This is the wettest October I think I’ve ever experienced – and while it may not be the coldest, it’s not been very warm. The first week was almost summer-like – but then mother nature flipped a switch, and I count us lucky if the temps get into double digits (Celsius, that is).

While the gardens appreciate the rain, the cooler day have really slowed things down. Instead of bursts of colour, we’re down to a handful of blooms on most plants, with the exception of a few.

The usual suspects are still doing well.

Namely the Susans and the Coneflowers.

Even a few of the fancier Coneflowers are still blooming – they tend to stop a little earlier than the native ones.

Most of the Tickseeds continue to wow

I really hope those pink ones make it through the winter – they are so pretty.

The blanket flowers are still trucking

And of course, the mums are doing their thing still

Those bottom two are new – I don’t think I showed them to you yet. The first is called Red Hot, and the second Flamingo. I think you can see why. They are planted directly in the garden, and hopefully they will come back next year. I’m not 100% sure they are hardy, so I won’t find out until next spring.

And speaking of hardy – have you every heard of Hardy Glads? Neither had I. But look

I got them from my mail order place this spring. They grew, but I didn’t think they’d bloom this year. But when I was pruning the Eden climbing rose, I discovered these two beautiful blooms hiding in the rose branches!!! Aren’t they just stunning??? The blooms are smaller than the big fancy glads, and I don’t think they get as many flowers, but they certainly pack a punch!

And speaking of roses… I never did end up pruning Chrysler Imperial

Because it started getting new growth all over the place. I’m still going to wrap it for winter, just to give it some extra protection, but I think it’s going to make it through just fine.

I got a bit of a suprise with this next one

It’s a pink Yarrow. But I never planted this pink Yarrow. I did notice some odd leaves in the lawn (those little fern like leaves), and wondered if they might be Yarrow. But since I mowed at least weekly, I never found out. Until this one popped up in the new garden around Edible Alley. One of those little sprouts must have migrated to a space safe from the mower. I’m very happy to have it though – I also have red, yellow and a different shade of pink.

And last, I’ll leave you with some of those blooms that shouldn’t be showing on October… but are

From left to right… Shasta Daisy, Spiderwort (Widows Tears) and Clematis.