GBBD: 10.15.2022

I'm doing a little fudging here. It was lovely on Tuesday when I was working in the garden. Rained on and off Wednesday, with a lot of wind. Thursday we had an arborist crew here dealing with tree issues.

That said, these flowers are still blooming but the photos were taken earlier in the week. The plants don't look quite as good after wind, rain and an almost frost.

Crocus pulchellus

Calamintha nepeta ssp. nepeta flowers endlessly. As the weather cools, the tiny blossoms become more lavender colored. 

Aconitum fischeri is a Monkshood that I bought as lush, budded plants at K&A Nursery. They went in the ground in the beginning of September. They've been a joy to watch as the buds enlarged and darkened. I planted three and hope to get more next spring. Sturdy stems and the rabbits ignored all three.

Over the last few years I've planted this bed with white, yellow and blue fall flowers. Alas, this year the timing was way off for this design to work. Some have not bloomed yet and others were done too soon. But I love this combo of Aconitum and Anemone 'Honorine Jobert.'

Eupatorium rogosum 'Chocolate' is finally blooming.

Frankly, I like it this Eupatorium better without flowers, when the leaves have that blue blush and the stems and veins are distinctly purple. I may regret planting it as it can reseed a lot. 

Despite my white/blue/yellow concept, there are mostly purple toad lilies in every part of the garden. So I just added Vernonia angustifolium 'Plum Peachy' to keep them company. Love that spindly foliage.  

My clumps of Tricyrtis miyazaki are planted in protected spots which keeps them looking good until a killer frost arrives.

I grow Tricyrtis 'Lightning Strike' for its gorgeous striped foliage. The flowers are a bonus but also distract from those wonderful leaves. 

Tricyrtis 'Lemon Twist' has such heavy flowers they pull the short stems over. The rabbits love these dotted leaves. I do, too.

Last, but never least, is Tricyrtis macrocarpa. This is a huge plant whose stems drape over a stone wall. It's covered with buds that are taking a long time to open.

It's common name is "yellow bells" toad lily.

To see what's blooming in gardens here, there and everywhere, visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens blog. 

Comments

[Barbara H.]

You've had lots of bloom action, Linda. Looks like we will be having freezing nights next week. I always enjoy seeing the usual and unusual plants you use in your wonderful garden.

[Linda Brazill]

BARBARA — ​I have a mum I planted in 2021 that's finally starting to open. But I am afraid it will get frosted before it ever flowers. I've already covered it twice. Not sure how many times I want to try and protect it.

[Tracy]

Where you get your toad lilies? I have a purple one but want more colors.

[Linda Brazill]

TRACY — Got a lot of them at a local nursery. Check out Digging Dog and Plant Delights for online sources.

[danger garden]

I can see the photos! I cheated too, my Bloomday post is up today. I love your tricyrtis assortment, I really need to add a couple of them to my garden.

[Kris P]

Fall looks really good in your garden, Linda! I love the toad lilies, something I tried to grow only to confirm my garden guide's assertion that they won'd grow in my climate. I do have a Japanese anemone and, despite being badly burned during our last 2 heatwaves, it produced buds; however, the recent work on our irrigation system seems to have imperiled the plant's very existence :(

[Linda Brazill]

DANGER — I've had the best luck with the toad lilies I planted years ago. More mixed results with some of the ones that have come on the market recently.

[Linda Brazill]

KRIS — I have a Japanese Anemone that is in rather darkish shade, has had a massive rock on it for 6 years and keeps trying to push out. So maybe yours will survive rough treatment.

[Elizabetj]

"Toad lily" is such an awkward name for a such a beautiful plant. The variations in flowers and leaves are very interesting -- a whole garden could be composed just of toad lilies. Alas, I visit your garden to see them because they are totally ungrowable here. Monkshood is chillingly beautiful. I seem to remember watching a movie along the lines of "Ms. Green, in the garden, with a monkshood." Good movie. Gorgeous flower.

[Linda Brazill]

ELIZABETH — Digging Dog Nursery has a pale silvery blue Monkshood which is beautiful looking. Now that I've actually seen what they look like in person, I think I need them. Maybe next year. And Avant Gardens in MA said they will be offering a white flowered Tricyrtis next year. I was planning on being very restrained on plant purchases next year, and I already have a "want" list.

[Beth@PlantPostings]

Lovely photos of lovely blooms. Yes, "almost frost" is a good way to put it. Many of my plants are collapsing, but some are still blooming...until the true frosts/freezes of the the days ahead...

[Linda Brazill]

BETH — Not looking forward to frost. Though I am hoping that means we will get some classic Indian summer days afterwards.