Sunday, August 15, 2010

Flower Power: GBBD August 2010

On the fifteenth of every month, May Dream Gardens sponsors Garden Blogger's Bloom Day where garden bloggers can post a pictorial of what is blooming in their yards.  The recent series of mostly 100+ temperature days has been cooking the plants, but several have still managed to put out some blossoms.

Established Plants

Mexican Petunias (Ruellia tweediana 'Colobe Pink') love the heat and keep producing morning blooms.

The extra sunshine that became available due to a fallen tree has made the West Texas Mist Flower (Conoclinium greggii) happy.  More sunshine does not equal full sunshine, so its still a little scraggly, but has produced some blossoms.

Once we reach the point where the summer heat drives the gardener inside, the Rock Rose (Pavonia lasiopetala) starts really putting on a show.

Water is never a problem when you are rooted in the bottom of the pond.  As blossoms fade lower down the stalk, the upper blooms continue the show on the Aztec Arrowhead (Sagittaria montevidensis). 

While not as showy as water lilies, the Water Poppy (Hydrocleys nymphoides) is still able to produce sporadic blooms under part shade conditions.

The blossoms of the Society Garlic (Tulbaghia violacea) are becoming scarce, but this one stalk is hanging in there.

Whereas Liriope spicata has suddenly come alive with blooms, covering the entire plant in light purple blooms.

The Rose Creek Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora 'Rose Creek') produces cluster of small white blossoms at the end of its arching stems.

Potted Plants

The Aloe 'Doran Black' is once again sending up a bloom stalk (last bloom was a little over two months ago).  The small green and red flowers never seem to fully open, but are still quite attractive.

New Plants in the Garden

Of my experimental Zinnias planted in my only sunny spot, the Zinnia 'Zahara Orange' is the lone one to have flourished.

The Blue Anise Sage (Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'), a pass-along from Pam at Digging (thanks!), has started creating the blue flowers for which it is known.

If the heat is driving you indoors, I hope you can see your blooms from the window.

Planted in Pots:
Night blooming Cereus (Epiphyllum oxypetalum): After getting the leaves to root, I placed four of these (all pass-alongs from Robin at Getting Grounded - thanks again!) into a single pot as I've read they do best when root-bound.

Gotta Get:
Dyckia 'Arizona': First spotted a hybrid on Succulent Bromeliads and others and loved the dark leaves and white teeth - I'm going to keep an eye out for this one.

11 comments:

  1. I ended up with a few leaves from Robin and gave one to my coworker whose yard is a major shade fest. Then I told her the plant liked to be root bound and she visibly lit up because she's horrible about re-potting her plants.

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  2. The Mexican petunia is gorgeous! Never seen one before. Actually, you have many plants that are not familiar to me, strange and exotic and very beautiful.

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  3. Beautiful blooms! Interesting to see what you've got blooming there. We're all wilting here in the unusual heat, but sure enough, can see some of the blooms from the window. Happy GBBD!

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  4. Your plants look remarkably uncooked considering our weather the past couple of weeks! Love the color on that blue anise sage. And night-blooming cereus is definitely on my 'to get' list.

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  5. aloha

    you have some beautiful blooms today, so much to see here, my favorite is that true blue salvia - stunning

    i'm loving all your photography and macro work - nice captures

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  6. Gorgeous photos. I knew photography was your thing. I liked the 'old geezer' blurb at the top, made me smile. Happy Bloom day.

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  7. Wonderful blooms in your garden. Fantastic photography.

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  8. The water poppy is very cool. Never seen one before. I would love to have a water garden but I have too many messy trees. Lovely photos.

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  9. I'm glad the Salvia guaranitica is blooming for you. Looking good!

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  10. Thanks for the tip on the Water Poppy, I'm going to have to find myself one of those!

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  11. Everything is looking great in your garden in spite of the heat. The 'Black and Blue' is such a beauty, but I couldn't find one this year (it's an annual here) so when I saw the hot pink 'Wendy's Wish' I grabbed it instead. Thanks for visiting me, and a belated Happy Bloom Day!

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