September

In the heat of summer, we wait quietly for September. Mornings are cool on some days and after a 90 degree afternoon, the sun shows some mercy by setting before 8:00.

On Labor Day, leaves on the ironweed begin to yellow and the foliage on the passionvine begins to turn grey. But sunflowers and goldenrod are yellow beacons in the garden and purple spiderwort begins its second bloom of the season.

Caryopteris clandonensis is past its peak but is still attractive to pollinators.

Black swallowtail caterpillars arrive on our parsley in September. And crickets sing their loudest every evening, in hopes of mating before the frost, and even then a few survivors continue a dirge until Christmas.

Berry producing plants are at their peak in September. This beautyberry, Callicarpa americana, planted itself in the side garden. It is more attractive to birds than its parent, which is ignored until its fruit falls off in late winter.

The fruits of the passionvine remain green, even when fully ripe. Heavy with fruit, our passionvine produces few blooms in September, but bumblebees continue to work their magic on the flowers.