Gardening in Pennsylvania ~ GBBD Sept 2012

Pink Dahlia with Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost' in our Front Walk Garden.

Welcome to Pennsylvania in September! My garden has definitely perked up for fall. We finally had a normal amount of rain for the month, which is the first month since last year. The plants are putting on new growth, looking greener and flowering a bit more. Here are some highlights from around our two-tenths of an acre at Gilmore Gardens.

Our Front Walk is all in pink and white this year, which I like as a change from the fiery reds of last year. I bought a mix of pink Dahlias and started them in pots in April. They were planted out into this garden after the big bloom of poppies, allium and catmint died down in July.

The beauty of pink Japanese Anemones in the setting sun this September. This is one of the flowers that I can't wait to see each fall! And they improve in size and bloom every year.

Here is a view so that you can see just how close we are to the corner! There is a four-way stop just beside our garden. The annual Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost' has added a white carpet backdrop underneath the taller flowers. The elephant ears, Colocasias, were also planted in July. They add some bold foliage to this otherwise finely-textured planting.

A few remaining stalks of variegated loosestrife, Lysimachia punctata 'Alexander', fill out the middle height. Its foliage is always a welcome accent in this area.

White-flowering Liriope 'Alba' is just starting in the Front Woodland, which is the large curb strip planting at the very front our property. I also have the purple-flowering and the variegated form of Liriope in this garden, but I always look forward to seeing the white flowers in September. Liriope is happy with the dry, part sun conditions in this area under two mature maple trees.

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In the Shade Path Garden for fall, the red Begonia 'Dragon Wings' is still going strong, along annual Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost' and a few New Guinea Impatiens. 

One of the first plants at the edge of this garden is Sedum 'Frosty Morn'. It gets a lot of sun early in the day, and is still in bud since it was pruned down by half at the beginning of June. This herbaceous pruning helps to keep it from flopping later on, as most taller sedums are prone to do. It also helps delay the blooms til later in the fall season, which keeps the garden interesting a couple of weeks longer. Frosty Morn makes a great combination here with the red Begonia 'Dragon Wings', Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost' and Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola').

The white froth of native aster (Doellingeria unbellata) is just starting down the length of the Shade Path. Last fall, I planted more Sedum 'Frosty Morn' to add some white variegation to this very dry, very shady garden. They look wonderful with the asters...

... and with the variegated Solomon's seal (Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum') that I brought back from visiting Carolyn's garden in April.

Sedum 'Autumn Joy' is just blushing around the Circle Lawn.

The tropical Mandeville vine is just a great addition to follow up Clematis 'Nelly Moser', that bloomed in May. I only regret that I planted the Mandeville in August this year instead of in June. Its pink blooms are echoing the Sedum 'Autumn Joy' behind it.

One more nice combination around the Circle Lawn: a blue butterfly bush (Buddleia), Sedum 'Frosty Morn' (again) and the floating seed-heads of Northern sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium). The latter is also known as Woodoats, Inland sea oats or River oats.

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In the Driveway Garden, the dwarf Miscanthus 'Dixieland' is still making a splash with purple Geranium 'Rozanne' and orange California poppies (Eschscholzia californica).

Orange California poppies, Eschscholzia californica, are an easy annual to grow from seed. Once you plant them, you may see a few that re-seed from past years too. Miscanthus sinensis 'Dixieland' is so valuable for its white variegated leaves. Its smaller size, 3 feet tall by 3 feet wide, makes it easy to fit into my smaller garden.

Large-flowered hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos 'Pink Elephant') was definitely the star of the summer, and is still blooming. Nearly every driver who stopped in the driveway exclaimed, "What is that?!?"

Coreopsis 'Moonbeam' putting on a second flush after its "hair cut" in early August. It is an incredible easy care, sun-loving perennial.

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The Hill Garden is last, but it really is the first garden that visitors see as they pull up to our old house. It has been full of flowers since March this year.

Silvery lamb's ears (Stachys byzantine) are holding their ground, though they were beaten back severely in July. Once their blooms are spent, I cut them down. Then the plant renews its foliage, giving it a fresher look for the rest of the year.

White Allium tuberosum is another one of my fall favorites. I have seeded it throughout the Hill Garden to give it a lift in color at this time.... and the pollinators love it!

White, silver and purple... a nice color combination with Allium tuberosum.

I like how the domes of Allium echo the shape of the Sedum 'Autumn Joy', which is also in the Hill Garden. Rosa 'The Fairy' is re-blooming for the fall on the far left. The purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is finishing off on the top of the Hill, but is still valuable for its seed heads.

Along the back fence is one more gem, purple meadow rue (Thalictrum delavayi 'Splendide'), blooming along with Hydrangea 'Limelight'.

I am linking up to the flower party at Carol's May Dreams for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day for September.

Happy Fall to everyone in the North!
(And Spring to everyone in the South!)