What is it about this time of year? Retailers are shouting Fall, most of my garden communications are promoting Fall practices. Let’s slow down and enjoy these waning days of summer in the garden. Here in the North Country, our summers are rather short and winter arrives all too soon. Besides, I have worked all season to enjoy the fruits of my garden labors…so why not enjoy the beauty of my late summer garden now!
If you have followed my common sense garden practices this year, the weeds should be at a minimum, there is still a wide variety of blooms, colors, textures and the visiting wildlife that make for spectacular viewing. I grabbed a cup of coffee one morning and sat out in my garden to enjoy the show!
The rain this season has delivered brilliant as well as abundant blooms. My Daylilies are still blooming. The red variety is spectacular. 
A week ago I discovered a beautiful lavender variety I don’t recall planting! Coneflowers, Black-eyed Susans. Moonbeam Coreopsis, Rocket Ligularia, along with my Lavender continue to offer interesting texture and color displays. Sedum varieties such as Autumn Joy, Purple Palace, Razzle Dazzle and Cherry Tart are just reaching their color peaks. I am watching my Pinky Winky and Pee Gee hydrangeas slowly transition from white , to light pink to darker shades of pink and red.
If you think tremendous fragrance exists exclusively in Spring blossoms…think again! My Summersweet shrub has a strong and lasting scent. Planted just outside my kitchen window I enjoy the fragrance every time I work at the kitchen sink! Hydrangeas, gracing my walkways provide a light scent as I pass by each day. When the wind blows, my tall phlox give off a sweet scent.
Visiting wildlife to the late summer garden is quite a show. Children will especially find this a great time to be in the garden. Late summer garden excursions are a great adventure before starting school next month. The hummingbirds continue to visit my Butterfly bush, late white flowers of the Hostas, Cardinal Flower and Trumpet vine. Butterflies and moths dart from bloom to bloom on my tall Phlox, Sunflowers, Coneflowers, Lavender, Coralbelles and Herbs. The bees are still working steadily among all my flower beds.
Lets not rush into the next season, when we can enjoy all that our late summer garden has to offer before our North County changes colors and season.
As always….making common sense and sustainability a part of all my garden practices!
Upcoming workshop: The Magic of Fairy Gardens Saratoga Springs City School District Continuing Education, Tuesday September 26. For more information: www.saratogaschools.org/ceregistration
