What an amazing fall we’ve had here in Minnesota. I just had to show you all these crazy Endless Summer Hydrangeas. They didn’t bloom at all in the summer, but started putting out tons of buds around the last week in September. We’re going to get a hard frost the next three nights, so I cut off the big heads of flowers and made a bouquet. The sad thing is there are about a dozen or more little buds that will get nipped by the frost. I’m thinking the reason they bloomed so late is that I pruned them to late this spring, except that Endless Summer hydrangeas bloom on new wood, so I’m stumped. Any ideas for me? By the way, I just read a good article on pruning at The Impatient Gardener blog. I love Erin’s no-nonsense style. Check it out when you have a minute or two.
In a vase.
In addition to the Endless Summer Hydrangeas still going strong, the flowers in my big window box that runs along our picture window in the front of our house are still going strong. The colors of these purple Supertunias and Marguerite Daisies are so intense. Since this is my first year having a window box, it will be interesting to see if the plants survive the frost, being that it’s under an overhang and close to the house. I didn’t even pull any plants out and decorate it for fall because it has looked so good.
Even thought these dahlias still look great, I pulled a few bunches of these pretty yellow dahlias to overwinter the bulbs. This pale yellow color is so intense and just pops.
I’ve been busy planting bulbs, cutting back perennials, digging up tender bulbs, pulling weeds and annuals, gathering seeds and getting the last few plants put in the ground. Nothing really photo worthy, but an important part of fall gardening. Are your gardens ready for winter? I will plant the rest of my bulbs and a few more shrubs this weekend, but that will be it for me. Goodbye pretty flowers, goodbye hydrangeas, go to sleep and happy winter.
Thanks a bunch for stopping by today. It’s been a great gardening season and fun to share it with my readers. Winter is a good time for us gardeners to learn and make plans for the next growing season. With that in mind, I will be sharing gardening posts over the winter months to help us get ready. Take a few minutes to have a look around and share some garden goodness on Pinterest or Facebook.
Have a blessed rest of your day,
Joanna
p.s. Go ahead and feel free to “pin” these pictures. If you hover in the upper right-hand corner of the picture, you’ll see the little Pinterest icon. Just click it and pin away.
p.p.s I’d love to have you follow me on Pinterest. Lots of great gardening ideas and tons of gardener’s eye candy.
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Jann Olson says
Those Hydrangeas are gorgeous! Color is gone in my garden already. We had our first frost a while ago. Hubby and I put all of our outdoor furniture away today getting ready for what comes next. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Cecilia says
Wow, Joanna–your hydrangeas are stunning! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
Liz @ Home and Gardening With Liz says
What a treat to have the hydrangeas blooming so late. I’ve had mixed results with my Endless Summer hydrangeas. . I’ve been told that they bloom on both old and new wood and that the blooms that occur the earliest are from the old wood and the later blooms from the new wood. I’ve trimmed mine back for the winter had them bloom real well the next spring one year and another year hardly any blooms. I’ve left them alone and not trimmed them at all and had them hardly bloom. I’ve asked questions about it at my local garden center and learned many people have the same problems. They believe the late frosts that occur in the spring damage the buds and that’s why it varies.
We had a good frost the other night and several of the annuals went down. I’m going to finish emptying my planters and I also have some bulbs to plant. It’s been getting pretty cool so I need to get this all done!
Joanna says
Very interesting, Liz. I think endless summer also needs fertilizer at the right time(s). We had lots of snow today, but it didn’t stick in our area. I have a large bulb order that I haven’t even received yet. Hopefully it will arrive in the next few days and I wrap gardening up for this year. Thanks for stopping by.
Sandra @ Maison De Jardin says
Joanna, this is my first visit to your blog – it is lovely and I will return. Your hydrangeas are fabulous. I, too, would guess the reason for their late bloom was due to pruning. Usually, any hydrangeas that I have, which bloom on new wood, I prune them in late February. I am in WV and a good bit warmer than Minnesota – however I think even in your area they most likely shouldn’t be pruned after mid March. Just a thought.
Love your bright and cheerful yellow dahlia – I love dahlias.
Have a good weekend !
Joanna says
Sandra, thanks for stopping by and do come back soon. I agree that I need to prune sooner.