Over the weekend the temperature dropped down into the mid thirties at night so I started bringing in my tender plants. The greenhouse is almost full and soon my wife and I will start lugging the rest into the house. The hardest part is carrying the plants down into the basement where they are stored in the plant room until spring. Kathy keeps reminding me that going up and down the stairs is good exercise. It is always such a relief when the last plant is brought in.

Abelmoschus manihot

Growing over six feet tall this annual with hibiscus like flowers is a wonderful addition to the late summer garden. Abelmoschus manihot is actually a member of the okra family and is easy to grow in good soil with full sun. The flowers which last only a day are a beautiful pale yellow with a dark center. Every year I plant Abelmoschus manihot at our local public garden where I volunteer. They are planted in front of red leaved cannas which make a great backdrop for the flowers. The plants produce large amounts seed which are easily started indoors.

The weather has been warm and on the dry side over the past few weeks. The garden still looks great even though it is the middle of September. We usually don't get a killing frost here until early October which means a few more weeks to enjoy everything. I ordered bulbs this past weekend which should arrive in the next few weeks. Mostly tulips and minor bulbs to perk up the garden in Spring.

Late Summer Blooms

The garden is winding down and in a few weeks I will begin to bring in my tender plants. The "Tropicals" such as brugmansias, passion flowers and hibiscus continue to add color to the garden. I always mean to take cuttings but never seem to get to it so this means I end up lugging large containers into my basement for the winter. Some of the hardier plants end up in my small greenhouse off the garage which becomes my 'garden' for the winter.

Early morning

I love wandering around my garden early in the morning this time of year. It is still wet from last night's dew and takes longer to dry out this time of year. There is a certain beauty to a late summer garden that only gardeners can appreciate. The late blooming perennials tumble into each other mixing their fall colors while goldfinches pluck seeds from the coneflowers. I pause and enjoy these moments in my garden.

African Foxglove

Easy to grow but hard to find Ceratotheca triloba or African Foxglove is worth searching for. This annual preforms best in full sun where it can grow up to six feet. Blooming from mid-summer till fall African Foxglove is deer resistant and also attracts hummingbirds. Since it is hard to find at most garden centers(at least in my area) I grow African Foxglove from seed started inside in mid March.

The 'Tropical' Garden

A number of years ago I became a volunteer at a local public garden . Along with the perennial gardens was the "Triangle Bed" which sat in the middle of the paths. Before I came along this garden consisted of cannas surrounded by rows of the most basic of annuals- geraniums, petunias , marigolds, dusty miller and red salvia . The garden needed to be bolder since it was a focal point in the park. I decided to go with the exotic look and totally changed the way the garden had been planted for many years. The cannas were kept in the middle to form a backdrop for the other plants. A mix of annuals, tender perennials and tropicals gave the garden a whole new look. Some plants self sow such as the verbena bonariensis and I have added shrubs including Cotinus 'Golden Spirit and Sumac 'Tiger Eyes' for their foliage. The garden peaks in August and September before frost cuts it down in October.