Mid-August Dog Days

It hasn't seemed like the "dog days" as the temperatures have been cool and the skies sunny, but the garden shows the progression toward autumn anyway.  There hasn't been much rain and the gardeners have the "blahs" also despite the incredible weather for August.

The last of the 'Happy Returns' day lilies.

And the last of my other day lily varieties.

The Helenium or Sneezeweed now dominates the going-to-Fall garden.

Look at all that pollen!

The Buddleia or butterfly bush has its second bloom.

The Heliopsis or perennial sunflower also has a second bloom.

Never as bountiful as the first but fine for the bees.

Irena's indoor hibiscus plant is finally blooming.

First one!  I've been plant-sitting all summer and waiting for this moment.

Mary Ellen's perennial hibiscus is still blooming dinner plate-sized flowers.

And many more buds are visible but the leaves are like lace (being eaten by some bug).

But a real sign of Fall is the first asters...

It's coming, ready or not!