September. We slip further into chaos. When I say “we” I mean “I”. I am torn between the annual optimistic expectation of an Indian Summer which is running parallel to the dread of a looming winter. I have never been one to embrace autumn. I really should try harder. September. Just a date. The garden has reached the “every plant for themselves” stage. I have reached the “get on with it and I’ll tidy later” stage. It all feel a little out of control. Welcome to my world. Six on Saturday is a chance to compare notes and console or congratulate our fellow SoSers. Pop over to Jim, King of the SoS, and all will be revealed. Shall we get on, it’s nearly Christmas!
The New Bed of Anarchy is living up to its name. Most are playing quite nicely, but there are a few bullies that will need a firm hand in the near future. You know who you are and I’m coming for you!
Surprisingly, and joyfully, this Salvia patens over-wintered outside. I have taken a couple of cuttings, which seem to have taken, so I may risk it again. Surely, it can’t be harsher than last year? Stranger things have been happening.
Hedychium ‘Tara Seedling’ is flowering well this year, after a short sabbatical. It is stuck at the back of the NBoA, sandwiched between Bidens ‘Hannay’s Lemon Drop’ and Salvia uliginosa, both aiming for border domination. With a little help from its friend who pulls at both thugs on a regular basis, it is holding its own. And very beautifully so.
Another late flowering lovely is this Helenium ‘Red Shades’, which in reality is more orange/yellow than red, but there are no complaints here.
Earlier in the year, Jim mentioned that he was questioning growing impatiens as they desperately struggled through the dry spring, which seems to have become the norm. At the time I nodded in painful agreement, possibly with tears running down my cheeks. Then the rain arrived, I moaned and winged and the impatiens thrived and bloomed and bloomed. This photo of Impatiens stenantha was taken in its beloved mizzle. It can stay.
There are two things that you shouldn’t put onto compost heaps, unless the pile is a mile high and reaches sweltering temperatures, these are: roots of perennial weeds and seed heads. This year I planted out four sunflowers, which were carefully tended and nurtured. About the garden, at least another ten are flourishing, in pot and border, in fact everywhere some garden compost has been cast. Ever the consummate professional.
That’s your lot, another six, another Saturday. If any accidents befall you, may they all be happy ones. Like the sunflowers.
Off The Edge Gardening 
I love all of your six this week, such fabulous bright colours and those heleniums are a triumph! There is a great deal in your writing this week that I sympathise with, too 😊 Fingers crossed for that Indian summer, eh?!
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Thank you, yes I am pleased with the helenium and of course they look even more beautiful wet from the rain (again). Fingers crossed here too!
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I wanted to feature salvia but it’s very difficult to take good photos and I must say that yours is really very good! I’ll try again next week. Your heleniums are superb and are part of the plants to plant next summer in these colours
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Thanks Fred, I find the cerise pinks very difficult to capture.
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Self-seeded sunflowers are the only ones that grow on my garden. They seem to evade the slugs and snails 🐌🐌🐌🐌
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Survival of the fittest, it makes me happy. Perhaps when we are all gone the sunflowers will take over. Now that would be a fine sight.
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I would be quite content to have that Helenium ‘Red Shades’ to contemplate, quite perfect you must have sat there killing off every slug that approached.
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The S&S have yet to find us in numbers. I realise that won’t last!
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Just what I was thinking this morning as I hunted out six photos. You inspired me! Lovely colours in your post.
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That makes me feel good, thank you.
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Every plant for themselves! Love It😉 I have a host of self seed sunflowers too, but all’s well, they brighten my day.
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It seems to have been a great year for sunflowers, which can only be a great thing.
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Oh, you didn’t really say that, did you? ‘Nearly Christmas’! 😁 Actually, when I think about it I expect when I go shopping – anywhere – I’ll be accosted with Christmas Cards, trees, decorations and gift ideas!
The New Bed of Anarchy is looking rather lovely, it is colourful and (at the moment) each plant seems to have its own space. I call that a winner.
You’ve reminded me that I need to take some salvia cuttings – and others – to cut down on the cost of restocking after winter. The heleniums too, are gorgeous, what a great variety of colours in each flower.
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Don’t tell anyone, but I have already bought a couple of pressies. Which makes me suspicious that the universe is preparing me for some sort of calamity. Thank you, I wonder if I have enough cuttings ……
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What is it about me and Heleniums? They just do not grow. I have one surviving plant and it was pathetic this year with only two stems! What’s the secret? Your borders are looking terrific considering how young the garden is.
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I think everyone has their Achilles heal. I would suggest pretending that you really, really don’t want to grow heleniums. That make help. Thanks x
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Did you really just use the ‘C’ word? Blimey! Although I did but some silver tinsel in Wilko’s closing down sale today. It’s hard to believe you only moved to your new garden a year or so ago – it’s looking lovely and such a variety of plants and colours. The blue of that Salvia is wonderful.
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Sorry, I won’t do it again for at least another month. Thank you, although it will be 2 years in October, but I am pleased with progress. 🙂
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Your world is my world, a little out of control. It concerns me (I’m envious) that you should have a seedling of ‘Tara’ that is looking a lot better than the thing I was sold as clonal ‘Tara’. They couldn’t have lied to me, surely! My Impatiens stenantha yielded me about ten seeds this morning, which the unrealistic optimist in me says might just throw up something interesting.
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Tara seedling has a very long story behind her which includes the late, great Mr Schilling. Looking forward to seeing your new impatiens cultivar!
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Oh no, don’t mention the “C” word! I’m sure garden centres are already sorting out their winter displays but, like you, I want to hang on to summer as long as possible.
Beautiful pictures this week, I love the heleniums in particular.
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I know, I shouldn’t have done it, it just slipped out! And thanks 🙂
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Think I’ll throw my sunflower heads on the compost heap, as the ones I nurtured from seed haven’t done well at all! Same with tomatoes…
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It has been a funny old year, the great thing about gardening is that there is always another one coming along, hopefully!
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Is ‘Tara Seedling’ a seedling from ‘Tara’, or is that its cultivar name? Hedychium is rad regardless. I am impressed by its popularity in other regions. I do not know how many species there are. I grow only three so far. I consider them to be popular in California though, rather than elsewhere.
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It is a seedling from seed that I collected from Tara. I think they are rad too! And not as tender as many think.
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Gorgeous Heleniums and your Bed of Anarchy is indeed a piece of natural serendipity! ❤
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Thank you 🙂
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Super selection and so colourful! Your salvia , hedychium and helenium are all stunning, so tempting to buy them all for next year.
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SoS is such a bad influence, every week my head is turned by another lovely!
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Thank-you for your cheerful plant anecdotes. September here is so far so good.
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You are very welcome, would be lovely to visit you and your wonderful garden again.
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I greatly enjoy the anarchy stage, for some reason. It’s just entertaining to watch. As are your posts! I have several accidental sunflowers too, and rather like how they’re brightening up the otherwise aggressively green jungle that is the veg patch.
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I do agree, a last horrah before autumn sets in. And thank you. 🙂
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Accidental sunflowers, how marvellous!
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They are, but really getting battered at the moment, not sure they will be upright by the end of the day. 😦
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