First Spider Lily 2011

Last year, my very first Red Spider Lily (Lycoris radiata) bloom appeared around September 19.  Though in a different spot in the garden, the plant has once again made its initial appearance in late September.

Several of the bulbs have been planted in three different areas of the garden.  Last year, only one bloomed near the path.  This year, a single bloom has arisen from near the tree.

Another central group has yet to ever produce a bloom.  I'm hopeful that this will not be this year's only bloom.  But with the heat and drought, I'm happy to see anything!

Planted in Pots:

• Created a pot containing Vuurpylaalwyn (Aloe peglerae), Gasteria batesiana and Aloe jucunda (the latter two amongst my most recent purchases from the Austin Cactus & Succulent Society Show).

Foliage Follow-up: September 2011

As of today, we have experienced 85 days with a high temperature at or above 100 degrees.  The average yearly number of 100 degree days in Austin, Texas is 13.5 - I'm thinking this year will be pushing that average up quite a bit.  The previous yearly record for the most 100 degree days was 69 set in 1925 - that record has been absolutely shattered.  And to make matters worse, rainfall has been almost non-existent in my garden for most of the year.

Needless to say, participating in Digging's Foliage Follow-up is a bit of struggle.

 

Be sure to visit Digging to see what foliage can be found in other's gardens.  Hope theirs is faring better than mine!

Flower Power: GBBD September 2011

As I ventured out to participate in May Dream Gardens' Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, I could think of only two plants blooming in our everlasting heat & drought.  But I was surprised to discover a few additional spots of color.  Of course, we're not talking a lot here - excluding the Soap Aloe, I could gather all the remain garden's blooms and pile them into one hand.

Established Plants

Showing more blooms than any other non-potted garden plant, my few Liriope (Liriope spicata) add a nice splash of purple.

Having never bloomed before, one of my three Dwarf Mexican Firebush (Hamelia patens 'Compacta') seems to be celebrating the heat by producing some clusters of yellow/red flowers.

Apparently, due to lack of rain, the Pink Rain Lily (Zephyranthes rosea) has lost it's mind.  A single pink bloom was found rising up from its grass-like foliage.

Potted Plants

I have several Soap Aloes (Aloe maculata) planted in the ground, but the only specimen to produce flowers this year was the one I had in a pot.  Its flower stalk developed in a curled, clumped manner (likely due to lack of water) which actually caused the flowers to be clustered more tightly.

The Ground Orchid (Spathoglottis plicata) continues to have a single tall, thin flower stalk rising up, its tip still producing a cluster of magenta blooms.

Aloe 'Doran Black' has again produced a flower stalk that is just now starting to spread and open its flowers.  It has been quite reliable this year.

Flower Wannabes

The bright purple berry clusters of the American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) continue to survive amongst the plant's limp foliage.

Be sure to visit May Dream Gardens to see what others have blooming in their gardens.