September Flowers
Posted: September 26, 2022 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: abelmoschus moschatus, Amberique bean, Automatic Gardening, Cardinal Flower, Gulf Coast gardening, Mexican Sunflower, Southern Gardening, Subtropical Gardening, Tithonia, Year-round gardening, Zinnias 22 Comments
It is so nice to still have a yard full of flowers, especially after a vacation in the North where leaves were beginning to fall. Of course, the temperatures are in the 90s, but one can’t have it all. The Zinnias, that decided a better place to grow was in the driveway bed, are putting on a nice display over hot concrete.
I thinned out and cut back the Cardinal Flowers early in the season and they are putting on a very controlled presentation attracting the migrating hummingbirds.
The Amberique Bean I mentioned in a previous post as running amok is flowering like crazy. The tiny flowers are so sweet and make a good substitute for Sweet Peas that do not like our climate.
The Mexican Sunflowers or Tithonia have skyrocketed and are taller than me. This was the only flower I could photograph.
The Abelmoschus moschatus is an odd plant that blooms on and off all summer. It is related to hibiscus and each flower lasts for just one day. I have been trying to get a good grouping so it will look as if it is always blooming. I do have many more flowers in bloom, these are a few that caught my eye.
Automatic Gardening & Real Gluten Free Food 
Eye catching indeed!
It is really nice to have flowers nearly all year.
You don’t have to visit the dunes; you have Amberique bean in your garden! That’s one adaptable plant. I envy your Cardinal flower. I looked and looked in the place at San Bernard where I found it last year, but there’s no evidence of it. I suspect the drought. The zinnias always remind me of my grandmother’s gardens; they were one of her favorite cutting flowers.
The Amberiques grow in the woods here. It is tricky trying to find a spot that the Cardinal flower likes. I have only had success in one bed against the north side of the house.
I’ve only seen cardinal flowers in the wild. This is the first time I’ve heard of someone tending any. Are you aware of other people who cultivate them?
I believe so as I got the seeds at Mercer Botanical Garden years ago when they gave away free seeds at their plant sale. It took several tries to find a place the plant liked. It is in a bed next to the north side of my house. *Found a place to get seeds. https://www.selectseeds.com/Search/cardinal%20flower.aspx
Such pretty flowers. Lucky you! My garden is down to Autumn Joy sedum and some white phlox at this stage. But the hydrangea have turned light green or pink now and are lovely.
It is nice to have an extended season, but the bugs and weeds never go away.
That’s the downside to the tithonia, you can’t ever get a good photo! I lost my large plant, it was 13′ tall, but I have another one that is trying to replace it, though probably won’t reach the same height. Love the photos!
Thanks. It got really tall while I was away this summer.
Abelmoschus moschatus is a new one to me. It reminds me of one of our politicians, except unlike the politician, it makes me smile.
The zinnias are looking good! They finally picked their spot. Do you think the butterflies like the Tithonia better than zinnias?
I can’t see the zinnias from inside the house and watch the Tithonia more. I have butterflies as well as hummingbirds on them.
I need to try Tithonia…
I need to try to cut them early in their growth. They are way too tall.
Love zinnias, hardy plants they are. Enjoyed seeing what’s still growing in your yard.
Thank you. The Zinnia picked their spot.
Lovely to see what grows in your garden in early autumn. The tall Tithonia must be like landing pads for the butterflies etc. The last flower is gorgeous – such a pretty shade of pink. 😃
I have notice quite a few butterflies lately and the hummingbirds are fighting over flowers and feeders.
After rain in the north our flowers have come alive.
Absolutely very beautiful flowers! Autumn can still give us lovely flowers and colours, yours are amazing!
Thanks.