Its not over until the Asters Falter
The parched trees rustle in the infrequent breeze. Our beloved lawns may look like we have hosted a festival, scorched barren and brown. We pray for rain (when this was written).
Hydrangeas gasp for a final drink and the swifts swoop low at dusk to feast on the abundance of insects disturbed by harvest. Summer is coming to a close.
As the flowers begin to fade, yellows and reds of dying leaves catch the evening light. Late summer colour flourishes. The ever-changing warm south-westerly wind keeps us on our toes.
Each season we see rising temperatures and such variance in the climate. These are a few favourites to ensure your garden has some end of summer colour and texture next year.
Rudbeckia: A beautiful Rudbeckiahirta, Amarillo Gold boasts a compact form and uniform habit perfect for landscapes, bedding, and containers.
Yarrow: We love the colourful choices of this super tough plant. Available in sunset colours, pinks and white, yarrow is also deer and mole resistant and makes a long-lasting cut flower.
Echinacea: Echinacea is typically purple or white, but newer varieties of orange and yellow are beginning to become popular. Echinacea ‘Green Twister’ is an excellent cut flower and attracts so many butterflies.
Ornamental Grasses: Crisp golden browns and greens. Their seed heads shimmer in the golden sunlight and the gentle sway of their stems add a magical element to any landscape. My favourite is Stipagigantea (golden oats)
Sedum: There are a wide variety of sedums, most begin to bloom late summer. Bloom colours vary from pink to yellow and white. Best to use sedums as ground covers, in rock gardens or pot. Taller varieties like ‘autumn joy’ really pack a late season colour punch, especially when planted in masses. Pollinating insects love sedums as a late-season pollen source.
Russian Sage: Drifts of soft purple spikes and grey foliage make Russian Sage a late summer standout. It thrives in hot sun and is drought-tolerant once established.
Helenium: Featuring daisy-like flowers in warm tones of red, orange, and yellow, helenium can be anywhere from 1-3 feet tall. Its long stems make it a wonderful flower to cut and take indoors.
Aster: These are punchy and colourful. Cut back asters to half their height in late June to encourage fuller plants with more flowers. This is one of the last to leave the party.
Stamford averaged 20’c + for July – August this year. In stark contrast, it was 17’c only five years ago. We can dispute figures but have to agree its getting hotter. We must adapt and explore some drought-tolerant late flowering plants as mentioned above. This way we can all ensure some late summer colour whatever the weather.
There are a few more socially distanced barbeques in us yet though 🙂
Ed x hello@hayneshorticulture.co.uk