Late Blooming Perennials
There is something special about early and late blooming perennials here in Northeast Ohio’s zone 6. The Hellebores that bloom in my garden in February are harbingers of the approaching growing season. When I first see them I know that winter’s days are numbered and all my sleeping plants will begin to emerge. We haven’t had a frost yet this fall so many annuals and roses are still blooming nicely.
But when I start seeing the toad lilies and October Daphne begin to bloom, I know my garden is sending out its last hurrah. Refusing to yield to the impending cold, these flowers are making a statement. As if to say “not so fast!” to old-man winter, these late bloomers complete my garden’s blooming cycle that began way back in February.
It is not so much the type of flower on February and October bloomers that make them so special. It is more a measure of gratitude that I have for these bookends because they extend my blooming season.
Now I just have to find a way to get through from November to January.
Posted by Bob Rensel






The new ones constantly wilted that year while the older ones were fine. But in year two, all was well with the new ones. Trees can take a bit longer. I have some Japanese Tree Lilacs that were transplanted in 2003. The stress of moving the mature trees took several years to go away. The first picture shows one of the trees in 2006. The second picture shows the same tree in 2008. Each year I would get lots of water sprouts and significant die-back at the ends of the branches. Five years later they are finally having a good year and filling out nicely.