Photo above ~ meet the perp. Happily munching his way from the front garden to the backyard. AND ~ he invited a few dozen of his close, personal friends so things are looking a little ragged around here.
You know how people always brag that their gardens are alive with color? Well, mine's half dead with color.
Lots of bright bloomers, but most are just halfsies. Relentless deadheading helps but after 5 months of long hours, hot sun and hard work these gals are pretty worn out. (Me, too!)
Big applause for this young lady. Columbines are generally June bloomers but ~ like I said ~ I'm a relentless deadheader. I do believe this is the latest I've ever seen a Columbine flowering in my garden!
I should be speaking the praises of Sedum
, today. (Love that plant.) Thought I'd be a rebel and clap my hands for Potentilla instead. Petal Pink Potentilla, that is. The hardest working waterwise shrub in my gardens. Been blooming all summer.
White David Phlox ~ looks gorgeous in a vase and the fragrance... oooh la lah.
Plentiful daisy wannabes ~ volunteer Asters, Zebrinas, Marguerites, and (truly) wild Coneflowers.
Oh! And, in case you're wondering... I'm planning to paint those garden chairs. Some day. Real. Soon.
As always, go give Carol of May Dreams Gardens a great, big hug for creating this wonderful Bloggers' Bloom Day monthly tradition.
Considering it's September, things are looking good - and how did you get the grasshopper to sit still? BTW, it's fine to post indoor plants. I've even seen posts with photos of floral potholders in winter; we do get a bit desperate at times...
ReplyDeleteHappy bloom day!
I love how your photos and your background compliment each other. Just a beautiful blog!
ReplyDeleteLove the big 'hopper' on the bright yellow. Such a happy photo. Good shot, BTW.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is looking very good.
ReplyDeleteWow, I could not keep up to in the garden. I am glad for one bloom show, but all that deadheading would be to much for this old gal. But it does pay off, your garden looks great. Have a wonderful bloom day.
ReplyDeleteThe columbine is beautiful. Have a good day!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blooms Kate. I love the Potentilla!! Lovely! ;>)
ReplyDeleteThx, All!
ReplyDeleteHappy Bloom Day! :)
Hi Kate - gorgeous orchid!!! So far I have refused to photgraph the abundance of hoppers. I have to choose between catching and stepping on it or take it's picture. Hey, I finally remembered to do a bloom day blog. My first! Remember, it was August Bloom Day when Ted and I were visiting you. So bloom day will always be special. PS you still need to come and stay with us.
ReplyDeleteGreat insect shots! Sorry to hear they've been so hungry. How wonderful to have your own cutting garden patch of phlox. I'd love to grow more things that work in a vase. The moth orchids are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteNicely played, Kate!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad I stopped by! I think you solved one of my plant mysteries. I have a plant that has never bloomed up until this summer and I think it may be Phlox. Not sure though.
ReplyDeleteThat grasshopper is quite a doozy. I am glad he left a few flowers for you to enjoy. I chase them down and probably look the fool for doing so.
Hi, All!
ReplyDeleteThx for visiting and happy bloom day!
Full disclosure: I squashed that grasshopper right after I took the picture. I'm so heartless...
aloha,
ReplyDeletewhat a lovely garden you have, and your flowers are beautiful,i think all the colors complement each other so well this time of the year and the first photo with the grasshopper is a great capture.
Well look at that columbine go. A September bonus bloom for you. Your orchid is so lovely. Mine finally meet with the big compost pile in the sky. I have only spotted one grasshopper while messing around in the garden which is good for the plants.
ReplyDeleteMy flowers are about worn out too Kate.
Not cheating at all. It's bright, it has petals, it counts!
ReplyDeleteYour perp's cousins, best friends, wedding guests and lurkers all took up residence in my sunflowers!!!
I so know what you mean ~ The garden has had a rough summer with hardly any rain! We've had a few grasshoppers~They can do a lot of damage~dang them! gail
ReplyDeleteYou are definetly the winner in the Columbine corner, Kate. And a gorgeous bloom at that. I'm guessing you have some beautiful Autumn leaves up there now. My view of Mt. Timp is just beginning to turn. I love this season!
ReplyDeletehe may be destructive...but he is sort of cute!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a Columbine flower this late either. My garden is half dead with colour too but mainly from the repeated frosts.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a Columbine flower this late either. My garden is half dead with colour too but mainly from the repeated frosts.
ReplyDeleteThis was a fun post! My 'David' quit blooming a long time ago.
ReplyDeleteI put my orchid outdoors this summer too... but not where rain would hit it. And believe it or not, I noticed a new leaf growing when I brought it in today. Hope it continues to grow! :-)
Happy September!
"Half dead with color"...lol, you've just described my garden as well, Kate:) But congratulations on the columbine--that's a beauty! Seeing your grasshopper reminds me that I haven't seen as many as usual around here this year...and I'm not complaining!
ReplyDeleteThat first pic of the grasshopper is crazy. Very cool. I love the shot of your columbine too. It's one of my favorite flowers.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous blooms ... the Zebrina is my favourite!
ReplyDeleteThat's amazing! I've NEVER seen Columbine blooming this late before...the longest any of mine make it is July...congrats!
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to come back and thank you for your comment. It made me smile to know I'm not the only one who does that: "let things go for awhile and then Imow around my faves so there's all these goofy clumps of flowers." Good to meet a kindred spirit in gardening!
ReplyDeleteThx, Gale!
ReplyDeleteI pay 'God' with those flowers, too. I go out there once a week, with a hose, and only water the wildflowers I like, letting the ones I don't like die quicker. ~ Imma Coldhearted Gardener.
Hi, Scott;
Thanks! I'm very proud of that columbine, too. Now if only I could talk the blue ones into blooming that long...
Thx, Brad and Caite;
While I suppose it's bad karma to say anything positive about grasshoppers, some of them - the red wing ones - are really kind of pretty.
Lucky you, Rose;
Maybe all those hoppers moved over to my garden. :)
Cool beans, Shady;
I'm beginning to think that all the 'rules' for moth orchids are meant to be broken. Mine seem so happy braving the elements and enjoying direct sun, too.
Hi, Melanie;
We cold climate gardeners need plentiful flowers indoors. I hope you're making the most of your sunny windows.
Hi, Meredehuit;
Yep, lots of bright reds glimmer on the mountains. Timpanogos is spectacular this time of year. :)
Hey, Gail !
Here's hoping our weather patterns improve. I agree ~ it's been a hard summer on the flowers.
Dear Snowcatcher;
I'd be happy to box up my perp and his buddies and ship them off to your sunflower patch!
Hi, Lona;
Sounds like everyone's grasshoppers are hanging out at my place this autumn. :(
Aloha, Noel;
I wish I was vacation near your backyard right now. Your last tropical flower photos were so stunning!
Wow..such fabulous shots..so lovely..all your enchanting powerful blooms..lucky!!! And lOVE the first shot wiht the sweet creature adorning the scene! very cool! Hope you are having alovely day!
ReplyDeleteKiki~
A blast of September color to tide us all over, dear Kate. My orchids come and go, loving to vacation outside in warmer months. I'm bringing several happy ones inside, hoping they will thank me for their vacation.
ReplyDeleteKate girl ! I love the motif of your blog .. truly an Autumn morning here .. it is very "cool" LOL
ReplyDeleteYou have lots on the go still and I am totally impressed with that orchid .. I killed mine a couple of years ago and now suffer from "orchid FEAR" I try to walk quickly if I have to pass them in the store !!!
Joy : )
Really pretty collection - I love the columbine (can't believe it's blooming now). I also have the white phlox but I think the deer have mowed it down.
ReplyDeleteHi - I am really happy to find this. Good job!
ReplyDelete