Helianthus angustifolius (Swamp Sunflower)
On this sunny Sunday afternoon I am safe and dry while many parts of North Carolina and other southern states are reeling from wind and rain brought by Hurricane Matthew. There is vast flooding that is expected to increase as rivers swell. While many are saying this storm could have been a lot worse, it is heartbreaking to see images of streets and homes underwater, including in my hometown of St. Pauls.
For all of my life I have heard reverential tales of the force of Hurricane Hazel which in October 1954 hit North Carolina, the only category 4 hurricane to do so. (Matthew approached as Category 3 but was Category 1 when the eye passed the Cape Fear region around Wilmington). Yesterday around 4:30 pm Hurricane Matthew surpassed a record set by Hurricane Hazel when the tide gauge in downtown Wilmington rose to 8.21 feet. Hazel’s record of 8.15 feet which had held for 62 years was toppled.
We probably had 4 or 5 inches of rain here yesterday. The meditation circle was largely underwater during the day but the water has soaked in now. Zinnias were knocked down as were the native swamp sunflowers. I had watched the sunflowers swaying all afternoon, surprised to see them standing. They tend to fall over each autumn with or without a storm. Here is how they looked a few days ago.
Helianthus angustifolius (Swamp Sunflower)
Helianthus angustifolius (Swamp Sunflower)
Helianthus angustifolius (Swamp Sunflower)
Last Thursday my husband and I stopped by the Botanical Garden to see what was in bloom. Though I know many of you enjoy asters, I am not really a big fan; however, it was easy to appreciate this large planting in its prime.
Aster at NC Botanical Garden
Symphyotrichum puniceum (Purple-stem American-aster) -Canada & eastern United States
Nearby golden flower heads danced in the gentle breeze.
Solidago spp. (Goldenrod)
Solidago spp. (Goldenrod)
And the pink muhly grass was looking splendid.
Muhlenbergia ‘Pink Flamingos’ (Hybrid Hair Grass) at NCBG
Since discovering the beauty of colchicum several years ago I have yet to plant my own, so it is lucky to live close to public gardens where someone thought to grow them.
Colchicum autumnale (Autumn-crocus)
Colchicum autumnale (Autumn-crocus)
Colchicum autumnale (Autumn-crocus)
pbmGarden 
So very glad to hear you are safe from the ravages of this storm but continue to pray for those who couldn’t escape damage. Thank you for letting us know your status. 🙂 All of your photos are beautiful, but I’m very partial to the first one which is wonderful. 🙂
Thanks Judy. It is so sad to see the problems created by the storm.
Good to know everything is OK in your area. I am enjoying Swamp Sunflowers too.
Thank you. The swamp sunflower I grow came from a plant exchange. It grew much larger than I’d expected.
Same here. I guess that is how they get around. Mine are sideways, but made more flowers in that position.
Glad you (and your garden) have escaped most of the storm Susie. Your sunflowers have done well. Mine are shivering! 😉
But your vase today looks so full and lush! The sunflowers have fallen over in such a way they’ve actually filled out the border. Thanks for your concern over the hurricane. Still terrible flooding and evacuations (including one of my sisters) but we’re fortunate here.
Your garden is looking very colourful. I love grasses and use lots in our garden but sadly we can’t grow the Pink Muhly.
Most of these photos are from a nearby botanical garden. We visit it often. Their Pink Muhly is nice, isn’t it? I have one but it is poorly sited and doesn’t live up to its potential.
I’ve been following the progress of the hurricane on the news and hoping friends and fellow bloggers have escaped unscathed. The destruction is terrible, especially in Haiti. I’m glad all’s well with you.
Thanks for your concern. This was a bad storm and continues to force people from home as rising flood waters create more danger in my state. There have been many rescues.
Glad the storm didn’t make it to your garden. My rain gauge read 4.5 inches, and the ground is still soggy. BUT, I love the sunshine today.
The sunshine and blue sky are a bit ironic, but welcome all the same.
I’m glad you’re safe and that you didn’t have too much damage from the hurricane or the resulting flood waters. I’m thinking about and praying for all you folks in the affected states. Thanks for sharing highlights from your botanical garden visit! I’m not a huge fan of Asters, either, although I do love the light blue ones. The Goldenrod didn’t last long here this year because we had too much rain. Good thing we do have many Asters still blooming for the migrating Monarchs. Your photos of the Colchicums are stunning.
Beth, thanks for your good wishes. Each day this week has brought more bad news about flooding. It will take a long while for those affected to recover. I love those colchicums too. Wish they were in my garden!
Love your images of the Colchicums, they do need to be in tight clumps like these though, they often look quite insignificant if planted too sparsely. I so glad the hurricane didn’t do any damage; but that is a huge amount of water for one day!
Thanks for your good wishes Christina. There’s going to be a long recovery as flooding continues. I must remember to get Colchicums for my garden. Thanks for the tip about planting them closely.
The flooding must have been very distressing to see, though it sounds like you personally didn’t suffer too much damage. Those Colchicums are quite beautiful in a mass.
For some reason a couple of your comments went to spam so am just seeing this. We didn’t have any problem with the hurricane but in much of eastern NC the flooding has been devastating. I-95 only just reopened.
My Swamp Sunflowers came AND went in the weeks we were away…such a shame! I’m using the seed heads now to photograph, but missing those lovely yellow flowers. They get SO tall it is a problem how to keep them upright! We were away for the storm, but all seems fine now; especially my dahlias that have totally revived with all the rain!
Libby, I’m enjoying your mother’s dahlia this fall. Glad yours recovered with the rain.