Usually I travel some place warm during this time of the year but the virus has changed my plans. Luckily the autumn has been exceptionally warm up here in the north.
Panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) have bloomed but I managed to take few pictures when visiting the summer cottage nearly two months ago.
Also bought a new variety for my dad in the spring with bigger blooms than the ones we currently have.
I still have few pictures left on my phone from the summer. It was actually not that good year for the sunflowers but Sunspots (Helianthus annuus ‘Sunspot’) made it.
For a sunflower Sunspot is a short one but the blooms are big, nearly the size of a tall ones.
It is a bit shame that they bloomed late and there is no hope for harvesting any seeds for the next year.
The Giant Sungolds (Helianthus annuus ‘Giant Sungold’) finally started to bloom.
It was not a good year for sunflowers. The spring was cold and that caused a slow start. Therefore there was not enough time to grow. Which is unfortunately quite usual up here in the north.
Luckily the Giant Sungolds seem to be able to open their first and largest blooms just before the first frost.
They are almost three meters tall and look so good.
The Elkes (Geranium sanguineum ‘Elke’) have been blooming all summer.
I like the bright color of the blooms which stand out nicely. They are though a bit sensitive when it comes to rain but new blooms emerge quickly to replace the damaged ones.
The variety seems to be very suitable for the area and does not require much attention. Some of the plants have survived in a sandy soil without any additional nutrients or care.
Up here in the north days are getting shorter and cooler. Luckily the weather has been nice — not too much rain and some sunshine.
The Fall Phloxes (Phlox paniculata) are blooming. The white ones always start followed by the other colors.
Next year I will try to find more varieties to have more colors.
The Monkshood (Aconitum × stoerkianum) is doing well this summer. It is one of those old flowers that have been grown up here in the north for a long time.
The bumblebees adore the flowers and there is constant buzz among the plants.
Monkshoods protect themselves with a cocktail of poison though. The whole plant is poisonous and a small dose of the root is enough to kill you. In other words not a suitable plant if you have small children playing in the garden.
It has been awhile since I have had any Cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) growing.
It is a native plant for the region and I remember it from the childhood.
Nowadays you can have it in several different colors but the blue one is the original color.
I did not plant any Corn Marigolds (Glepionis segetum) this spring put to my surprise I have plenty of them.
It seems that they had self-seeded last year and decided to grow well during the summer.
Well let’s see what happens next year. Will they be able to self-seed two years in a row.
Garden Tree-mallow (Lavatera thuringiaca) is one of the reliable bloomers.
It does well up here in the north but does need beanpoles when in full height.
When it is blooming it is good time to start collecting some seeds for the next spring. The aquilegia, lupine and poppy seeds are now ready to be harvested.
Planted some Siberian Poppy seeds (Papaver bracteatum) last year and now they are blooming nicely.
Have been having them for the past ten years.
The blooms are colored white, yellow, or orange.
