Early Autumn Flowers & Foliage

Dramatic dahlia square: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2015

Happy floral Friday and welcome to "this week in my Maryland garden!"

Pretty bicolor dahlia: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2015

 I'm really thankful to have a few more giant dahlias to enjoy before frost hits.

Fall foliage: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2015

The dahlias are making a nice comeback but other than that not much new is happening in our garden, flower wise. Rather than just share two photos this week, photos three through five in this post were taken at the US National Arboretum to give you some variety. 

Dramatic hydrangea: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2015

 I love this unusual hydrangea and expect that it will remain pretty as it dries for winter.

Purple sheen flower: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2015

One of the more unusual late summer/early autumn flowers is the purple sheen, which is usually covered in bees. Other names for it (from the tag at the Arboretum) include: "Erygium leaveworthii," "Leavensworth's eryngo," and "apiaceae."

We have one more chrysanthemum that hasn't bloomed yet but after that "this week in my Maryland garden" will likely be on hiatus until spring. Unless something exciting and unexpected happens. You never know!

Thank you for visiting! May God bless you this autumn and always!

Related posts:
Fancy dahlia with bee: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/10/neat-flowers-bees-and-sun-effects.html
Fall foliage and capitol columns: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/11/fall-foliage-and-capitol-columns-photos.html
Tree foliage: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/11/fall-foliage-at-us-national-arboretum.html