An unapologetic plant geek shares advice and opinions on gardening, the contrived and the natural landscape, as well as occasional topics from the other side of the gate.

October 15, 2014

Bloom Day - A Foot in the Door

     The first signs of fall are starting to appear in the local landscape, but peak foliage does not usually happen for us until early November. I am OK with that, as fall makes me somewhat melancholy, mainly because I know what's to follow. We have had a remarkable spate of weather in the past 6 weeks with mild temperatures, and plenty of rain, even though much of that has fallen in strong downpours. Usually by this time of year the garden is looking a little ragged from the summer, but this year, not so much.

     I planted Salvia 'Lady in Red' in my porch planters, but the roof covers them a bit denying the plants full sun and rainfall, yet they still bloom.
Salvia coccinea 'Lady in Red'

     When we do get cold weather, one of the first things to go down will be my coleus. I know there are people who save them year after year through cuttings, but I just buy new ones each spring. The botanical name of coleus is changing from Solenostemon to Plectranthus, which is a shame since I just learned how to spell Solenostemon without having to look it up.
Coleus Collection

     And just when I had come to accept that many Chrysanthemum are really Dendranthema, I now read they are switching back. So here is Chrysanthemum 'Bolero' (formerly known as Dendranthema).
Chrysanthemum (a.k.a. Dendranthema) 'Bolero' (2)

Chrysanthemum (a.k.a. Dendranthema) 'Bolero' (1)

     After this past winter's low temperatures, I had real concern that my Cestrum 'Orange Peel' would survive, and indeed I did have to cut the shrub back hard, almost to the ground. However, you wouldn't know it. It has reached over 6' in a single season, and has bloomed non-stop since late May.
Cestrum aurantiaum 'Orange Zest'

     This has been a bountiful year for my hardy orange (Poncirus trifoliata). It is one of the few plants remaining from a previous gardener.
Poncirus trifoliata (2)

Poncirus trifoliata (1)

     This has also been a good year for Callicarpa americana.
Callicarpa americana

     Probably the most distracting plant in my garden right now is Lantana 'Miss Huff'. I know it is common, but some things are common for a reason, and I couldn't imaging gardening without her.
Lantana camara 'Miss Huff' (1)

     One sure sign of fall around here are the blooms of Camellia sasanqua. This one is 'Yuletide', which usually starts flowering a little later. I hope its earliness is not any kind of omen as to how the winter will be.
Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide'

     If you would like to see how the season is progressing for other gardeners, then please visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens, who hosts Garden Bloggers Bloom Day on the 15th of each month.

17 comments:

  1. Beautiful blooms!
    I've never before seen so many berries on a Beautyberry - really wonderful!
    Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!
    Lea

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    1. Lea, the beautiberries have really hung on to their fruits this year. Maybe the milder temps have kept them fresh, or perhaps the birds have plenty of other options.

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  2. Oranges! What a fabulous garden. I love the Beautyberry! Happy GBBD!

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    1. Thanks, CW!. Happy GBBD to you as well.

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  3. Les your Bloom Day garden looks like my late summer garden. How wonderful to still have so many blooms and foliage to look forward to.

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    1. Donna, It is indeed like late summer here.

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  4. I love the Callicarpa with that feathery blue foliage underneath. I have given up trying to keep up with nomenclature changes. I understand all the reasoning but it is frustrating esp. when you actually can spell them without help.

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    1. Linda, I am just glad I am not overly fond of asters. That nomenclature breakup was ugly.

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  5. A very inviting entry to your home Les! Love the path "decorated" with oranges. The Callicapra is a 'shocking' purple: fantastic color combo in that picture. What's the feathery plant below it? I wish I could grow Lantana: I love the pungent smell of its leaves.

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    1. Chavliness, the plant under the Callicarpa is Euphorbia wulfenii. Too bad its acid yellow/green flowers don't bloom when the Callicarpa has fruit on it.

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  6. Les, if you're going to Swarthmore perennial conference, you might consider also going the next day to Federal Twist, J. Golden's garden. I did this last year -- it was open via Garden Conservancy the day after conference and I think the same is true this year. His garden is maybe an hour away -- very doable and worth the trip. If you haven't thought of this already and have the time, you might want to consider. Garden is even better in person.

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    1. Sarah, I am staying with my brother this weekend, and he lives fairly close by. If we can work it out, we may pay a visit. It will be my second.

      http://atidewatergardener.blogspot.com/2010/10/real-garden.html

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  7. Oh Les, things are still more colourful there. Are Autumn tree colours are at their peak here in Nova Scotia but our flowers are pretty much done. I too dread the arrival of Winter. Do you have a Greenhouse to help make Winter easier to get through ?

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  8. I took cuttings of coleus for two years with success, but last winter none (different variety) made it. I wonder if some are better at surviving winter indoors better than others. Thanks for the 'step back' context view of the arbor - it's nice to see how everything fits together once in a while.
    Ray

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  9. Hi Les, I've been a bit melancholy too as the light gets less and less. We haven't had much cool weather, but the mornings are starting to cool. I have never seen 'Miss Huff' for sale anywhere here. She is quite striking. I love lantanas. I grow 'Dallas Red' many years. This year, it's around the red fountain. I didn't know mums were going back to their original name. I wish the taxonomists would just make up their minds. Happy Bloom Day!~~Dee

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  10. Impressive collection of Coleus plants there! I really enjoy growing them, too--great annuals for shade. Lantanas have quickly become a favorite for my small sunny garden. They aren't as common here, but they're excellent annual plants for us, and the butterflies love them! One of these years, I'd like to add a Beautyberry shrub to my garden. Currently we're trying not to sink too much more money into the garden here as we plan to move in a couple of years. But I love Beautyberrys, and we can just barely grow them here in Southern Wisconsin. Great post!

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  11. I too have problems with fall. Haven't quite figured out how to stay upbeat as plants are dying back. This name changing business really bothers me. I am glad the chrysanthemums are going the right direction though, ridiculous. This past winter I found out that American beautyberries have hardiness issues. I lost two of my three shrubs whereas the Asian variety sailed through happy as a clam. Too bad because I like the American better.

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