Nice! I noticed in some areas near us people still have pink phlox. Mine was gone weeks ago. That's a pretty color of asters.

I still have some pink and purple phlox blooms, but they are pretty sparse at this point; the petals are less and less each day. I have at least a dozen varieties of phlox, so some variety(s) is always blooming during late summer and early fall. Perhaps your neighbors have a different variety than yours?

Thanks on the asters. I planted two purple varieties along with the pink, but only the pink has survived.

You all might need some Sheffield Chrysanthemums to extend the season. They haven't bloomed yet, at least not here, and they will tolerate light (and/or brief) frost - I always have them on the table at Thanksgiving. They come in a variety of pinkish tones - I have some old ones that are a lurid shade of deep magenta-pink with yellow centers, and newer ones that are a light peach. I really LOVE these flowers!

Franklinia altamaha is still in bloom here - these have been going strong for weeks, which surprised me because it was such a dry summer on the Cape. And my roses - New Dawn, Fairy and Bonica - are all still in their second flush. It's not as lovely as the early show, but I'm happy to see these flowers.

Is this Indian summer? It's just been SO nice, it's hard to believe it's October.

One of my favorite subjects: Fall Bloom !
About a decade ago, I stared seriously trying to extend my garden period past September and into October (and
even November!) My first discovery, as Nan points out,
are the many Sheffield chrysanthemums, which are literally just starting here in my Zone 6/7 garden (bur rhey're hardy to Z. 3/4); my second favorite is Aster oblongifolius - well, technically, it's been re-named Symphyotricum oblongifolium, but ASTER is so much easier to say! - and 'Raydon's Favorite' is the winner for me. . .it's also just started blooming. The Japanese anemone that dominates my October garden is the pristine white 'Honorine Jobert', paired with another surprise discovery, the LATE-blooming Aconitum carmichaelii 'Arendsii', which just popped today. And if you're still frost-free, you could be enjoying the late spurt of bloom from so many roses, as we are here. . .but, of course, you have dozens of grasses, no?

Carl