Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - September 2009

Here are just a few of the current blooms in my zone 6b garden. Check out all of the Bloom Day posts at May Dreams Gardens.

Toad Lily, Tricyrtis formosana

Picture This Photo Contest: Miscanthus sisnesis 'Adagio'

This month's Picture This Photo Contest at Gardening Gone Wild is on Ornamental Grasses. I have two confessions to make: first, there was a time when I didn't think I liked ornamental grasses, and second, I rarely focus on them as photographic subjects.

After an unexpected visit to the Cutler Botanic Garden in Binghamton, New York, where they have a wonderful garden dedicated to them, the beauty of ornamental grasses finally dawned upon me. Now, I have about a dozen of various sorts incorporated into several of my gardens. Of these, my favorite is Miscanthus sisnesis 'Adagio' which is located on Goldberry Hill, the Front Border, and Lilac Hill.

They are photogenic, but perhaps I overlook them because they don't have flowers. Yes, they are too large to exclude from pictures of different gardens, but no, I never stop to take a close-up or a picture focused on them. So, here's my first shot (pun intended).

Milkweed Seeds in the Bird Garden

Red and Yellow Milkweed in the Bird Garden

Yellow Milkweed in the Bird Garden

Herbaceous Hibiscus Buds in the Children's Garden

Herbaceous Hibiscus Flower in the Children's Garden

Shrub Hibiscus Flower in the Walled Garden

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly, Papilio glaucus, on Butterfly Bush

Of all my butterflies, the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is the most frequent visitor and the least fearful photography subject.

Silver Spotted Skipper Butterfly, Epargyreus clarus, on Butterfly Bush

Here's another skipper that does not like to stay still for a decent photograph.

Correction: Female Zabulon (not Hobomok) Skipper Butterfly, Poanes zabulon, on Butterfly Bush

She skips around a mile a minute, so I felt lucky to get this shot.
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Thank you to Randy Emmitt for the correct identification--this "handyman/photographer" from Rougemont, North Carolina really knows his butterflies. Check out his blog Randy & Meg's Garden Paradise.