Today I’m sharing a photo and video collage of what’s blooming in my zone 7, Southern New Jersey garden. I’m doing this to encourage you to do the same and find the good in your garden — after a season of heat, humidity, tropical storms, floods and whatever else Mother Nature has thrown at us this year!
Are you finding the good in your garden right now? I am!
I filmed a video recently — which you can watch at the bottom of this article — where I purposely shared what was blooming *up close* versus filming my gardens as a whole.
This time of year is when most of our gardens may have seen better days. Annuals are fading, some perennials are going dormant already. But there is still beauty to behold. It’s about finding the good in your garden.
Below I’m sharing some of my favorites that I found when seeking out the good in my garden. Sometimes just noticing the pretty needle color on an evergreen is enough to remind me that the gardens continue to grow, continue to evolve. And that I’m doing just fine with my gardens.
A garden challenge for you!
After you look at my favorites, I’d love for you to watch the video in which I share even more with you. Then, I want you to walk around your own garden and find the beauty. Find the good in the garden.
Leave me a comment and tell me at least one bit of garden positivity you’ve discovered. Let’s share our garden successes! We can leave the other garden stuff that frustrates us for another day!
Perennial Ageratum
I am totally in love with perennial Ageratum. Not only does it handle wetter spots in my gardens, but it blooms from August into October. I should say it “glows” rather than blooms! The periwinkle color lights up the garden, especially on cloudy days.
Annual Vinca
These pink flowers may look delicate, but they’ve survived quite a few tropical storms this Summer and barely lost a petal! Amazing! Although these flowers quickly showed me how they dislike the wetter gardens I have — by looking yellow and horrible — this particular patch of Vinca below have thrived in a dryer spot. As they are still blooming, these pretty flowers won’t get removed until they’re finished. I’m so thankful for this little patch of pink, which is more good in the garden.
Blue Salvia
I have a love-hate relationship with this Salvia because it blooms, then gets flattened by rainstorms, then I cut it back. It blooms again, gets flattened again. The cycle renews. But the bees love it, and so I keep it. And when I’m looking for what’s good in the garden, seeing those bees enjoying the flowers in the Fall is worth it!
False Cypress “Devon Cream”
This False Cypress “Devon Cream” is planted in a large barrel container near the front landscaping. Stopping to notice this gorgeous blue-green color is a must for me.
Totally Tangerine Geum
Although the Totally Tangerine Geum is finished blooming for the season, I’m left with these gorgeous green leaves. It’s so easy to get frustrated with perennials when they’re finished blooming. Most perennials don’t bloom all Summer like annuals do. But take a close look at the foliage on your perennials. You just might surprise yourself when you notice how pretty the leaves can be!
Sea Green Juniper
The Sea Green Juniper berries are so gorgeous in their sky-blue color right now. You have to kneel down and look closely to see them, but it’s worth it!
Little Lime Hydrangeas
One of the workhorse shrubs in our front landscaping are these three Little Lime Hydrangeas, which produce a long-running flower show from mid-Summer well into the Fall season. Right now, they are a beautiful mix of different colors, as they continue to turn pink. But there are still plenty of newer flowers that are pale lime and haven’t begun to change color yet!
Limelight Hydrangea Tree
In the backyard garden, our Limelight Hydrangea Tree looks much better than it did this time a year ago, after a tropical storm wrecked it. Just like the Little Limes I showed you above, our Limelight Tree continues putting out new pale lime flowers even as other flowers on the tree are turning pink with the cooler temperatures.
Russian Sage “Superba”
The Russian Sage is almost done for the season. Most of these flowers you see in the photo below are dry and will stay on the stems until I cut them back. This is the first year I planted this variety of Russian Sage. I found that it wanted to grow big and tall, but also responded well to being cut back a few times. The plant rebounded quickly with new flowers each time!
Rose of Sharon “Helene”
Helene Rose of Sharon is such a beautiful Rose of Sharon! It blooms its heart out as the Summer heat kicks in. And here it is still going strong in the Fall! The plant is definitely winding down, but I’m enjoying its final flowers of the season!
Japanese Anemone “Party Dress”
Japanese Anemone Party Dress flowers late-Summer into Fall. Only plant this perennial if you’re prepared to keep pulling it up where you don’t want it. Now that it’s become established in my garden, it has a tendency to spread like crazy each Summer. I love the flowers, so I keep pulling it out here and there. Fair warning for this pretty flower!
Sugar Shack Buttonbush
This is a buttonbush flower. I just planted these this year, and got to enjoy a flower already! So this one is special indeed! I can’t wait to see these shrubs covered with more flowers next year.
Video: Finding the Good in Your Garden
Your turn: Find the Good in Your Garden!
Now it’s your turn to take a walk around your own gardens and pay attention only to what is good, what is pretty, and what makes you smile! Then leave me a comment either here or in the comments section of my video (above) and tell me what you’ve found.
I look forward to celebrating your garden’s beauty with you!
Happy gardening!
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