Even though summer is winding down, there are still plenty of flowers in bloom here in the Copper Country. Deb Simons proves my point with some beauties here today, starting with some pretty, white Hydrangeas. As if the flowers weren’t enough ‘eye candy’, Deb has several cute garden decorations in that first photo, also.

Her next four shots are all Cosmos Flowers, ranging from vibrant Pink, to Crimson-Red Cosmos. I love the flowers, but I also enjoy the greenery and leaves, as they have a lacy look to them. Cosmos are a daisy-like plant and are easy to grow from seeds and they bloom from early summer all the way until the first frost. They’re great for attracting butterflies and bees. The variety of colors make them perfect to brighten your flower beds.

We join Alexis Dahl for a look at the Stories Hiding in Houghton Douglass Falls. It’s the story of the Keweenaw Peninsula. The lead-in says: “They say this place was shaped by colliding continents, millions of years of shifting earth, and forces too powerful to imagine... but how can you understand something that happened 1,000,000,000 years ago?” Just a heads-up before you click play...this one is just short of 28 minutes long, but if you’re interested in the powerful forces that created the Keweenaw Peninsula and its dramatic landscape and examining unique rock formations and structural shifts at Houghton-Douglass Falls, it’s well worth the time to watch.

Hi
What kind of soil do Cosmos need? How much sun?

The video was interesting. Without that info, it's hard
to imagine faults and lava in Michigan.

When I saw these, had a hunch they were Deb’s
flowers, such beauties. Cosmos are among my
favorite annuals, just love their colors and delicate
foliage. Thanks for sharing!

Positively gorgeous Deb!

If you cut hydrangea, put them in a vase, and let
the water evaporate, the flower will dry perfectly,
standing up straight and all the blooms stick!

I didn't know that, Donna.

Thanks, guys. Cindy, these are one of my favorites
too. They didn't start blooming until late August,
but they just get thicker and thicker every day. If
the frost holds off they'll go on for a while.

Kathryn, not sure what kind of dirt they do best
in. Ours is very sandy. Every year I add more
topsoil to it. I have 3 different garden patches.
In my front yard there's sun all day and it gets
very hot. I have to water them regularly. The
cosmos have grown well when I planted them there,
and they bloomed sooner. This year I put them by my
garage where there's only sun in the morning. They
did very well there too, and seemed to have grown
taller. However they didn't bloom as early. There
was a wanderer that made its way down to my 3rd
garden patch where my lilies, poppies, hydrangea
and more grow. It gets sun all day but the cosmos
didn't grow as good there. I'll send Mary a picture
of how tall they've gotten by the garage and see if
she can put it here for you to see. Don't know if
this is helpful but it's all I got.

Hi
Thanks, Deb. It was only a thought. I sure don't have
sandy soil downstate.

Hi Kathryn, not having sandy soil is a good thing.
Like I said, I add topsoil every year to my
gardens. I tried emailing you a picture of how high
my flowers are but it came back as address not
found. Sorry.

Hi
Deb, that's Ok. I've changed my mind.