First Bloom

For the first time, my Night blooming Cereus (Epiphyllum oxypetalum) has produced a bloom.  We've been watching and waiting, but by the time we headed towards sleepy-time, it had not opened.  But sometime in the the darkness, it unfurled it's petals.  Fortunately for us, it was still open when we glanced out in the morning.

Of course, as the day warmed, the bloom curled and faded.  But we are looking forward to additional blooms as the plant still has two more buds that have yet to open.

Flower Power: GBBD September 2012

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Established Plants

 Rock Rose (Pavonia lasiopetala)

Aztec Arrowhead (Sagittaria montevidensis) 

 Dwarf Barbados Cherry (Malphigia glabra)

Pale Pavonia (Pavonia hastata)

Liriope (Liriope spicata) 

Mexican Honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera)

Annuals

Begonias (Begonia semperflorens)

Morning Glory "Early Call Mix"

New Plants in the Garden

Pachyveria 'Exotica'

Flower Wannabes

American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)

Chile Petin's (Capsicum annuum var. aviculare)

Tardies

Soap Aloe (Aloe maculata)

 Night blooming Cereus (Epiphyllum oxypetalum)

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.