November Bloom Day

Hard to imagine it's the middle of November already.  We had the first hard frost just last week, but now it's back to 70's and golden leaves.  On a balmy afternoon stroll there was plenty to look at.

Camellia sasanqua 'Sparkling Burgundy'

 Only a year old, this sasanqua is doing well.  It's been in bloom for more than a month and is still covered with buds.  I can hardly wait until it's grown up a bit and turned into a real shrub.

Fothergilla gardenii 'Mt Airy

I know this is not a flower - really, I do - but the play of the bluish-green leaves of the nandina and the golden coin leaves of the fothergilla is just too pretty to ignore.

Aconitum x Arendsii

One poor little Monk's Hood.  I am delighted with it, because it has been years since it has bloomed at all.  Can't seem to find the perfect spot to put it so that it thrives. 

There are also more mundane things still in bloom, like dianthus.

 

 Or, Pacific daisies.

Chrysanthemum pacifica (Ajania)

Or chysanthemums.

Even if they are in a pot.

 

The real stars of these last few weeks, tho, have been the roses.  I understand now why people adore the Knock Out varieties.  This one has bloomed and bloomed and will be ... well, a knock out when it's a bit larger. 

Rosa 'Radsunny' PP 18562

This one is smaller, but definitely not delicate.  It has bloomed non-stop since May and is still covered with tiny buds.  Wish I knew its name.  The tiny spots of pink are probably a flaw, but I think of them as beauty marks!

The very best thing in the garden right now is not yet in bloom - bearded iris!  The re-bloomers that  I planted last year have made it thru a summer that was both dry as a bone and overly wet, but they have put up five flower stalks.  Had hoped the warm weather this week would push them into bloom, but they are not ready, so none of us gets to see them today after all. 

When I decided to participate in Bloom Day, I had no idea that I really would have something in bloom every month, and I am not yet sure.  In these parts, tho, the camellias should be in bloom next month, followed closely by the hellebores, so I am hopeful.  If you haven't already been to see what else is blooming around the world, please be sure to visit May Dreams Gardens and follow the links.  And, special thanks to Carol for being our hostess all year.

Bloom Day - September

Can it be the middle of September already?  The skies are bluer, the humidity has dropped, and the summer blooming plants have started to perk up. Even the fall plants are starting to look promising.  Yes, it must be mid-September.

Obedient Plant has opened like a field of lilac  [Physostygia virginiana].  It can be invasive, but in this shady spot I can control it by pulling up handfuls as needed.

And several spring friends have decided to give me a few bonus blossoms... like the Pink Pizzaz [Loropetalum 'Pizazz' TM].  All of its outer branch tips have opened again.  The Lady's Mantle nestled at its feet decided to follow suit and bloom, too.  Thanks, guys!

The clematis [Clematis hybrid 'H.F. Young'] that is supposed to grow up the mailbox post, but which instead puddled on the ground around it, has suddenly out a handful of blooms.

Out of nowhere one of the azaleas has one lone bloom - right at the top and just a pretty as can be.  In a way, it's nice to have just one to look at.  In the spring it's the mass of color that we love, but a single bloom has its own beauty now.

The last of some of our summer friends have perked up, too.  You've got to love portulaca!  What other plant do you know that has blossoms that really are different colors?  It's not that they fade from one color to another (like Rosa mutabilis, for example)... they really are different colors.

And the mandevilla is still attracting hummingbirds as they head south for the real winter to come.  I've seen two today, but my photo skills are not up to even trying to get a picture of them.

But, it's the fall flowers that are starting to bloom that are really catching one's  eye.  First, the sedums - both Madronna and Autumn Joy.   

 The plumbago is bluer than ever and the fall anemones have just started dancing on their slender stems.

And finally the lovely Alma [Aster novae angliae 'Alma Potschke'].  In really good years she is just covered in these tiny coral blooms.  This year it was so dry (and apparently her mama did not make up for that with watering!) that she is only blooming around the edges.  I hope that with the rain we are getting now, she will keep blooming and fill out more. 

It's like the garden has taken a deep breath and decided to keep on going, too.  With more to come when the mums start arriving at the party.

Hope you have a lovely bloom day and thanks to Carol for hosting us at May Bloom Gardens.  If you haven't already been over there, please go and check out some new blogs.

August Flowers in the Garden

 

When I saw Belinda's post earlier this morning and realized that today is the day to take a serious look at what's blooming, my immediate thought was, "Oh no!"  I consider this the Norma Desmond time of the summer, and my garden definitely does not seem to be ready for any close-ups.   In looking a littler harder, tho, I realized that close-ups are just what the doctor (or director?) ordered.  There's actually a lot to love today, if you look closely.

 

Purslane - an impulse buy this spring, but I have liked it a lot.

 

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides (Hardy Plumbago) - Not the prettier, tall, phlox-like plumbago, but this one makes a nice ground cover that blooms late into the fall.  It has dark blue flowers and needs little water.

 

The last of the phlox.  Don't know which one this one is, but it is very resistant to mildew and has bloomed for several months now.

 

Alstroemeria 'Sweet Laura' PP # 10030 - A native of hot southern hemisphere climates, this little beauty is starting her second season.  She went dormant for six weeks in June and July now is coming back.  Wish I could get a pink one to grow half as well as this tiny yellow one.

 

 Nymphaea hybrid yellow 'Nenufar' - Mother bought this at Wal-Mart five or more years ago for my birthday.  It thrives in a pond liner with virtually no food and no care.  There is a resident family of camera-shy frogs, too. 

Sedum spurium 'Dragon's Blood' - a lovely small sedum in the most wonderful coral color.

Mystery plant - I think it's a catmint, but cannot find any record of it.  Horrors!

 

Rosa 'Radsunny' PP 18562 (shrub) - The new Knock Out rose has bloomed and bloomed and bloomed.  The plant has nearly doubled in size, as well.  If it can make it thru the winter, I think I have a winner for the future. 

Mandevilla - a lovely red one that is digging this heat.

Another mystery plant - The foliage looks iris-like, but I failed to keep the tag - egads!

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And no summer day would be complete without a bit of buddleia davidii - this one is 'Black Knight'. 

If haven't already visited with Carol and the other gardeners, be sure to stop by here.

PS:  If you know either of my mystery plants, please let me know.

PPS: Birthday party tomorrow.

July 15th - What's Blooming?

May and June passed in a fog of working too hard and too much, so I took an hour off this morning to share what's blooming in July.

 The mandavilla is slowly making its way up the tower.

 The callas seem to be struggling a bit this year, but it may still be a bit early for them.  These open white, but then darken to a mid-pink.  They are not supposed to be hardy here, but don't tell them!  I have had these for more than 10 years and have moved them twice.  [Maybe that's why they are struggling - they are tired!]

 The very last gladiola.  They have been pretty this year.

Always the last shrub to bloom is Clethera alnifolia 'Ruby Spice'.  It's worth the wait!

 The mini-rose blooms all summer long.  These flowers are about an inch in diameter, and last forever - even cut and in the house.

This year's experiment - a Sunny Knock out rose  [Rosa 'Radsunny' PP 18562 (shrub)].  It opens pale yellow and fades to white.  I think this one is finally happy and putting out blossoms consistently.

 From the xeri-garden we get Hummingbird Mint [Agastache x 'Ava'].  It blooms most of the summer, but the bees and butterflies are all over it right now.

 And the star of the front bed is phlox.  There are three shades, but I don't know their names - a pale lavender (left), a white and pink bi-color (center) and a deep lavender (right).  I just love them.  I see a vase in their near future.

July would not be complete without crepe myrtle.  This one is 'Centennial'.

Four inches are rain last week = good!  Three days of high 90's heat this week = bad, so the garden is not sure if it's coming or going!  There are still plenty of pretties to share.  Can't wait to see what's in your garden today.  Join the fun at May Dreams Garden!

What's Blooming?

So much has happened in the past month. The grass has turned green; the daffs are gone, but the tulips - well, other people's tulips - are going strong; the dogwoods have opened and the azaleas are just starting to pop out. Days are warmer and I long to be outside with my hands in dirt, instead of hunched over my desk keyboarding. Maybe next week.

Stop by May Dreams Garden to see what else is blooming today!