Are all gardeners still having a hard time stopping themselves from plant shopping now? Even with it being half way through August I still keep wanting to add more to the garden. Somehow I keep finding open spots that need a plant in them. I'm trying to make sure I'll have some flowers blooming up until our first frost if possible. The littlest gardener and I sowed a package of 'Bewitched' Pansies from Botanical Interests the other day. There are black as well as orange flowers. I often plant orange violas in fall so we thought it would be fun to try some from seed this time. When I went to Costco yesterday, only to buy food, I somehow came home with a large bag of 120 Crocus' and 50 Tulips. Seems like I'm always thinking at least one or two seasons ahead.
Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) 'Astra Pink'
Another view.
Campanula 'Summertime Blues'. I hope the slugs leave this one alone, the 'Pantaloons' I planted last year just now has leaves on it and no flower buds yet.
Rudbeckia 'Rustic Colors'
I just love the colors, perfect for late summer into fall I thought.
Penstemon 'Raven' was $2.75 for a gallon, couldn't pass that up. It's mostly finished blooming, but looks like it may get another round of flowers before summer ends.
Aster - nothing fancy, but they do add some nice color through fall when not much else is blooming.
Heuchera 'Petite Pearl Fairy' is supposed to stay on the smaller side. The name alone made me want to buy it.
I found a nearby nursery that has Beautyberry (Callicarpa) which I'd love to plant in my backyard, but haven't been able to figure out if the berries are poisonous or not. If anyone knows the answer I'd love to know.
The Rudbeckia looks like fall. So pretty. I just love the new aster.
ReplyDeleteIt is so hard not to buy more flowers when they are great prices. Always room for more.
I bet the pansies will be so pretty in a month or so. They seed well and bloom fast. This is my favorite time of year as Autumn is coming on and the slant of the sun is edging further north.
ReplyDeleteYour garden looks beautiful. I have quite buying plants for now cause I'm working on Copper Top. Seems like that is eating the money at the moment. Glad you found the beauty berry bush.
I love your asters - what a beautiful color. Your photos are so pretty - I could just reach out and touch those beauties.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean... It's taken an enormous amount of restraint to stop myself buying yet more plants... But I'm determined to stick to growing my own from seed/cuttings, however there are always those plants that I just cannot pass by ;)
ReplyDeleteThe Rudbeckia looks lovely! And I really like the asters. Well, actually I love it all. Yes! I do have trouble saying no to plants!
ReplyDeleteI bought a beautyberry last weekend! No idea if the berries are poisonous to humans or not -- I don't worry much about that since so many things (tomato leaves!) are. The berries are GREAT for wildlife they say.
ReplyDeleteI have three beauty berry bushes. I see conflicting reports about certain parts of the plant being poisonous. It is really pretty, requires little care, and the birds love it. With the water feature in your back yard, this would be a nice addition for a variety of birds.
ReplyDeleteits a disease I tell ya...an addiction!!! but I don't want any help to kick it!!! lol
ReplyDeleteI am having the same issues!
your photos are absolutely wonderful!
August is my one month I strive not to buy plants. I was doing well until I just had to have a dwarf crepe myrtle in the dazzle family. I had added Snow Dazzle last year and liked it so much its cousin Pink Dazzle joined the family. So I'm just keeping it in the family right? Now to find a spot. Ha! We all do it.
ReplyDeleteI don't think callicarpa is poisonous. My Southern Living book does not mention it. The birds do eat the berries. Caterpillars are attracted to the shrub and it is an all around beautiful performer. I have two in my garden. One was started from the berries. It is a looker for sure. I think you'd like it.
I read this post with a smile on my face the hole time =) Bying plants in august, september and if I can find some even in november. Knowing that in my part of Sweden we wont get any frost until (maby) late november I have all the time I want to plant both perennials and bulbs. BUT I don't have any holes to put any more plants in! That's a problem! So I have to put them in the veggiegarden duritng the winter or in pots that I rbring into the greenhous until spring arrives. I think tahat if there were plants to bye allseasons I would do that - it's like a drog - and I'm a plant-o-holic / gittan
ReplyDeleteI like that rudbeckia! I bought three discount penstemons yesterday that were in great shape. It's a good time for deals!
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ReplyDeleteI like Rudbeckia 'Rustic Colors'. Penstemon 'Raven' too.
ReplyDeleteI always have a hard time keeping myself from plant shopping! Was that a trick question? lol :)
These plants are beautiful Catherine. That rudbeckia is just gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI too have the same urge to buy more plants, Catherine. I think all gardeners have it. Here we don't have any season- flowers bloom throught the year. So the temptation is still more.The names of the plants are so irresistible!Beautiful pictures, as always.
ReplyDeleteYou might think your aster is nothing fancy but I think it's plenty fancy and luv it. Asters are a particular favorite of the rabbits that live in our neighborhood. I finally dug mine out and transplanted it to my son & dil's yard. You're not alone...I have about 6 new perennials sitting outside right now waiting to be planted. My name is Donna and I'm a plant addict.
ReplyDeleteCatherine, I too am still buying a perennials to fill in. In fact I was in the garden center today,but only bought some veggies to plant for fall harvest.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a good time of year to find clearance plants, especially perennials. That is why I pull into my favorite garden center every time I pass by.
I think you already know I'm still buying plants. At some point, I really need to quit. I read your other comments with interest, because, after seeing photos of the berries on blogs, I bought 2 beautyberry bushes at the spring plant sale I go to. They were about a foot high, and in about a quart size or smaller container. I put them next to the sidewalk that comes down from beside the house to take rain water away from it. I planted a black knight butterfly bush between them. I've enjoyed them all, and they are getting close to 3 feet tall. The bushes grew enough to bloom this year, and the little berries on the bushes are so cute!
ReplyDeleteAre you the one who posted some photos of when you first started making changes to the front of your property and asking about a lilac bush on the cottage garden forum on gardenweb?
Catherine, Your post title had me so curious! I had a bit of a time getting connected, but it was worth it. :-)
ReplyDeleteI always think I've finished buying plants at one point or another, but I understand what you mean completely.
I'm finding too many projects that I need to finish yet. Good things to keep me busy. ;-)
Is it not too late to plant seeds?? I was given Cosmos seeds in late July... and I thought that was kind of crazy. Hmmmm. Maybe hot? Have a great day! :-)
Nice finds!
ReplyDeleteDon't get me near a garden center or I'll go broke! And this late in the season they are getting rid of their plants at a discount to make room for fall ones. If I see a flower I love, I buy it knowing that somehow I'll be able to fit it in my garden somewhere. Your blooms are lovely. I just planted some penstemon and the rudbeckia are a fun August plant. Don't you just love balloon flowers and calendula? I love their purply blossoms. Your garden is lovely.
ReplyDeleteI'm always buying plants....just running out of room. Try living in So Cal....we buy plants all year! You think you have an addiction....I'm hiding the checkbook!
ReplyDeleteWell, I was in the mood for some plant shopping today and couldn't find anything I wanted! Did I just write that??!! I mostly wanted to pick up a few annuals to spruce up a couple containers that needed a little pizazz and there were hardly any to be found. I don't remember that ever happening before. Your new purchases look great and the pansies sound intriguing. I hope they bloom this fall so we can see them.
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine - Love the new additions, they will fit in so nicely with all your other babies. I have banned myself from any more plant shopping until the weather cools off and my daughter is back to school. I am ashamed to say that some of the stuff I bought on the last day of school just never made it into the ground, and a few have given up the ghost. I feel terrible to consign plants to almost certain death at this point, so I will maybe shop the fall sales and call it good. Or so I say at the moment! Sorry to miss you at SAGBUTT, hope to see you next time. Is soccer season ever over? :)
ReplyDeleteAll the photos and flowers are very lovely indeed. A joy to view.
ReplyDeleteDon't stop your self !!!
ReplyDeleteYou're having too much fun !
The Rudbeckia 'Rustic Colors' are a keeper....love the color.
Maybe our Costco is stocking bulbs now, too, I'd better go check tomorrow. I need more EARLY bulbs - yellow crocus, early daffs, etc. - since spring comes so LATE to Spokane!
ReplyDeleteEchoing the favorite bloom here, Rustic Colors..what an eye catcher! I grow beautyberry, Catherine. They grow slow and can get quite leggy. The flowers are not much but the beautiful purple berries come September are worth growing. Looks great in arrangements..and I don't THINK they are poisonous.
ReplyDeleteDang it!!!! I was just at the Nursery Tuesday and I forgot, can you believe that, forgot to go in the bulb house!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like the Aster I have - it just blooms it heart out!
ReplyDeleteI've read both on the Beautyberry. One person said they've eating them in pancakes since they were young others argue they are. Here's what I read. http://www.thegardenhelper.com/cgi-bin/ubb/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/28/70.html
Is this the nursery in Monroe I told you about? I want to go there - the prices sound great. But I did get my Beautyberry for half price because they weren't cared for. It looks great now.
Catherine I just found this article on Beautiberry it's more extensive and she makes jelly with the berries.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.eattheweeds.com/www.EatTheWeeds.Com/EatTheWeeds.com/Entries/1958/6/30_Beautyberry_Jelly%E2%80%99s_On_A_Roll.html
Sue - No, it wasn't me asking about the lilac, but I do read that forum often and have posted questions there before.
ReplyDeleteTina and Linda - Thanks for your help on the Beautyberry. It sounds like it'll be okay to plant, now I just hope they still have some when I have time to go back to where I saw them.
Karen - We don't get much of a break from soccer, she plays on a select team which = year round. I do wish we had more of a break, but she loves it and it keeps her busy and active.
Oh, we can never be satiated, can we? I thought with no space for more pots in my terrace, I'd stop for the year, but I got a package of cool seeds sent by a nice friend of my sister's from Germany! Now, wouldn't that tempt a poor gardener?
ReplyDeleteAwesome shots of the Rudbeckia!