Whew … a short breather from running around with the school activities and back-to-school night and sports schedules … Thankfully, summer has been extended over here in the east coast … yaaayyy! We can enjoy a few more days and weeks of warm weather. It’s getting a little nippy in the late evening and early dawn/morning, but that’s okay.
Over the weekend, I was at a garden bridal shower. And yes, there were real showers as well, because there were a few sprinkles and drizzles throughout the afternoon. No matter … it was all good.
The event was held in the Freeman Gardens, in Glen Ridge, NJ. It’s a rose garden deeded to the town by its owners. I didn’t even know there was a garden out there. Quaint little patch of land, in between the residential houses. Unfortunately, there weren’t too many blooms out there at this time of year. I’ll make a note to visit there in the spring and summer next year.
As usual, my eyes are drawn to that one flower that will obsess me for the time I’m there. And it’s a regular favourite – the echinecea – in the last stages of blooming. I should add this to my other post on the different stages.
First impression is that it’s a black flower. But it isn’t …
It’s the echinecea flower, in the last stages of blooming …
Holding on to summer …
Just like we all are …
A little bit of this and that ... 
My echinecea gets small seeded offshoots from the center as the petals turn black. It looks like aliens have taken it over.
LoL I’ll look out for those next time.
Echinacea gets very black at the end of its life, but the birds still love the seed which are the prickly parts in the center. Perhaps not the prettiest stage of the flower’s life, but one of the reasons why it is a good one to plant in your garden. Nice pix…
Thanks! This is the first time I’m seeing it like this, with black petals, so I find it fascinating. I’d only seen the middle black before.