer. I’ll collect some of the pink soon as well.
The Garden Shed Garden
Outside of my garden shed (that is still waiting for painting) is a large Salvia farinacea. A very cool blue salvia that I grew from seed then propagated from a cutting and planted here. I’ll take some cuttings soon to ensure it ends up again in my 2011 garden.
If we stand back just a little you will see much more of the snakeroot. It’s an attractive plant this time of year but really doesn’t do much the rest of the growing season. Like most white flowers it seems to work better with other colorful plantings nearby. Although there is something to be said for an all white display!
Go visit Gail for more Wildflower Wednesday!
Those salvias are looking great! It seems the 'wild' flowers are doing fairly well in this drought. The one exception is tartarian aster which is suffering in my garden. I hope we get rain soon!
Regardless of the drought, you have some great color in your gardens. We really need some rain around here too.
That is a lot of beauty you have. Wish there were room here for some of that. City is hard to have very much.
As the weather becomes more harsh – I'm always delighted to discover the adaptability of native plants. Judging by the blogs who are participating in the Wildflower Wednesday program – I'd say we could declare it North American Goldenrod day. Lovely photos and a good garden tour.
dave, Way beautiful! I love your gardens! Thank goodness for our natives~they can take this weather better then we can! gail ps any chance I can beg a few celosia seeds from you?
You've got some wonderful blooms Dave in your garden. As you say native planting really works when you've got difficult climatic conditions to contend with. I have a wet soggy area and I'm thinking of replanting with british natives next year as everything else is struggling with wet feet especially during the winter months.
Tina,
I'm really hoping this weekend brings the rain. I had to use the hose this morning – finally ran out of water in my rain barrel!
Thanks Darla! It seems everyone is complaining about the lack of rain in the east.
Lola,
I understand! I remember back when we only had a deck to garden on. You have to prioritize.
Barbarapc,
Maybe a national goldenrod day is what we need! Just the thing to raise awareness about that often maligned plant!
Thanks Gail!
I'll save you plenty of seeds – one warning though they spread and spread! they hybridize easily with each other too.
Leavesnbloom,
That English native garden sounds very interesting! I sure wish I could complain about too much water!
Wow! You have a beautiful garden and a fantastic garden blog.
This is my first visit. Hope to visit again soon.
David/ Tropical Texana/ Houston
Love all your wildflowers, Dave! I have a "wild garden," too–it was intended to be a butterfly garden, and I originally planted a variety of natives and non-natives here, but somehow the natives have taken over at will:) I never know what's going to pop up.
Interesting that your "Oranges and Lemons" reverted back to the red gaillardias. I love the 'Oranges and Lemons,' but mine haven't made it back from the winter the past two years. I'd be glad to have them re-seed, even if they reverted.
I'm having trouble with Gillardia growing in my gardens. I've tried the East side & this yr the North side. Both died on me. I sure would like to know how to get a start of it.