Established Plants
Rose Creek Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora 'Rose Creek') has produced more blooms this fall than ever before - a nice comeback after our hard summer.
Toad Lily (Tricyrtis lasiocarpa) had a rough time with the drought, but was able to produce a few blooms for the fall. Always impressed with its unique blossoms.
This is the end of the first full year for the Forsythia Sage (Salvia madrensis) in my garden. It struggled and only reached a height of less than three feet, but is still trying to put out some yellow flowers.
West Texas Mist Flower (Conoclinium greggii) continues to produce a sprawling purple coverage over its area in the garden.
Philippine Violets (Barleria cristata) is another plant that seemed to produce fewer blooms than usual this fall - less than 6 flowers have shown up on it.
Blue Anise Sage (Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue') was able to produce at least a few blooms after struggling mightily during our summer. Though vegetation is sparse, at least the few intensely-colored blooms are enjoyable.
New Plants in the Garden
Pale Pavonia (Pavonia hastata) produces nice, bright blossoms at its tips - but is quite lanky in my shade.
Indoor Plants
The usually reliable Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) did not like our intense summer heat this year - it lost over half of its foliage and thus produced very few blooms for our winter. Thinking that I may need to bring it inside next summer.
Flower Wannabes
Dwarf Buford Holly (Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii Nana') berries are changing from green to dull red to increasingly bright colors as the season progresses.
Chile Petin's (Capsicum annuum var. aviculare) has several bright green and red berries scattered amongst its foliage.
The Possumhaw (Ilex decidua) trees lost much of their foliage early this fall due to the drought - but was still able to produce a fair number of bright red berries that are really starting to show.
Of course, the bad-boy Nandina (Nandina domestica) shrugs off heat, drought and everything else to continue to look good and produce large numbers of berries. Know its invasive, but like any "weed" - it sure does well.
Tardies
Joe Pye Shrub (Eupatorium viburnoides) seems to have actually grown more than usual this year - apparently liking the heat. It has not yet opened its flower clusters.
A late blooming Soap Aloe (Aloe maculata) is sending up a short flower stalk that has not yet spread it's reddish-orange clusters of flowers. It's a race against the winter's first freeze to see if I'll actually get to enjoy the show.
Be sure to visit May Dream Gardens to see what other gardeners have blooming in their beds.
Lots of pretties remain in your garden. Abelia is an old fav. My Christmas cactus has baby-teeth buds so far. Maybe it is on schedule. I saw on in a picture of a Christmas cactus in a bonsai container and thought it such a grand idea. Further searching revealed that the original plant died soon after the photo was made. I'm keeping my cactus cutting in its regular pot and the bonsai container remains empty.Now I'm wondering....
ReplyDeleteNice toad lily. Between this GBBD and the last one I keep seeing them - it must be a sign. I am definitely going to add one to my upstate NY garden.
ReplyDeleteThe toad lily looks so exotic! And beautiful color on the aloe buds. I'm waiting on one of my succulents to bloom as well; hope we get the show before it gets colder!
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you again. I'm glad I'm not the only one who has been super busy.
ReplyDeleteMy black and blue salvia was a disappointing too. I think I should have cut the foliage back hard after the summer heat because the leaves look very ratty and the blooms are few and far between.
I like the toad lily, too. Great little bloom.
ReplyDeleteOnly once has my Christmas cactus bloomed at Christmas...always after. Maybe it should hang out outside next summer....in a protected spot.
Beautiful post...so much is going on. I LOVE the Mist Flower...totally going to find a spot for that in my garden next year :-)
ReplyDeleteYou have a great variety of interesting plants blooming. Oh, that toad lily - very cool!
ReplyDeleteRBell what conditions do you have the Philippine Violet growing in? We have similar conditions with all the shade...I've seen it on Jenny's blog a few times and would love to try to grow it but thought I had too much shade...
ReplyDeleteLove you pop up greenhouse...all looks cozy in there!
Lovely photos. I'm interested in the S madrensis--I thought about using that plant instead of a Pam' Pink Turk's Cap. I've seen the madrensis in several spots. I may have to try that plant soon.
ReplyDeleteLooks terrific for November. I like that you put the Latin names. This helps me so much to identify what I've got. That little chili pepper has always been a mystery to me until now.
ReplyDeleteDavid/ :0)
November and starting to get cold but your garden blooms are still stunning and the variety you’ve chosen is impressive. I love your Mistflowers which I also have and use as a side hedge.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, by the way!