A SONG OF SEPTEMBER

  

"Try to remember the kind of September

When life was slow and oh so mellow

Try to remember the kind of September

When grass was green and grain so yellow

Try to remember the kind of September

When you were a young and a callow fellow

Try to remember and if you remember

Then follow--follow, oh-oh." 

 In Chicago September was the beginning of the end of summer but here in Central N.C. it is still warm although the nights are getting cooler.  The ample rainfall of July has long past and it has been a long, dry, hot summer.

I have turned my attention to the neglected vegetable garden to prepare it for the Fall planting.  Tomatoes are long gone and all that remain is green peppers.  Below are seeds that I'm planting for cool season crops.  In addition I have also planted some collard greens.  I haven't been able to find my favorite savoy cabbage yet, but its a favorite.

In the perennial garden I've found some unusual flowers to add :  'matchstick' mum, long-blooming pink wood asters to go with my blues, aralia, brazilian verbena,  'goldrush' blackeyed susans, and more dianthus.  

I've tried to get coral bells to bloom in a semi-shady area but they just don't seem to like our southern heat.  Only one cultivar -'caramel ' has survived and thrived.  I love it's color.

I'm a middle child so giving up is not something I easily do -I'm on my third attempt to grow a gardenia, something that many other gardeners find very simple.   My local garden center advised that I try adding a bio-starter when planting and so far, fingers crossed, it seems to be working.   Hoping to see some blooms next season.

Onward and upward to Fall -the real Fall of the leaves and those of us  who rake them !