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.

Flower Power: GBBD July 2010

May Dream Gardens hosts Garden Blogger's Bloom Day every month.  During the shady heat of July, blooms are scarce in my garden (actually, they're always pretty scarce in my shade, but they become even rarer during the dry summer heat).  But a few of my plants are making the attempt, so here's a few blooms:

Established Plants

Water Poppy (Hydrocleys nymphoides) is one of the few pond plants that will do fairly well in filtered sun, throwing out a few blooms on occasion. 

My Chinese Indigo (Indigofera kirilowii) is in its second year (still pretty small) and will produce pendulous blossoms on new growth.

One plant that doesn't seem to mind the dry, hot shade, the Rock Rose (Pavonia lasiopetala) continues to produce hot pink flowers.

My Society Garlic (Tulbaghia violacea) didn't produce any spring blossoms (as it was likely recovering from getting blasted by the winter's 18 degree lows).  But its sending up some lilac clusters now.

One plant that I'm considering for additional locations in the garden is the 'Ragin Cajun' Ruellia (Ruellia elegans 'Ragin' Cajun').  Its red flowers seem to float above the foliage and I'm thinking it might get even more blooms in a slightly sunnier spot, .

New Plants in the Garden

And in my one sunny garden spot (due to a collapsed tree), I threw caution to the wind and planted some different flavors of Zinnia.  For whatever reason, most did not respond well.  But Zinnia 'Zahara Orange' seems quite happy.

Hope your gardens are filled with blooms!