If a garden contains crocuses, tulips, peonies, irises and rudbeckias, these in their order, will bloom from crocus time in May to rudbeckia days in the early fall. As a matter of fact nearly all the flowers bloom by the end of July, but with careful management the garden may be filled with flowers all summer long.
Many years ago, I bemoaned to a passing green thumb neighbour that by mid season all my flowers had finished blooming. I was a new gardener and looking back, I had so much to learn! The easy way to ensure blooms in your garden all growing season is to weekly visit your garden centres and pay attention to your neighbour's garden as to what is in bloom. Some folks are more than willing to share what they have, and if not, most of the garden's staples (old tried and trues) are quite reasonable, even when bought in bloom.
The rudbeckia mentioned above in my mind refers to black-eyed-susans, which at present moment fill a lot of space in our home garden. But their relatives, annual and perennial sunflowers, also shine this time of year. Even the wee Teddy Bear sunflowers dot the edge of one of our beds.
But, they are not the only late bloomers. We have two varieties of sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) blooming in our garden -- a plant I avoided due to its common name for years. I thought it CAUSED allergies, but a bit of research found it was used in a compound to combat allergy symptoms!
The phlox against the house are at least 6 feet tall, and heavily perfume the air every evening, while the goose neck loosestrife (not the invasive variety) bobs in the breeze along with the monkshood and its lovely deep purple/blue colour.
The Autumn Joy Sedums along with a few newer varigated and dark purple species are coming into their own now, but will delight even further as their flower heads take on a deeper colour. I like this plant because of its good manners in the garden -- nothing eats it, it seldom needs staking and is generally trouble free.
The many ornamental grasses are so beautiful this time of year -- we really have to divide some of ours as they have spilled over into some of our rather narrow walkways in the front.
It took me a while to warm up to something that doesn't have a flower, but now I'm a sold customer on these guys.
The hollyhocks are on their last colourful days, but continue to add height and colour. They are a must in my opinion for a full garden.
But the blooms of my husband's Dahlias are the real show stoppers come August. All colours and shades dot the front garden and fill the back. He has been experimenting with dahlias from seeds (another thing I didn't know was possible until a few years back) and comes up with some lovely specimens -- free of charge. Can't argue with that price.
If your garden is slowing down, I encourage you to fill up the 'blah' areas with some of the above. It is always a good time to add perennials to your garden -- remembering to keep them well watered until they are established.
Keep feeding, deadheading and watering your hanging baskets. We still have loads of time left until the gardening season is over -- enjoy it while it's here.
