Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - September 2011

Sweet Autumn Clematis with Rudbeckia ‘Autumn Sun’


Few perennials are blooming in my garden this September 15. Mums, asters and anemone have not opened.  The annuals are carrying the day. 

As I looked around the garden for perennials in bloom, I had a thought -Carol’s Bloom Day Blog at May Dreams Garden is the perfect place to find other plants that are blooming now in other gardens and add them to my garden.

I can imagine planning a whole garden by following Bloom Day month by month. Of course, I would have to look for other bloggers in zone 6.  

Wouldn’t it be fun to create a virtual garden this winter from Bloom Day posts?

Here’s what’s blooming in my garden now.

Chrysanthemum ‘Clara Curtis’

Sedum Autumn Joy

Garden Phlox (pink pass-a-long and white ‘David’)

Hardy Hibiscus

Check host Carol’s Bloom Day posts and start your own virtual garden. 

Happy Combination

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Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis ternifolia) and Autumn Sun Rudbeckia (‘Rudbeckia nitida 'Herbstsonne')

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Last fall I moved the Autumn Sun Rudbeckia from next to the garage. I added 3 Sky Pencil Hollies (Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil') to the area because I wanted to introduce some winter interest along the long, gray garage wall. (See October 10, 2009 post “Japanese Holly”.)

I divided in rudbeckia in half. One half went to a friend. I couldn’t decide where to put the other half so I temporarily stuck it in beside the Sweet Autumn Clematis.

It turned out to be a happy combination.

Both plants are tall. The rudbeckia blooms well into fall when sweet autumn blooms. Both plants can be cut to the ground in fall. The yellow and white combination is more outstanding than either one by itself. And, they both seem to like the location.

I think I’ll keep them together.

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Information from Dave’s Garden Sweet Autumn Clematis
Autumn Sun Rudbeckia. Plant name confusion again - See UBC article.

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Japanese Holly

I can’t resist a bargain – especially bargain plants. I have ‘Sky Pencil’ Japanese holly (Ilex Crenata) on my list to add some winter interest in the narrow strip along the blank garage wall. At the 50% off sale at Lowe’s this week, I bought three at $3.99 each. I couldn’t pass up that deal.

That started a chain of events.

First, I divided and moved the yellow ‘Autumn Sun’ rudbeckia (Rudbeckia nitida 'Herbstsonne'). It had grown too big for the spot and had to be staked every year. I dug it out and planted one section where I think it may be OK. I put the other two pieces in a temporary bed near the compost bin. (Am I doing the same thing I did with the Red Hot Poker and Liatris? I hope it doesn’t take 4 or 5 years to find them a permanent home.)

Second, I cut off and pulled canna tubers. I need to put them in a bin for the winter as soon as they dry and I can clean off most of the soil. I posted my canna overwintering method (and madness) in the November 10, 2007 post.

Then it was time to plant the holly. They look a bit inadequate now but the slender, slow growing shrubs can grow to 8 feet.

A lump of roots fell away from the soil when I took the holly out of the pots. Roots girdled the pot. I scored the roots and planted them as best I could. I watered them in well.

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I hope they grow an adequate root system to survive the winter. I'll use an anti-desiccant spray to keep them from loosing too much moisture through the leaves in the winter winds and keep them watered until the ground freezes.

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Sometimes, it's the chance you take when you buy plants late in the season. But the price is hard to resist.

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(More information on Japanese holly from University of Connecticut . Scroll down for specifics of ‘Sky Pencil’.)

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Rudbeckia

If you need a tall, stand-out plant for a special place, Rudbeckia nitida 'Herbstsonne' is it. Blooming from July until frost, the bright yellow cone flowers are a cheery addition to a blank wall or back of the garden. The seeds feed small birds from summer into early winter.

The plant must be staked in places where you don’t want to give it a lot of room. At over 8 feet tall, our yellow rudbeckia stands sentinel at our garage door.

I bought it at Point Phillips Perennials. This great garden with wonderful plants for sale is located 15 miles north of Bethlehem. (see web site for directions) http://www.ppperennials.com/about/about_us.htm Kay and Herb Johns also offer classes, seminars and tours.