Well, I'm about as late as can be in getting this posted, but in the end I just couldn't let this week go. We are now officially 'abnormally dry' in my central Ohio zone 6b garden, after receiving only 0.75" of rain in August and only 0.17" so far in September with no rain in the forecast. The garden definitely looks parched, but a few things are still blooming thanks to supplemental watering.
The star of this week is my Otto's Thrill Dahlia, which is finally blooming. She's not only the biggest dahlia I have, but she's also the prettiest. Unfortunately, the deer must find her tasty because they chomped all but this stem back in July so I don't know if I'll have more than the two buds that grew on it.
This delightful sky blue aster (Symphyotrichum oolentangiense) is starting to bloom and has me plotting to add more asters next year.
I have been thrilled to have lots of butterfly visitors in the garden lately and even hosted 9 black swallowtail caterpillars at one point. This painted lady was enjoying the zinnias which are another bright spot in my dry fall garden.
I've also had some monarch caterpillars even though my milkweed is in a very sorry state indeed. And for the first time ever I've spotted some chrysalises, including this one. I am keeping a close watch and hope it makes it.
Some consider mallow a weed, but it's pretty and not aggressive so it's more than welcome here.
I am less sure about this white snakeroot (ageratina altissima). It's suddenly appeared everywhere in my garden this year and is renowned for killing many via milk sickness in the pioneer days. It appears to be quite the prolific self-seeder. I've pulled it from many parts of the garden, but it's filling some spots that would otherwise be bare so I'm letting it stay for now. Luckily there are no cattle anywhere in the vicinity to worry out.
That's my six this week. Visit Garden Ruminations to see what's happening in other gardens around the world.
