This is a first for Connecticut. A Nor'easter before Halloween. The leaves are still on most of the trees. Hardy flowers are still blooming in the garden. My south-central CT gardens (zone 6a) just saw their first frost 24 hours ago.
Unusual weather remains the topic of conversation in our neck of the woods. We continue to have heavy rains and, after chilly early-month temperatures, we've had a revisit of summer-like heat and humidity. Fall foliage has yet to blast in with its usual color. Salty tropical storm rains from Irene turned many tree leaves brown causing an early leaf drop. Leaves that remained have been slow to turn and, so far, show less brilliant color than Connecticut-living leaf watchers expect.
If I had to choose one annual flower for a Best Of award this year gomphrena would be the hands down winner. Everyone who has entered my rear garden since June, when gomphrena (Gomphrena globosa) began blooming, until now, in October when it is in its glory, has commented on gomphrena's striking, fresh charm.
I think my gardens really get me. They seem to know how much their flowers brighten each day. The plants in my charge continue to bloom, continue to fight to survive the latest munching deer attack or the most recent undermining vole abuse. For the most part, except for one hydrangea and one buddleia, they stood strong when Irene blew her damaging winds this way. Now, with summer winding down to its final hours, my gardens have given me a birthday gift … my favorite flower in full-bloom at the end of summer.
Welcome to one of my Connecticut, zone 6a, gardens on this mid-September day. Today, being the 15th of the month, is when Carol at May Dreams Gardens hosts Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and people all over the world get to share and enjoy the garden glory of others.
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