Bye Bye Oakville -- Hello Welland!

It's been over a year that I've posted anything.  And, while I wish I could say that I've been eating bonbons and learning a new exotic language, I can't.  In a nutshell, think coconut here, rather than peanut -- we renovated our Oakville home, put stuff in storage, put it on the market, bought a new home,  sold old home, moved aged father-in-law twice, said goodbye to dear Auntie Margaret before her time, and were responsible for taking care of four homes in two provinces - although unlike the Kardashians, nobody appeared early in the morning to do our hair and nails.  I am delighted to say, repeating my friend Susan's mantra, "It's all working out."  

I'll talk more about my new quarter-acre garden in the wet clay of Welland later, but now, with the help of a new friend I've met on my morning walk, here are some types of flowers you might like to try in order to make your late summer and early fall garden simply gorgeous.  I took these photos on Monday at the trial gardens of William Dam Seeds.

A great little patch of Pansy 'Morning Dew' (pay no heed to the weeds - the summer help has all gone back to school!)

This cool Centauria 'Silverstone' is a trial plant and hopefully will do well enough to be included in future seed lists.

Silene pendula 'Sibella Carmine'

I could just get down on the ground and give these bright happy flowers a hug:  Zinnia 'Holi Scarlet F1'.  Seems that I'm not alone, it is a 2019 AAS Flower Winner.

Pentas is a great late season performer.  This one is 'Graffiti Flirty Pink'.

Old fashioned and fabulous Marigold 'Alumia Vanilla Cream'.

The butterflies were mad for this Scabiosa mix.

Daucas 'Dara'.  Fancy Queen Anne's Lace.

I always was annoyed at how long it took Cosmos to bloom, but when they look like this, I'd be willing to forgive. 

Another longish from seed to bloom is Lisianthus - this is a trial called 'Arena Purple'.

This patch was being grown for a wedding.

Verbena bonariensis

Here's a happy long-stemmed variety of Marigold called 'Garland Orange'.

And to finish for today, a Painted Lady who just couldn't resist the Scabiosa either.

It's nice to be back with my blogging buddies!