September is the most beautiful month in my garden, with October a close second, and one of the reasons is all of the butterflies and moths. They capture my imagination and draw me out into the garden every day. This post is for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day hosted by Carol Michel each month. Thank you, Carol!
I often write about butterflies in September. [Click on the photos in the galleries to make them larger.]
I’ve been in love with Gregg’s mistflower, Conoclinium greggii, all summer. I love its leaves, and I appreciate its blue flowers that bring in Queen butterflies. Before planting it, I didn’t have so many. The Queen is a Monarch mimic, and so is the Viceroy. I saw a Monarch, a Queen, and a Viceroy all in the same border yesterday. I couldn’t get a photo of the Viceroy quick enough. They can be quite skittery.
“September tries its best to have us forget summer.”
Bernard Williams
If I could entice you to plant Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ I would. If you deadhead it in summer, it will produce a whole new crop of flowers. It almost can’t be beaten for attracting all pollinators, and it’s a pretty blue besides. It likes sandy soil, not clay.
“And then the sun took a step back, the leaves lulled themselves to sleep, and autumn was awakened.”
Raquel Franco
Porterweed, or false vervain, Stachytarpheta hyb., in all its iterations is a great plant for butterflies. I have this purple one in the border next to my kitchen door, but I also planted ‘Nectarwand Red’ in my garden facing the street. It really brings in butterflies and hummingbirds. My last post was ten plants to attract hummingbirds.
“September! I never tire of turning it over and over in my mind. It has warmth, depth, and colour. It glows like old amber.”
Patience Strong
All of the various Phlox paniculata are starting to look a little rough around the edges, but they are still feeding pollinators. I love their long-blooming flowers that often feature in three months of bloom days. Next spring, if you live nearby, write me, and I’ll share some of my phlox with you. I always pull out some of it because it spreads, but I’ve never had anyone who didn’t love this plant. I have three or four varieties, but I love ‘John Fanick,’ ‘Bright Eyes’ and my passalong pink the best.
Carol and I have a new podcast episode today reminding all of us to take time to watch the butterflies.
“Ah, September! You are the doorway to the season that awakens my soul.”
Peggy Toney Horton
Well, that’s pretty much it for Bloom Day. I hope you enjoyed the quotes and photos of flowers, butterflies, bees, and my single hummingbird. If you’d like to read this month’s newsletter about making Hell cozy, here you go. In spite of the beautiful photos, this was not an easy gardening year. Don’t worry, the newsletter will make you laugh.
I’m off to refresh my containers for fall, and to plant a few pansies and violas I bought today. I hope you’re all happy and healthy.
Hi Dee, Thanks for sharing your beautiful butterfly photos. The butterflies that visit my garden here in New Zealand are; monarchs, cabbage whites and common blues. Spring is here now and I am looking forward to seeing the butterflies come back soon. Now I am off to look at more of your delightful blog. Hugs, Rose x
Thank you Rose! Enjoy spring!~~Dee
It has been an amazing butterfly year. Your photo are beautiful. I loved the post.
Hi Becky, and thank you so much!~~Dee
Beautiful, inspiring post! I am building a new garden bed and will be including some of the plants you suggest for butterflies and hummingbirds! Don’t live that far and may take you up on your offer for phlox. I also love your September quotes?
Beautiful, inspiring post! I am building a new garden bed and will be including some of the plants you suggest for butterflies and hummingbirds! Don’t live that far and may take you up on your offer for phlox. I also love your September quotes?
Hi Jeannie, you are so welcome to come and get phlox next spring. I’ll be posting around when I divide it. Carol Michel and I found the September quotes for our podcast which we’ll record next week. It was her idea to include them in my Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day post. Thank you so much for reading.~~Dee
Please share the name of the partial shade aster! I am 2/3 shade and need Fall color. Thanks, Dee. I LOVE your blog! Tulsa gardener.
Hi Laura, I didn’t know the name. I’d lost the tag. However, I went to Bustani Plant Farm and found the tag there. Lucky you and me! It’s Pink Star heath aster. According to Steve Owens’ sign, it was bred in Holland. Hope you can find it! BTW, a lot of heat asters will grow and bloom in partial shade.
Dee – what a beautiful post – with all those beautiful butterflies. You are not only a great gardener, you are a great photographer.
Hi Pat, thank you so very much. My camera makes me a good photographer. It’s such a joy to sit or stand out in the garden and try to get photos of these winged beauties. It takes me away from all the sadness in the world.
Boy Dee, I follow your posts and have heard each time you have told us about one of the episodes that has occurred this past year. But when you listed all of them in this blog it really hit me with how much you and Oklahoma have been through this year! You have had a tough year in the garden! But then the butterflies came and I’m so glad they did! Think I will try Agastache and more Phlox next year. Enjoying your insights, June
Hi June, yes, I thought discussing resiliency in the newsletter this month was a great idea. It has been a challenging year in the garden, but you’d never know it from looking at the garden right now. It is beautiful, and I’m so grateful to live on this land where I can help the pollinators. 🙂
Oh, gorgeous, Dee. 🙂 September and October are nifty here, too. The months I’d really rather be in your garden are December, January, and February. 😉
Beth, oh girl, you do not want to be here in December or January. Now, February can be quite nice sometimes, but I definitely have four seasons. You might want to read the newsletter. Living in a prairie climate can be very harsh. One year, I had to go to Madison in January, and it was 1°F. It was the same temperature in Oklahoma that week. Those nasty cold fronts you know?
Butterflies are queens in my garden, even though real Queens don’t come this far north. Thanks for sharing all these beauties with me. So much love!
Hi Robin, after your comment, I had to go look at the Queen’s range. Honestly, this is pretty far north for them. They are such an interesting butterfly. I love how nature creates these mimics to protect a species. Fascinating stuff. ~~Dee