Reblooming Iris August 27, 2016
It feels a bit strange, but welcome all the same, to see a bearded iris reblooming. This one is a pass-along and I do not know its name. This image is from August 27. The flowers lasted but a short time under the strong summer sun.
Reblooming Iris August 27, 2016
There’s been essentially no rain for 6 weeks so the garden looks sad. A few blooms here and there lift my spirits, but can do only so much. I do have a few photographs of flowers taken over the last couple of weeks to record and document the waning days of Summer 2016. Today seems to be bloom day so the timing works well. Some of the pictures from September 2 have water droplets that disprove my memory, but the rain was brief, not the quenching, restorative kind.
Zinnia – September 2, 2016
Tradescantia (Spiderwort) – September 2, 2016
Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ (Herbstfreude) – September 2, 2016
Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ (Herbstfreude) (Stonecrop) September 15, 2016
Salvia greggii ‘Furman’s Red’ (Autumn Sage) – September 2, 2016
Salvia greggii ‘Furman’s Red’ (Autumn Sage) – September 2, 2016
Rudbeckia laciniata (Green-Headed Coneflower) – September 2, 2016
Rudbeckia laciniata (Green-Headed Coneflower) – September 2, 2016
Rudbeckia fulgida (Orange Coneflower) – September 2, 2016
Rudbeckia fulgida (Orange Coneflower) – September 2, 2016
Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’ (Black-eyed Susan) – September 2, 2016
Physostegia virginiana (Obedient Plant) – September 2, 2016
Physostegia virginiana (Obedient Plant) – September 2, 2016
Marigold
Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage)
Periwinkle (Vinca) – September 2, 2016
Gardenia jasminoides – September 2, 2016
Garden Phlox Phlox paniculata ‘Nicky’ – September 2, 2016
Euphorbia ‘Shorty’ (Shorty Spurge) – September 2, 2016
Cleome hassleriana (Spider Flower) – September 2, 2016
Buddleja davidii ‘Adokeep’ (Adonis blue Butterfly Bush) – September 2, 2016
Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ (Wormwood) – September 2, 2016
With apologies to anyone who is sensitive to spiders, this intrepid garden sentry has been a constant presence for several weeks. Just after I discovered it (and almost backed into it), the Yellow Garden spider relocated to its current location from the other side of the tree. It is also sometimes know as Writing Spider.
Argiope aurantia (Yellow Garden Spider) -August 27, 2016
Argiope aurantia (Yellow Garden Spider) – September 2, 2016
With the pressing heat the garden has not been tended for weeks. I made a quick stop this afternoon in search of Antirrhinum majus (Snapdragon) to replace Angelonia, the stalwart of the meditation circle from June until frost.
I should have shopped at a better garden center but it is unlikely I will have time to get to one. At this store the available snapdragons were generically labelled and although I had hoped for white ones, the choices were either “unknown” (because no flowers had opened) or yellow or this multicolored one that I chose. It sports mixed flowers of red, pink, coral and yellow and should add some pep to the labyrinth.
Antirrhinum majus (Snapdragon) – September 15, 2016
Antirrhinum majus (Snapdragon) – September 15, 2016
pbmGarden 
Everyone up your way has said there’s been a lack of rain. None the less, you have some very nice blooms.
Thanks, I don’t irrigate the garden nor even hand-water except for new plants, so things look tired without regular rain. We were lucky to have as much as we did through July.
Your blooms and captures of them are wonderful. We have been in a drought here on Long Island as well, since July, and finally got some much needed rain. Your spider visitor looks like he’s going to stay around for a lot longer!!!
Sorry for late reply–your comment was caught up in spam folder. Thank you for your kind words. Hope by now you’ve had some good rains, as we have. The spider was a constant presence for 3-4 weeks. Just noticed the other day she was no longer there.
I really like that Rudbeckia laciniata! The Buddleia is beautiful – my own dwarf Buddleia did not survive the winter.
Oh, that’s too bad about the Buddleia. This one is to located in a good place so I hardly even get to see it. It’s a difficult one to dig up though.
You still have plenty of lovely flowers to show us, I hope you much needed rain arrives soon.
Thanks Pauline. A few days of soft gentle rain would be most welcome.
I think you are going to love those snapdragons. The color is very cheerful and it will be fun to have a change.
I planted snapdragons 2 years ago that I enjoyed immensely, but waited too late last year so I decided to go ahead and buy this year. Probably should have gone to farmer’s market but busy schedule lately means that might not happen (unless you make it and then I will try).
Beautiful gallery of lovely flowers. But the spider, oh my it’s massive!
Thanks. The spider at first is quite startling in person, then fascinating.
Despite the saying that “misery loves company,” I’m dismayed to hear you and so many gardeners in the east reporting on the shortage of rain. I hope things turnaround soon, Susie. I love the yellow Iris – and even the yellow spider.
Thanks Kris, you have suffered your share of dry weather. We were lucky spring through July but once it turns dry like this the plants can’t live on the memory of earlier times for long. The spider is an oddity in my garden. I check for her (I think it’s female) every day.
It was extremely dry here too for a few weeks, but today it is raining at last and I think summer is coming to an end. You still have some lovely flowers despite the drought. And a beautiful spider! I love snapdragons but we have the same problem here in spring where they are sold before they open… I have tried going back a week or two later but then they are sold out! Those colours are gorgeous, and I think the circle will look refreshed with them in place. Hope you’ll share a photo of it! 😉
Oh, I’m glad you got some rain. I’m excited about changing out the plantings in the meditation circle with the snapdragons, but haven’t had time yet to do it.
Jeepers, how big is that spider?!
The garden or writing spider females are from 19–28 mm (0.75–1.10 in) according to wikipedia, but that must be just the main body. Those legs add plenty of length.
So our rain has arrived before yours this year! So do the snapdragons always grow through your winters?
Glad you had rain Christina. A little rain every week would be nice, not all or none, which is what we’ve had this year. The only time I grew snapdragons they looked nice in fall, stayed semi-green in winter without blooms, then were gorgeous in spring. As I recall though the winter was fairly mild.
I’m sure your snapdragons will work out just fine. Better to have them in early rather than wait too long and have nothing!
I’ve been very happy with my angelonias as well. They’ve been completely trouble free and I’m sure I’ll have a few again next year.
Thanks Frank, yes angelonia is a wonder plant, very reliable. Looking forward to the snapdragons–they’re not something I’ve grown but once before.
we have had weeks of dry weather too, the garden seems to be wilting. You have some lovely late summer blooms. That iris is amazing, what a bonus. I have never seen a spider like that before, my goodness, he is huge. I wouldn’t dare step outside with that lying in wait.
Finally, we’ve had some rain overnight. Hope some finds your garden also. The spider is intimidating, but interesting all the same. I keep my distance.
These are some sharp photos. The colors are very vivacious. That spider is like your personal garden bodyguard. The Jasminoides look like helicopter propellers. Excellent job.