Blazing Star, Narrow Leaf Gayfeather, Narrow-Leaf Gayfeather, Cusp Gayfeather (L

Blazing Star, Narrow Leaf Gayfeather, Narrow-Leaf Gayfeather, Cusp Gayfeather
Liatris mucrunata

Even the wilted fading blooms are attractive.

Is that a katydid on there or something else? Our katydids are large and similar, but they are all green.
Hope you are well!

So good to hear from you. I have been trying to plant some plants and do some other gardening chores, but still tire easily. I thought that I would be up to speed by now ... sigh. I searched and searched for the insect's ID, but have not been able to locate it so far. Has it been very chilly there yet?

No, it has not been cold...it hit 32 a couple of times and zapped the coleus but I still have cannas and a few impatiens going. It is supposed to get down in the 20's Saturday, so that should be the end of the flowers except for the greenhouse. Strangely, my forsythia is still blooming and so is a rhododendron and a primula.
I dug my potted alstroemeria and put it in the greenhouse; it has a new shoot on it that looks real good.
The plectranthus is still not killed, but I cut it way back and am rooting the pieces for next year. It is still blooming prolifically in the greenhouse (a piece I rooted and potted earlier this fall).
We just had about 3 inches of rain last night and today. Water is standing out in the low spots of the yard and the creek was up pretty good.
It might take you quite a while to get better...don't overdo it. Gradually build up your strength again.
I will be 50 in a couple of weeks, and I've found that each year I get a little weaker, so you have got to expect that, too. What fun!
Here is a bug picture for you, I took it the other day. This camellia ('Yuletide') is still outside, but I will have to bring it in soon.

To me, 32 is cold! :o) It is great that you received a good rain before the hard freeze so that all of your plants are well watered. Fall has finally arrived here after having temperatures well above average. It feels so good not to sweat all of the time while working in the yard. I had lost my heat tolerance due to being inside for so long and could not work outside for very long until the temperatures fell into the 80s. Now that it is even cooler, I have accomplished a lot the last 3 or 4 days. Most plants here are still blooming, but because the days are shorter as well as cooler, many are starting to decline. I have planted a few winter annuals. Do you know if stock freeze? I usually don't plant them this early, but I could not resist their fragrance and they seemed to be calling to me to buy them.

All of the plants you sent are doing great. The bougainvillea perked up after losing its leaves (kept a plastic bag over it for 3 or 4 weeks as you had suggested). The impatiens has put on new leaves.

Ah ... to be 50 again ...

The photo of the camellia and bug is great! Such vivid color! The bands on the bug match the yellow of the bloom. I like the shadows too.

Sorry, but I do not know about the stock's hardiness. I grew them once from seed, but they were sort of spindly and did not please me. Undoubtedly, I gave them partial shade or something (too hot?).
I know what you mean about a plant calling out to you. The campanula that I succumbed to looks entirely dead now. If I can find my receipt, I am going to ask for a refund.
Most of the toad lily pods are still green. I collected a few that were browning, and saved them for you. I will send them anytime you want them. Or I can save them and see if you want something else as well.
I forget easily what I am saving for whom. Let me know anytime I have anything you want.
I guess we really went off track on this thread, ha.