Bloom Day - Frost Free, For Now

It has been a delightful fall here, which is especially appreciated after this summer's horrid weather and after what we went through last fall at this time. I have given up on trying to determine what factors influence good fall foliage, because just when you hear some plausible explanation along comes a fall show that defies prediction. Yesterday on the way to work I marveled at the colors that were on display, wondering if anyone else speeding down the road appreciated what I was seeing and how special it was, even if it was just from trees that grow wild along the interstate. The other factor making this fall delightful has been the fact that we have yet to have a frost here in the city, although outlying areas have. So my garden is still full of color from those things that do not know any better and are blithely ignorant of what will surely come soon, and I have blooms from what ought to be in flower now as well.

Although I have already planted annuals to get me through the winter, I hadn't the heart to pull out my Zinnias (Zinnia marlandica 'Zahara Fire'), which have not stopped blooming since I planted them way back in May.

Like the Zinnias, my Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) have similarly been spared, but I know they will be the first casualty of frost.

What few Roses I have are all enjoying a second wind. This is the ubiquitous Knock Out.

Miss Huff (Lantana camara 'Miss Huff') has become quite pushy with her neighbors, nudging everyone else around her out of the way, but her comeuppance should be soon enough.

A very recent addition to the garden surprised me by blooming just a few weeks after planting. I was intrigued with Sternbergia lutea after seeing it at Stratford Hall last year, and so I nagged my fellow manager to stock the bulbs this fall.

My Mexican Bush Sage (Salvia leucantha) and Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans 'Golden Delicious') have waited all summer to bloom, despite being nearly trampled to death by an agent of the United States Postal Service.

Ajania pacificum

Parthenocissus tricuspidata’Fenway Park’

Perhaps the most welcome sign of the changing seasons are the blooms from Camellia sasanqua - they help make cold weather bearable here. The pink one is 'Kanjiro', and the white is 'Autumn Rocket'.

I came across this sign of fall last week and took it as strong reminder that I was overdue for bringing my houseplants in. This onerous chore was finally finished on Friday and once again our house is greener, but seems much smaller.

If you would like to see how fall has been in other people's gardens, you can visit Carol at May Dreams Garden where she hosts Garden Bloggers Bloom Day on the 15th of each month. While you are there, please thank her for me.