My Thunbergia started coming on good by the end of August.

These were two different varieties. The Sunny suzy 'rose sensation' had more numerous leaves than the 'red orange' and those hid a lot of the red/pink flowers. I'd probably plant just one variety in the future. Both these types have permeated the entire trelis from end to end and overwhelmed the flower bed at the bottom.

Even tried to take over the inside of garden shed, dark as it is in there. 🫤

Closeup of flowers and leaves.

☺️

Took this photo today front of house....I mainly plant flowers etc that bloom from May/June until late in season...

Rouge, my Canna is a classic hybrid between Canna indica and Canna iridiflora. It's called Canna x ehemanii. It looks more like the Canna iridiflora with it's deep red pendelous flowers.

Canna x ehemanii is taller than the usual garden center Canna and it's leaves are wider and bluer. The tubers need special care when they are dormant. That's why they aren't easily available.

All the Canna sold in garden centers today are complex hybrids which were made in France in the late 19th century. They all are collectively known as Canna x generalis. Canna x generalis and Canna indica are the ones sold in garden centers.

I will mention my wish list now.

Canna warszwiczii or Canna indica var marszwiczii

2 native North American Canna species and a few non native Canna species were also used on creating Canna x generalis. They are the yellow flowered Canna flaccida and the wide leaved Canna glauca, both of which are native to the deep southeast, as far west as Texas.

This is 'Panache' a cultivar of Canna glauca. It has a crazy history. Some sea captain brought it to California and it became a pass along plant for years until some plantsman discovered it and realized it's potential.

Canna lily 'Tropicana'

There are no wild and pure Canna species with striped leaves. The stripes were created by breeders.

Canna lily 'Bengal Tiger'

Canna lily Stuttgart

Canna lily 'African Sunset'

Canna lily 'Pretoria'

A close relative of Canna Thalia dealbata

Thalia dealbata

Thalia geniculata

Thalia geniculata

Luckily, the SVBs haven't been a problem here. But this was the worst year I’ve ever had in the last 30 years for squash bugs. It happens so fast. One day the plant looks healthy, giving me zucchinis, the next it’s totally wilted and lying on the ground.

My two yellow squash were hit first. I used the tape method to remove the eggs. I caught and squished on my pavers any adults. I thought I got them all, and then my two zucchinis went down. But I think I didn’t recognize the in between stage well enough. I’ll brush up on what they look like and try a board next time to find the adults.

I pushed more seeds into the ground where the dead plants were removed, and am now getting more zucchinis.

My cucumbers were in the same raised bed but were never touched by them. I had a bumper crop. Go figure.

I tried injecting my zucchini vines with Bt, where the vine borer holes were. It certainly helped the vines last a lot longer.

I'm thankful that I didn't have a problem with squash bugs of either type this year. I've never had the dreaded SVB but have those gray squash bugs every year. This year, not a single one, nada. No tomato worms either, which is very strange, they seem to be here every year.

As laceyvail says, every year is a new garden mystery. Meanwhile, I have a bumper crop of zucchini, yellow summer squash and butternut only because the groundhogs and the raccoons didn't eat any of those. Furry pests in the place of insect pests, but it's always something.

Annie