Late Again for Wildflower Wednesday

As I was digging and spreading compost today, it occurred to me that I missed Wildflower Wednesday.  When I came in, I found Gail's post, and it was awesome!  I went out and took some photos so I could be included in the party, late as I am. 

Most of the asters are finished blooming, but some still have some color.

The rough goldenrod has some pretty seed heads.

The 'Wichita Mountains' goldenrod is almost finished blooming.

Here is what most of them look like:

I moved this Virginia Mountain Mint to the area in front of the vegetable garden, where it ended up being hidden by other plants.  I did some cutting back this week, so it could get some sun.

Boltonia and Eupatorium, 'Prairie Jewel' surround the mountain mint.

Eupatorium rugosum, 'Chocolate', which I call chocolate Joe Pye weed, is on the right of the 'Prairie Jewel'.  You can see a glimpse of the vegetable garden behind the fence.  I haven't done a vegetable garden update lately.  It is almost finished for the season.

While I was out digging and spreading compost today, the next door neighbor's yard man started spraying in her yard.  I went inside, because my lungs are sensitive to chemicals.  When he was leaving, I went out and asked him what he was spraying.  He said it was 2, 4-D to hopefully kill her nut grass, which there is quite a lot of in her yard.  It was very windy out, so I called the extension office to see if it was safe to use the compost, which is right by the fence.  They gave me the number for our state's Department of Agriculture.  The man was very helpful, and said that if the stuff drifted onto the compost, it will not cause problems due to the amount of time until spring, and the organic matter in the compost will not let plants take up the chemical.  The wind was mostly blowing the other way, so hopefully, it didn't drift to my little salad mix plants that are 2 or 3 inches tall, and are near the entrance to the garden.  Still, I'm thinking about pulling them out, because I didn't think to ask the man I talked to about those.  I wonder if they don't die, that means the chemical didn't drift that far.  Anyone out there know about these things?

A closer view of the Chocolate Joe Pye Weed:

The foliage of the lead plant has some fall colors.

The amsonia, 'Hubrichtii' is, too.

Rudbeckia, 'Herbstonne' has lots of seeds for the birds to eat.

The short toothed mountain mint sure is a good looking plant.  I've been able to keep it from spreading beyond its boundaries so far.

The birds have started eating some of the American beauty berries.

Until this year, I have always cut down the finished flower stalks of the narrower leafed coneflower in the front yard bed.  I decided to see how they did if I kept them on.  It looks like birds have been sampling the seeds.  I wonder if I will get some volunteer plants.

If you haven't read Gail's post, head on over to her blog, Clay and Limestone.  If you cry easily, be sure to have some tissue handy.