Late Summer Blooms

This was the hottest summer on record for Bridgeport, and it was also very, very dry. We had no water source and the plants struggled to survive. This Hardy Ageratum, though, not only survived, but thrived.

The New England Asters are just starting to open up. Their native blooms are a vivid deep purple. They went to seed last year and popped up all over the garden this spring.

The Garden no longer has that masses of blooms it had earlier in the year. But if you look around, you'll see blooms here and there. Above is a Harebell, still blooming after months of drought.

The Sneezeweed is just starting to bloom. It was cut back early because it was getting too tall.


Ahhh, that's really just a weed. Goldenrod.

The Jerusalem Artichoke is also still blooming, although the blooms are so high up they're hard to see (about 7 feet high).

One of the Black-Eyed Susans, Rudbeckia fulgida.

I think this is Purple Giant Hyssop, a hitchhiker on some purchased natives. Whatever it is, it went to seed and popped up in various places this year.

Here's a cluster of immature Large Milkweed Bugs. That's their real name. They were on the Butterfly Weed, which is related to Milkweed.

Purple Coneflower, still hanging on.

Blanket Flower. After a deep rain about two weeds ago, it put out a handful of new blooms.

The other Black-Eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta.

White Wood Asters, although not very flashy, can be counted on in those super-dry shady areas.

Here's a Monarch Caterpillar on the Butterfly Weed, bypassing the Milkweed which is right behind it.