Thursday, November 24, 2011

Wildflower Wednesday on Thursday

I didn't know if I was going to get a post in today (yesterday), but it was pretty nice out after work, and my camera batteries allowed me to take a few photos for Gail's Wildflower Wednesday before quitting on me.  I have been having problems, either with the battery charger or the camera, and don't get as many photos at a time as I used to.  (Added 11/24: I got the photos in, but did not get a chance to finish the post until this evening.) 

These are the plants that caught my camera's attention.  Some I've shown recently, and others have been in recent Wildflower Wednesday posts.

I am looking forward to seeing the several Zizia aurea, Golden Alexander plants in bloom, hopefully next year. 

I think I showed this wild quinine plant more often than the others this summer, partly because it bloomed all summer.  I planted another, but am not sure if it survived.


I'm looking for the Ratibida pinnata, grey-headed coneflowers to do well next year.  The clumps are nice sized.  I hope the blooms are more upright than some in other parts of the yard that don't get as much sun.


I sure am enjoying the little bluestem plants.


The Culver's Root plants look pretty with the leaves turned brown.


I planted several varieties of switchgrass.  This is the only one that is the straight Panicum virgatum.  It didn't get as tall or wide as the others.  I need to move the daylily that is behind it.


A car drove by as I was taking this photo of the ironweed.  This was still the best photo of the seedheads.


The Rudbeckia Herbstonne looks OK in brown.


The amsonia tabernaemontana could be cut back, but I'll probably wait until early spring.


I hope the Solidago flexicaulis, zig zag goldenrod spreads some next spring.


Gail, I noticed you were posting on wildflowers more than one day, so maybe you are still today. 

We had a very nice Thanksgiving.  I cooked for us, our kids, and grandsons.  I started early, putting things in slow cookers to keep warm as I went.  We were ready to eat at noon, so we could leave a little after 1:00 to go to my parents' for dessert.  Larry did most of the clean up, so we could go.  Linda made some pumpkin bars and a birthday cake for Larry to take to my parents, so I didn't have to make any dessert.  We'll have the grandsons early in the morning so their mom can do some shopping.

I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving, too.

14 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing your photos!
    The most intriguing one to me is the amsonia tabernaemontana. Such a wonderful form. I just want to reach out and touch it!
    Lea

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like the little Bluestem. I'm definately adding that to the wish list!

    Sounds like you had a very pleasant Thanksgiving.
    Lucky you being able to babysit.....I sure wish my grandson lived close by.

    ReplyDelete
  3. is that a gourd hanging on the arbor ?were the boys there yesterday ??

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sue, You really have an amazing collection of plants in your garden and it's really nice to see the variety of foliage and how it all looks in the autumn. They are truly all-season plants.

    Glad to hear you had a nice Thanksgiving, I think it's a marvelous idea to have dinner at one home and dessert at the other. That way every one can visit two homes and not have to eat turkey twice!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Sue. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.I did not get around to everyone before the big day. The flowers are gone now but they have some wonderful textures and hues with the seed heads and leaves.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm glad you enjoyed Thanksgiving.
    The Rudbeckia looks nice against the pale wall. Sometimes I think I would like a house with plain light coloured walls, they make a better background for some plants. I guess the alternative is to be creative with fences and garden walls and things.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sue, do move the daylily! I have several grasses and my switch grass is about 3 feet across and the panicum virgatums are move like 4 feet across. I plan to burn mine off this year before spring green up because they are a real job to cut back.

    Sounds like you had a good Thanksgiving.

    I like the fall look of the plants about as much as the summer look. All the subtle brown tones really appeals to me.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I enjoy the look of some plants in their dormant phase as much as their peak of growth. That Amsonia, for instance, is delightful. I would leave it until spring, too. Fascinating curling pattern. Glad to hear your Thanksgiving was pleasant!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh it's been so long since I've visited your blog. I have to say, I just love it too. You're so inspring. I haven't touched my garden in months but now that the weather is getting colder of course I find myself wanting to garden. Isn't that the way it goes. ;) Great pictures, so glad you had a good Thanksgiving!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Sue, I'm glad you had a great Thanksgiving and that Larry had a great birthday. Can you believe we're in the throes of the Christmas season already? And before we know it, 2012 will be here! Sheesh. Have a great week.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love the way wildflowers look as they age--great photos, Sue! I leave my amsonia up all winter; I think it looks pretty even when it's covered in snow.

    Glad to hear you had a good Thanksgiving!

    ReplyDelete
  12. It's great that there are still things to shoot, even if they are brown. But somehow I enjoy the brown and the seedheads over the winter months.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sue,
    Nice late fall photos of your natives. You'll really enjoy the Zizia, it will brighten your early spring landscape. I planted quite a bit on a dry hillside two years ago and had a great display this spring. Enjoy.

    ReplyDelete

I welcome comments and questions from anyone, including those who do it anonymously. Some people find my posts by doing searches, and I like hearing from them. I guess spammers won't even read this message, but I will delete spam as soon as I see it.