Eliza Waters

September 26, 2017

Three perennials are blooming and the rest of the garden will be carried into frost by annuals. Two mounds of lavender Heart-leaved Asters (Symphyotrichum cordifolium), far left rear and middle, are peaking and buzzing with bees. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) and white Phlox paniculata are still blooming, but are about done.

Morning Glories on Sunflowers

Morning Glories (Ipomoea tricolor ‘Heavenly Blue’ & I. purpurea ‘Grandpa Ott’) clamber up the tall Sunflowers along the back, and to the left, Helianthus annuus ‘Italian White’ hide my only pink Cleome hassleriana to self-sow this year. Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus) are still putting out scented heaven, despite being choked by Morning Glory vines.

Heart-leaved Aster

Sweet Peas

Orange and yellow Calendula officinalis and white Nicotiana alata are scattered about,  along with a clump of Zinnia elegans ‘Cactus’ and several ‘Sprite Mixed.’ All of which are being visited by many bees, migrating Monarchs, Painted Lady and other butterflies. A yellow garden spider (Argiope aurantia) has placed her egg sac on one of the Zinnia plants and I will have to be careful to set it aside after frost has finished the plants. As her web was lower in the foliage, I think she mostly ate Japanese beetles, which plagued the plants in August.

Aster, zinnia, calendula

Garden Spider egg sac

Zinnia ‘Sprite’ & ‘Cactus’

As seen in the first photo, in rows far left, Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) is ready for its third harvest (it makes a healthful and refreshing tea). I picked the Orca beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) over the weekend, resulting in half a bushel of pods. Once they’re dry, they’ll have to be shelled, a task for mindful meditation.

Zinnia ‘Dbl. Cherry Profusion’

Along the front, Lamb’s Ears (Stachys byzantina), a few hot pink Zinnia angustifolia x elegans ‘Double Cherry Profusion,’ Japanese Blood Grass (Imperata cylindrica) surrounded by Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella damascena) seed heads and a few more clumps of white Nicotiana at the end.

Dahlia ‘Voodoo’

Dahlia ‘Tiki Torch’

To the left of the main garden Dahlia ‘Voodoo’ and ‘Tiki Torch’ are blazing up a storm.

Thanks to Cathy at Words and Herbs for hosting The Tuesday View, a meme showing the view of one or more of our gardens over the course of a growing season. Visit to see links to other garden views from around the world.

September 19, 2017

Triggered by cooler than normal temperatures in August and early September, the garden is heading towards dormancy as the trees behind it attest.

Ipomoea tricolor ‘Heavenly Blue’

The tall Sunflowers along the back have gone to seed with a few Morning Glories clambering up them, taking advantage of their height. Ipomoea tricolor ‘Heavenly Blue’ has finally joined I. purpurea ‘Grandpa Ott’ in blossoming. I was beginning to wonder if it ever would bloom!

Cosmos ‘Sensation’

To the left, Helianthus annuus ‘Lemon Queen,’ ‘Italian White’ and ‘Pro-cut’ continue to provide flowers for vases. To the right, a clump of pink self-sown Cosmos ‘Sensation’ put out the last of its flowers. I’ve left the seed for the goldfinches and next year’s seedlings. Orange and yellow Calendula officinalis and white Nicotiana alata are scattered about, giving the garden some lasting color, along with a clump of Zinnia elegans ‘Cactus’ and several ‘Mixed Sprite.’

Far left, Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) is on its third harvest, I hope with one to go before frost, and Orca beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), soon will be picked for drying.

Two mounds of purple Heart-leaved Asters (Symphyotrichum cordifolium), far left rear and in the middle, have been a delight. I pruned them back in June, which has resulted in denser, less floppy stems. Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) has faded to mauve, its prickly heads full of seeds. I need to deadhead them soon before they self-sow all over. I leave the cut heads in the field for the birds. If they self-sow there, all the better. White and pink Phlox paniculata are about done.

Along the front, Lamb’s Ears (Stachys byzantina), a few hot pink Zinnia angustifolia x elegans ‘Double Cherry Profusion,’ Japanese Blood Grass (Imperata cylindrica) surrounded by Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella damascena) seed heads and a few more clumps of white Nicotiana at the end.

Dahlia ‘Voodoo’

Worthy of mention, now in its second season, Dahlia ‘Voodoo’ is putting on a spectacular show in a bed to the left of the main garden. Because of its success, I will have extra tubers to share with a few admirers.

Thanks to Cathy at Words and Herbs for hosting The Tuesday View, a meme showing the view of one or more of our gardens over the course of a growing season. Visit to see links to other garden views from around the world.