Hi GPODers!

We’re back in Maxine’s garden to see the last of her blooms from this year’s growing season. If you missed it, be sure to check out Part 1.

It may sound odd or appear peculiar to a non-gardener that it truly saddens me to say goodbye to my garden for the winter. Before I bid farewell for its long winter sleep, I thanked my garden for the peace, happiness and tranquility that it gave me during a very harsh summer. Over the past few weeks, I have watched the plants slow their growth as they respond to the shorter days and cooler nights. Now it is time for me to carefully perform the required duties that will ensure a healthy growing season in the spring. At the same time, I hope that as the plants go dormant, they will converse and shift their energy from above the ground to their roots. Farewell my vibrant friends, until you bud again.

Yesterday, we saw this decorative bridge from another angle with monkshood (Aconitum napellus, Zones 3–7) near by. Today, we get to see it in its entirety with a classic Autumn Joy sedum (Hylotelephium ‘Herbstfreude’, Zones 3–11) and the beautiful, deep foliage of ajuga near by.

Again, like yesterday, Maxine treats us to a close up of her stunning Autumn Joy sedum.

Another fabulous fall scene in Maxine’s garden. Plants that have stopped blooming are still offering lush and colorful foliage, while black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta, Zones 3–8) and New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, Zones 4–8) bring the colorful blooms.

A close up of the glorious New England aster covered in flowers.

Along with the black-eyed Susans, Maxine has another rudbeckia in her garden. This shiny coneflower (Rudbeckia nitida, Zones 5–9) is providing for pollinators at the end of the season as well as providing interest with its flurry of seed heads.

Another scene with a sensational mix of foliage and late-season blooms. Pink Japanese anemone (Anemone hupehensis var. japonica, Zones 5–7) flowers take center stage.

Blooms are around every corner in Maxine’s end-of-season garden. This bright white flowers of nippon daisies (Nipponanthemum nipponicum, Zones 5–9) are obviously stunning, but it’s the almost succulent-like foliage that sell it for me.

As we’ve seen, and seen before, Maxine’s garden is a real haven for her local pollinators. Even as the season winds down, this bee has a buffet of blooms on a short’s goldenrod (Solidago shortii, Zones 6–9) to enjoy.

Thank you for sharing this beautiful farewell to the 2024 growing season, Maxine! Your garden certainly puts on an incredible finale performance.

Is your garden winding down or still swinging? We’d love to see pictures of what’s growing or shifting into dormancy in your garden. Follow the directions below to submit your photos!

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