Hmm...and my pet bird's favorite word is... "Stinky!" Maybe I should get out there next week.

Well, after whining above, I took a long look today and it isn't all that drab, but could definitely stand some improvement and the suggestions above are great, thanks. A salvia and a yellow yarrow are making a final feeble attempt (3rd and 2nd runs respectively), the purple oxalis is spiking flowers and the pathetic rose is trying to rally too. I really do need to work on properly deadheading for prolonged bloom on the above and others not mentioned - next year! On the upside, the loraputulum 'hedge' is blooming it pink brains out ! The backyard always fools me since the Kwanza Cherry tree - a focal - is the first in the state (I think) to turn and drop leaves (simultaneouly) - as usual it will be totally bare w/in the next week, while surrounding (off my property) large trees are just beginning to show color. That tree never fails to accelerate my autumn mindset. Still going strong are Russian Sage, Coreopis, Stella D'oro lilies, a rose (older than the one out in front), balloon flower, a spindly salvia and, of course the white impatients I tucked for contrast. Butterfly bushes are really hitting their stride and the pyrocanthus is loaded w/orange berries this year after taking last year off. There's also one, lonely, shasta daisy and had I treated the echinacia right, they'd still be good, but aren't - again, next year. The espaliered fall blooming camellia is loaded w/buds - and if on schedule will give a deep pink show in another couple of weeks - and hopefully survive frosts, it usually gets nipped. Took a quick stroll thru the JCRaulson Arboretum today - always a pleasure - and feel better now. Even w/a full complement of gardeners, some of their perennials look as tired as mine. The best thing about this fall slowdown is that ..... there's always next year !

kay- It will just give you a long time to add to your springwoods garden order. I know it took me a very long time to decide on my choices as my list was a yard long. And I bought 14 of them so its not as if I only got afew but had such a difficult time deciding which to cross off the list. This fall I will be ordering more Emmerich intros and I am sure that those plants that I didn't get will be back on this list. Kay-phal - Thank you for your suggestion of a late bloomer. I first looked it up on Tinkers and what came up looks nothing like your daylily, wider pedals and much more orange. I did a general search and found what might be it with not such a great picture. Both list it as mid late. Maybe not going to bloom late enough for me here but I will deffinately keep it in mind.

From my experience, the plant may or not bloom next spring, but it is unlikely it will. You should get branching at the tip whether or not it blooms. If you have a greenhouse or a heat mat and grow light, you may be able to continue the blooming cycle through the winter. Be careful of overwatering during the dormant period or if you use the greenhouse or heat mat. Over watering can lead to rot if the plant cannot use the water quickly enough. Mike