Last flowers of Summer.

Are these the last flowers of summer or will there be more, who knows? When wandering around the garden, camera at the ready, I think it is amazing the plants that are still putting out new buds and that the odd flower or two are still enjoying the autumn sunshine. We have had a spell of warmer weather with the wind coming up from Africa and at last a load of rain arrived from Spain. What a difference the rain has made, it has given a very dry garden a new lease of life, just when I thought everything was shutting down. The roses are putting out lots of new buds, this one is Bonica, with plenty of buds still to come.

R. Bonica

R. Ballerina

Rosa Ballerina also has plenty of buds still to come.

Hydrangea

New shoots have been put out by this Hydrangea under the kitchen window.

Verbena bonariensis

How did we ever manage before Verbena bonariensis came on the scene, such a reliable stalwart these days.

Mexican daisy

This little Mexican daisy, Erigeron, knew just where to seed itself as it was dying in the nearby border, it has flowered all summer long and surely must stop soon.

Diascia

This Diascia is just the same, surely it must need a rest by now.

F. Delta Sarah

The Fuchsias are still going strong, this one is Delta Sarah, lovely large flowers on it, quite a large plant altogether.

Fuchsia Whiteknights Blush is so pretty, smaller flowers than Delta Sarah but more of them, such a pretty shade of pink.

Rosa Regensberg was a present to me for Mother’s Day almost 20 yrs ago from my daughter and therefore very special.

Campanula

This little Campanula seems to be everywhere now, I pull loads of it out each year but we always seem to have just as much as ever, and it never seems to stop flowering!

Valerian

This is the common Valerian, a wild flower found in lots of wall crevices in the West country of England. We love it because of all the bees, butterflies and hummingbird hawk moths that it attracts.

R.Buff Beauty

So many buds on Rosa Buff Beauty, will they all have a chance to come out, we will just have to wait and see what the weather does.

C.Hederifolium

Cyclamen hederifolium are still just about in flower, a lot less flowers now since last month, but then they have been flowering for so long.

Begonias

Bedding begonias are getting better and better all the time, think I might try taking cuttings for next year as I would like a lot more!

Verbascum

The Verbascum seedling that suddenly appeared in the garden is now putting up new stems, its certainly determined to survive here.

Feverfew

Double Feverfew is going on forever, it has flowered all summer long, time for a rest now.

Cortaderia

Pampas grass or Cortaderia pumilla, I think is beautiful in the right setting, some would say too suburban for a country garden, but I would disagree. One of the funniest things that I have seen is a squirrel trying to take one of the plumes back to its nest, up a tree, long stem and all!

Evening primrose

Evening primrose are still putting out new shoots and flowers, soon, when I pull most of them out, I will save the seed for the birds over winter, goldfinches come to the plants, I wonder if they will like the seed as much from the bird table.

Prolificum

Hypericum prolificum is having a second flowering. It’s first flowering in the summer has the bush absolutely covered in these small flowers ,only 1cm across, just a few this time, they are a magnet for bees.

Hydrangea

A new flower on our red Hydrangea, this one was given to us by a friend for our Ruby wedding a few years ago, so is very special.

Water forget me not.

Water forget-me-not having a last fling, this loves it in the bog garden.


Stipa

Couldn’t leave out my favourite Stipa gigantea, this will carry on until the winds batter it to the ground in the new year.

Mahonia

I’m not sure if Mahonia Charity is the last flower of Autumn or if it should be included as the first flower of the new year, whatever it is, it is a beautiful bush flowering at this time of year.

While I was wandering about the garden, I realised that some plants are thoroughly confused and flowering again, when really they should be flowering in the spring. I felt they deserved a post to themselves and will do that in a few days time. In the meantime how is your garden, do you still have the last flowers of summer or has your garden already shut down for the winter, or if you are down under, you must be enjoying all the wonders of spring?

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24 Responses to Last flowers of Summer.

  1. So sorry I am missing the fall flowers, my second favourite time of year. I would love how they would have a second life, just as the cooler weather was blowing in. Yours look amamzing, will note some to plant next year (especially since I am only enjoying them spring and fall now).

    • Pauline says:

      You must miss your garden a lot Deborah, while in Barbados, but now is a good time for planning for next year – that’s in between enjoying yourself in the sun!

  2. So many, many last flowers! Beautiful roses. I too am a fan of valerian.

    • Pauline says:

      They are hanging on Janet – I don’t know for how much longer, just enjoying them while I can. I’m amazed the valerian is surviving on my heavy clay – must have found a well drained spot just by chance, super for the wildlife visitors though isn’t it.

  3. wellywoman says:

    I love your double feverfew. I might just have to put that on my to purchase list for next year. This extended Autumn has been a real treat I can’t believe there is still so much in bloom. I completely agree, what did we do before Verbena bonariensis it is just such good value and butterflies love it.

    • Pauline says:

      Thanks for stopping by Wellywoman (super name) Also really enjoying our warmer weather, how much longer will it last? Glad you also like V. bonariensis – super plant, for us and all the insects.

  4. Christina says:

    Our weather has been as strange as yours and my garden’ too is more like spring than autumn. All your roses look so healthy and I’m with you on the Pampass grass; in the right spot (as yours is) it is a fabulous plant. Christina

  5. Your garden is filled with blooms. My blooms are waning. I particularly like the hydrangea and the Mexican daisy…gorgeous! I will miss looking out to see all those lovelies, but maybe I will see lots of snow.

  6. debsgarden says:

    I am drooling over your roses and fuchsias! This is a great time of the year in my garden, though I don’t have so many different kinds of flowers. My roses are blooming, as well as other summer leftovers, like cosmos and zinnias. It’s chilly at night, but no frost yet. With all the fall foliage, everything is very colorful.

    • Pauline says:

      We all seem to be waiting for our first frost Deborah, until then, the plants still think it’s summer and colour is everywhere. With all the autumn tints, the garden has a golden glow, but the wind is now bringing the leaves down unfortunately.

  7. you have so much in your garden Pauline, I like pampas grass and I’ve noticed so do the birds thankfully they got the seeds before the wind ripped the plumes to shreds, you have some truly beautiful roses, Frances

    • Pauline says:

      Glad you and your birds like Pampas grass Frances. Usually, when we eventually cut the plumes down, when they are so battered by the winter wind, we just leave them at the back of the border, by the hedge, for the wildlife to use. Just a month or so later. we find bits of the plumes being taken to line the bird’s nests – the chicks must be nice and cosy!

  8. Not sure what my garden is doing because we had a frost last night and I haven’t been out. Your flowers are beautiful and that first rose looks like spring.

    • Pauline says:

      Still waiting for our first frost Carolyn, it has been forcast, but so far hasn’t materialised, so the plants keep flowering a bit longer. The garden is on borrowed time however, and one day soon all the flowers will be over.

  9. re Pampas grass, I leave mine until late winter/early spring also the loveage and fennel, then cut and leave somewhere in the garden, I read once that little things like to over winter in the hollow stems and it said when you cut the stems leave them where the little creatures can get out, I like the idea of birds lining their nests, so pampas grass is a good friendly to nature plant to have in the garden, Frances

    • Pauline says:

      Thanks for coming back Frances, it would seem that Pampas grass is even more wildlife friendly than I thought – we will have to start a Pampas Appreciation Society !

  10. catmint says:

    so many wonderful flowers, and flowers that I have too despite our different climates. I hope they hang on for you a bit longer, then you can keep them in your mind and on photos till the end of winter.

    • Pauline says:

      Looking forward to seeing all your southern hemisphere flowers Catmint, as ours wind down after a long summer. It will be lovely to see all the colour in your garden while we are all looking at very brown gardens over the winter. The wind has changed today from the warm southerly wind coming from Africa to the cold east wind from Siberia !

  11. Alberto says:

    Pauline, I nearly lost this beautiful post of yours! Late but sure, here I am!
    You have so much flowers in your garden! I especially enjoyed rosa bonica, which I didn’t know and rosa Ballerina, which I know since long time ago, always reliable!

    Anyway what’s your secret with stipa gigantea? I love it too, I have a plant that grows but only produces one (yes one) flower a year… I like the spot where you placed it too, it’s perfect!

    • Pauline says:

      Glad you found us again Alberto. Rosa Bonica is such a good long flowering rose – it started at the beginning of June and hasn’t stopped yet and it is now Nov 8th.
      I think I’m lucky that Stipa gigantea seems to like my heavy clay soil – the soil was improved when it was planted but apart from that, nothing special has been done for it. The plant must be at least 10 yrs old by now and never fails to impress me each year with its beautiful flowers, stunning with the sun shining through them, hope yours soon grows for you.

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