Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Wildflower Wednesday and the Next to the Last Bloomin' Tuesday for the Season

I have mostly foliage to show for this month's Wildflower Wednesday, hosted by Gail, of Clay and Limestone.  

The first ones I'm showing are in the new front yard area where the tree used to be.  I am excited to see how these plants grow and do next year.

When I cut back the gomphrena plants, I accidentally cut most of the wild quinine seed heads.  I brought them in and put them in a vase.  I'm glad some of the dried blooms are still there.


The Culver's Root has some new blooms that I hadn't noticed until I went to take the photo.


I was not able to catch the ray of light that made this clump of little bluestem shine the other evening.  It was beautiful!  Next year, it should be taller, and the three in this area should put on quite a show.  One of them may be something else, though.  I got it from a different place, and it is looking different.


Rudbeckia Maxima:


The prairie smoke geums I divided and placed around all are doing well.  There are some other small natives around and about that I am hoping do well in the spring.  I think I'm ready for spring right now.


Some of the liatris plants are trying to put on a few new blooms.


This is a new discovery that I am excited about.  It's called pussytoes.  It's an Antennaria of some kind.
 

The next couple of plants are in the curb bed.  I've had this black eyed Susan for awhile.  I don't remember if it's a native one, or 'Goldstrum'.


The ironweed looks good to me dried and dead looking.  I wonder if birds will eat the seeds.


This is the threadleaf ironweed, growing in the bed on the east side of the back yard.  I wish I could remember where I got it so I could see if I could get some more.  I am reading a book on native plants, and found out this will probably get taller next year.  I'm thinking it has a tap root, so it wouldn't be a good idea to try to move it.  I want some in the front!



The lead plant looks OK so far.  I planted one on the far west side of the front yard, and I will have to be patient until it gets to a larger size.


Eupatorium 'Prairie Jewel':


Some kind of mountain mint:


When I went to get Gail's link I saw she had a post on switchgrass, so I went and found a photo of 2 of mine that I put in this spring as tiny little starts.  I wonder what they will look like next year.  These are 'Prairie Wind'.  I have a total of 5 switchgrass plants, 4 different kinds.  I got them after Gail suggested they would be good plants for my new planting area.  Thanks, Gail!  I love them, and you did a better job photographing yours than I've been able to so far.


Maybe there are enough blooms to also participate in Jean's Bloomin' Tuesday.  I hope you all are having a great week.  The cold temps are on their way back to our area.

14 comments:

  1. Hi Sue--love that bluestem. I'm trying to incorporate more grasses in the coming year-they sure add a lot to the garden, especially in the "off" season.

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  2. Happy Wildflower Wednesday! Sue, I am so glad the panicums have worked in your garden~They will look good when it snows, too. Love the Little Bluestem, too. Have a great day, gail

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  3. Hello Sue, I had such a great time exploring your fall garden today. Love all the new plants you've introduced me to. Your garden will be even more amazing after all of them mature. I've never grown Prairie Wind, so that will be one to watch for. 'Northwind' (panicum) is a great favorite of mine, though, and can withstand any snowbank in Wisconsin.

    I'm back to clearing out the gardens today, too, but reluctantly, since it's wet out.

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  4. I love prairie smoke--it will get very dark red leaves yet!

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  5. Lots of wildflowers to see. You've had far more success with your thread leaf ironweed than I have. After two years it's still a tiny sad little stem. You've encouraged me to wait another year. Maybe the third year is the charm.

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  6. Your garden now looks like ours when at the end of the rainy season and starting the dry season. We are maybe 2 months more before getting into that. I hope our cold winds spilling from Mongolia and Siberia will be longer, so at least we have a semblance of your cold!

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  7. I have trouble capturing the beauty of grasses with my camera, too, Sue, but I can see how much yours adds to the garden. I have two switchgrasses, too, and I love them. Interesting to see the Culver's Root blooming again. We've had a couple nights of frost, so I have more dried seedheads than blooms!

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  8. Amazing that your garden still looks so nice. Such interesting seed heads. Here's hoping for a mild winter.

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  9. I love plants that have interesting seed heads in fall. You've still got lots going on in your garden.

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  10. Always something fascinating (many things, actually) in your garden! Pussytoes is one I've never heard of. I'll have to look into that!

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  11. The seed heads on the fall foliage is certainly a reminder that Spring will indeed, be a blessing. Thanks.

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  12. You have a lot of interesting plants. I haven't cut much down yet but we had a hard frost andf I need to get at it. Jean

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  13. It looks like your plants are about ready to go to sleep for the winter.

    Take care and have a Wonderful Week :-)

    http://theoldgeezerblog.blogspot.com/

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  14. Hi Sue, I really enjoyed your two most recent posts. You have so many unusual plants, Sue. I just love your gardens (and that gorgeous yellow lab, too!)
    Hugs, Beth

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