A Weekend Off

Above is sweet Autumn clematis (Clematis terniflora) that explodes with small white, fragrant blooms in mid-September and blooms well in to early October. The specimen above is about 8 years old and is cut down every winter to 6". The new growth will engulf an arbor or other support and the real show begins later in the year. This is one of my favorite clematis'. With the plant sale over, it will be nice to get the weekend off. I had planned on plenty of gardening at home but the forecast looks rainy. Ugh. See below for a close-up of the exquisite blooms of the sweet Autumn clematis (you can almost smell it!).
We had some drizzle this morning but have been able to work thru most of the day. Terry and Marv helped Dr. Yahr with some work near the wishing well garden and have shifted to garden clean-up in advance of some weddings this afternoon and tomorrow. Marianne helped put away plant sale "stuff" and had been able to spend a good portion of the day in front of the building in the garden area that she has maintained nicely since May. Janice pushmowed and worked on various tidying projects. Kay came in and helped Marianne inside while it drizzled then went out later to tidy up our flower beds east of the building. Her tidying skills are matched by very few. Dr. Gredler and Dr. Yahr were here as well and Kristine is coming later to hopefully do some wedding before the rain falls. Directly below are the seed capsules of another castor bean (Ricinus communis) called 'Zanzibariensis'. This monster normally gets 12-15' tall but was stunted this year with the lack of heat. A previous blog showed the pink capsules of 'Carmencita Pink'. The capsules below, while green, will turn brown in October, split, and drop seeds. We sometimes get castor beans coming up in the gardens for those seeds that make it thru winter. We prefer to collect the seeds (remember, very poisonous) and put them in the crisper drawer of the fridge. The next picture downs shows the ongoing construction of a shoreline bed in the wishing well garden (almost complete) that will offer lots of color along the West edge of that space. The bottom photo shows the arched bridge in the distance with variegated maiden grass in the foreground (Miscanthus sinensis 'Dixieland').