By Thea Hegland

Here we are suddenly at Labour Day weekend. In a flash the months of July and August are behind us, the kids are headed back to school and the rest will come out to frolic in the September sunshine. Quite arguably, September is one of the best times to visit The Butchart Gardens. With plenty of sunshine and pleasant temperatures, the September garden possesses a magical feel.

All the late summer flowers perfectly complement the early stages of autumn colour on the impressive collection of deciduous trees. Flowering beauties such as Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan), Aster and Helenium add rich warm autumn hues against the golden shades of the seasonal transition, capturing the promise of a glorious fall.

Rose ‘Charles Austin’

Highlights This Week

• Absolutely incredible Begonia flowers tumbling out of the endless flower beds.
• The most phenomenal Impatiens I have ever seen.
• A fantastic show of Roses in our internationally acclaimed Rose Garden still drives the passion of many.
• My personal favourite this week is the Cornus mas (Cornelian cherry) located in the Sequoia Grove that is loaded with fleshy bright red fruit – it is sure to pique plenty of curiosity!

The Begonia Bower

Plants that are currently blooming

• Abutilon
• Acanthus (Bear’s breeches)
• Aconitum (Monkshood)
• Achillea (Yarrow)
• Agapanthus (African blue lily)
• Ageratum (Floss flower)
• Albizia julibrissin (Mimosa)
• Alocasia (Elephant’s ear)
• Antirrhinium (Snapdragon)
• Anigozanthos (Kangaroo paw)
• Aralia elata (Japanese angelica tree)
• Artemisia lactiflora (Mugwort)
• Aster
• Astilbe
• Astrantia
• Begonia (Tuberous and fibrous)
• Brugmansia (Angels’ trumpets)
• Calceolaria (Scotsman’s purse)
• Callistemon (Bottlebrush)
• Calycanthus ‘Aphrodite’ (Sweetshrub)
• Campsis (Trumpet vine)
• Catalpa speciosa (Indian bean tree)
• Cephalaria gigantea (Yellow scabious)
• Chelone (Turtlehead)
• Cimicifuga (Bugbane)
• Clematis
• Clerodendrum bungei (Glory bower)
• Colocasia (Taro)
• Cornus mas (Cornelian cherry)
• Coreopsis
• Crocosmia
• Cuphea
• Dahlia
• Echinacea (Coneflower)
• Echinops (Globe thistle)
• Epiphyllum (Night blooming cactus)
• Euchryphia
• Eupatorium
• Filipendula
• Fuchsia
• Gazania
• Gentiana asclepiadea (Willow gentian)
• Gladiolous callianthus (Acidanthera)
• Helenium (Sneezeweed)
• Helianthus (Sunflower)
• Heliotropium (Cherry pie plant)
• Heptacodium (Seven-son-flower)
• Hemerocallis (Daylily)
• Hesperantha (Kaffir lily)
• Hibiscus syriacus (Rose of Sharon)
• Hydrangea
• Hypericum (St. John’s wort)
• Inula
• Impatiens
• Iochroma cyanea
• Kniphfofia (Red-hot poker)
• Lagerstroemia indica (Crape myrtle)
• Lantana
• Leonotis (Lion’s ear)
• Leptospermum (Tea tree)
• Lobelia speciosa
• Mandevilla
• Manettia
• Monarda (Bee balm)
• Nymphaea (Waterlily)
• Pachystachys lutea (Lollipop plant)
• Pelargonium (Geranium)
• Pentas
• Persicaria (Knotweed)
• Petasites
• Phlox
• Physostegia (Obedient plant)
• Poncirus trifoliata (Hardy orange)
• Punica granatum (Pomegranate)
• Rheum
• Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan)
• Rosa (Rose)
• Salvia
• Sanvitalia
• Sedum (Stonecrop)
• Sophora japonica (Japanese pagoda tree)
• Tagetes (Marigold)
• Tecoma
• Thalictrum (Meadow rue)
• Tibouchina (Glory bush)
• Tigridia (Peacock flower)
• Torenia
• Tradescantia (Spiderwort)
• Veronica
• Viburnum
• Vitex agnus-castus (Chaste tree)
• Weigela
• Wisteria
• Zinnia