September is finally here. It rained, the weather cooled (ever so slightly) and the flowers opened their buds and cheered. I collected a few of the celebrants, then added some fruits and foliage and am now enjoying the fall colors.
While many lament the end of summer, we celebrate in South Florida. Cooler weather is on the way!
I have had zinnias through the summer. Interestingly, they produced half sized flowers through the August heat. I have a big container still going and hope the flowers get bigger with fall’s arrival. The white daisies are Bidens alba, an indestructible native wildflower. The burgundy foliage is from Aechmea ‘Burgundy’ Bromeliads.
The purple beautyberries (Calliocarpa americana) have been spectacular this year. Even my husband noticed, which is a bit shocking. I collected another cup of berries to freeze and bake treats later. Red flowers are Tropical Red Salvia (Salvia coccinea). Green foliage is Asian Sword Ferns (Nephrolepis brownii) and Macwilliamsii Neoregelia Bromeliad.
I am looking forward to spending more time outside. We are working on a new seating area in my front garden for butterfly reconnaissance. Plotting plantings! Bought chairs and flamingo fabric for pillows. My husband wants to build a platform deck. Autumn Cheers!
Visit Cathy at RamblingintheGarden to see vases from around the world.
The Shrub Queen 
It will be interesting to see if cooler days bring bigger flowers. Tell me, do you pull the Bidens alba before it goes to seed?
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I agree! August was a Dry fry! The pot of zinnias in full sun did not make it. Bidens can produce 1200 seeds per plant, I usually pull them if I see seeds or use them for cut flowers. I have been meaning to send you a note – there is always a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough in the freezer nowadays, we have really enjoyed your recipe. I hope your husband is doing well.
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Love those Beautyberries. Your husband sounds like mine. Fall has a different meaning for me now living up North. The plants are winding down and up on the mountain we had to put the heat on for a few nights.
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Thanks, I think our husbands have a similar gardening interest – zip? Heat? Good Lord. I hope you have a Polartec wardrobe.
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I will need to go shopping before winter. I have a ski jacket that is probably getting close to 20 years old.
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Shopping is definitely in order, How is hubs holding up? I thought he was a Texan.
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He was being very stoic, until I asked him to read my post “It’s Time to Go Home”. It really hit him hard. Even though my girls have been living up here, they realized they probably would not be going back to their childhood home and were also effected by the post. I had written it months before we moved, so I started mourning for my garden over a long period time.
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Do you pluck the leaves from the beautyberry to show off the berries better, or do they just fall off at this time of year? Mine have retained their foliage, but it is already yellowing.
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I trimmed the leaves, they eventually turn yellow and fall off.
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? Do you mean that they turned yellow and fell off after you trimmed them, or that you trimmed them off, but that they naturally turn yellow and fall off in autumn?
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They do it naturally, eventually. The leaves are still green now.
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Got it. So, they get trimmed off for floral design application, but otherwise, do not fall off until autumn or winter. I am SO pleased with mine, but have not worked with them long enough to get very acquainted with them. In the future, I might acquire a cultivar with white berries.
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That gorgeous callicarpa again! The luscious green fern foliage sets the purple off beautifully. Hope you have more zinnias to come, and good luck with your planting plotting – I have itchy fingers but sadly have no project in mind (yet!)
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I can’t resist the purple berries. I will plant more zinnias soon. I keep finding seeds! I have some seriously itchy fingers having been in the house all summer.
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Love the beautyberry and the mini-zinnias. Do you think they will grow larger with the cooler weather? Time will tell I suppose. Exciting fall plans! What will you plant in the new area? While you are looking towards more outside time, we’re resigning ourselves to spending more time inside (a horrendous thought for this gardener, mind you). As in previous years, we adjust. 😕
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Thanks. The zinnias are a quandary eventually they get smaller and run out of steam, these may do just that? The new area is planted, so plants will be rearranged to accommodate a deck. Are you having to stay indoors in summer?
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July was really hot here and I would retreat inside by 9:30 am. The whole month seemed to be three or four days in excess of 90º, then back to 80s for another three, before flipping back to 90s. Even nights didn’t cool down much. August was a bit better and the last few weeks have been really nice. 70s days, which I love, and dry 40% rH. Ideal! I love having windows open, but already we have to shut them at night as it has been in the 40s, too cold! When the days slide to the 60s, then 50s… no more open windows and the wood stove time comes round again.
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It’s nice you’ve had zinnias through the summer. I feel like my zinnias are smaller this year, but we had loads of rain until the last 2-3 weeks. August was unusually cool and our Labor Day weekend remained so. Very odd. The Calliocarpa is outstanding.
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Three cheers for autumn! The vase really does have an autumnal feel to it. I love the sound of a butterfly observation spot – and flamingo fabric is perfect for a Florida garden! Do you ever see actual real-life flamingoes where you are?
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Indeed!! There are rumors of flamingo sightings but I have never seen one, we are a bit too far north. We have roseate spoonbills and flocks of peacocks and parakeets. My dog is freaked out by the peacocks.
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I can imagine! Peacocks are pretty big and rather imposing when they spread their tail feathers!
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The look on his face is priceless
. quizzical.
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