End of Summer Blooms

Well I've had a fairly good weekend and even went to a local regional fair on Sunday.  I didn't take the camera, and to be honest, the fair was rather sparse in entries of livestock, crafts ... everything! When I used to go to our fair in Milton as a kid, there were always lots of livestock being judged.  I wonder if that fair has declined over the years as well.  The lack of entries in the crafts (and particularly knitting) made me think about entering a scarf or something next year.  When I got home I checked out the different categories.  It would be kind of fun to get a ribbon, but I had to laugh that they offered prize money of $3 for first prize in knitting!!  

The weather has been beautiful here in southern Ontario, nice clear blue skies, warm temperatures and a cooling breeze.  Hot in the sunshine, but cool in the shade.  I love it!  There are still a few tough plants hanging in there in my garden, but overall things are drying out despite regular watering.  I guess it's getting a bit too cool overnight to keep them at their best now.  

The Scotch harebells seed themselves down, and although I tried ripping them out one year because they were getting everywhere, I changed my mind when they came up again as they're quite pretty and fairly rugged despite their delicate stems and flowers.  This summer I encouraged them to grow in a spot behind the grasses on the patio side and they've done really well and are so sweet :)

Scotch Harebells

This delicate flower (below) had gotten lost in the front garden, so in a sudden fit of inspiration I transplanted it to my patio garden last week.  I think it's going to do great beside the harebells and will drape nicely over the wall with the tall grasses behind it.

The black-eyed Susans last so long, and I love their sunny faces when so many other flowers have finished.  I had a bunch of daisies growing behind them, but I've finally admitted that I don't really like daisies and will be digging them all out.  The blooms don't last very long, and then within a few short days I'm left with ugly shriveled brown flower heads which I spend too much time snipping off. 

I still have to split the few remaining iris I now have, but I'm just a little worried I've left it too late. I've been quite disappointed that so many of them have rotted into nothing this summer, but hopefully some of them will come back next year.  I would hate to lose them as they are my prize flowers in the springtime!

Along with the black-eyed Susans are the turtleheads, another pretty late blooming flower.  They've done quite well over the years and now in late summer the bees are just swarming over this flower bed (below).

Turtlehead

The grasses around the pond have really filled in well this summer, and now they're finishing up with various beautiful plumes.  They just shimmer in the breezes and sound so nice with the wind rustling through them.  I'd like to get some more grasses next year, but have to think about where I can put them.  Making up my mind about where to place flowers is the biggest challenge I have with gardening.  I'm horrible at making a decision about most things, and I could sit and look at my garden for hours and still not come up with solutions to plant location.

So the gardening season here is coming to an end.  I'm not looking forward to winter this year, and for the first time ever I'm even dreading seeing the leaves change on the trees .... just one step closer.  We have a camping trip coming up to admire the beautiful autumn colours north of us where the trees turn earlier.  Maybe that will help us ease into the short dark days.

Here's a little snippet of what will be awaiting us ...