Bloom Day - A Peck on the Cheek

     Winter tried to pay a little visit last night. It was the first time this season that temperatures dipped to freezing, fortunately they did not stay there long, and we had enough wind to put off our first frost for some other day. Honestly I am never ready for cold weather, and if weren't for colorful fall foliage and a big feast, the month of November would be tied with February as my least favorite. A co-worker and I were discussing weather preferences this week. She is from Yorkshire, and I remarked that this week's wind and cold must have reminded her of home, to which she agreed. She also added that cold weather does a body good, but I suspect that's just something people living in cold dank places tell each other.

    Anyhow, let's get on with this month's entry. My first plant is also my newest, Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Golden Arrow' (mountain fleece). I found it on sale at Linden Hill Gardens in Pennsylvania when I was visiting last month. My head turns at the sight of chartreuse foliage, and I liked the strong raspberry-red flowers. As usual, I had nowhere in mind to put this moisture lover, so it was repotted and relegated to the front steps where I can keep an eye on it.

     Down by the sidewalk, my Ajania pacifica (silver and gold chrysanthemum) is coming into bloom. I am sure I have said it before, but I love this drought tolerant, über easy perennial. Close by are two more favorite fall perennials, Amsonia hubrichtii (Hubricht's blue star) and Salvia leucantha (Mexican bush sage). Cuphea ignea 'David Verity', has been blooming here since May.

     My Leonoitis leonurus (lion's tail, wild dagga) was sacrificed during last winter's Arctic vortex. I love its unusual form, and I love orange in the garden, so I replanted one in May. It spent all summer getting established and bloomed late in the season. With Salvia leucantha 'All Purple' in front, a party broke out.

     Despite the mockingbirds, berries still persist on my Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry). Even though they are no longer fresh, I like the color against Cotinus and Euphorbia.

     One great big disappointment for me has been Abelia x grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope', mainly due to its lack of vigor, and grow-anyway-I-damn-well-please attitude. I know other gardeners have had no such problems, so I cut it way down this summer and was more attentive as to watering to see if that might help. Time will tell.

     In my rant against November, I forgot the other thing that makes the month bearable; it marks the beginning of camellia season. All of the sasanquas in my side garden are budded and blooming. In the backyard my favorite, 'Yuletide', has many buds but few flowers, mainly due to a pesky squirrel who has taken to eaten the about-to-open buds. The situation has me questioning my commitment to veganism.

      Most gardeners only think of Fatsia japonica as a foliage plant for shaded areas, but the flowers are fun and remind me of Sputnik.

     The biggest star of my November garden is Tagetes lucida (Mexican marigold, Mexican tarragon). For two years it languished in the side garden never getting enough light. I moved it to a sunnier spot this spring, and in gratitude, it has been covered with flowers since mid-October. According to entheology.com, the Aztecs "...would sprinkle a powder of the plant into the faces of prisoners of war who were to be burned as sacrifices so that they would be sedated during the ordeal." This makes me ponder how squirrels might react.

     Later this week winter is supposed to make another visit, and this time she will not be here for a quick peck on the cheek. Overnight lows are predicted into the mid-twenties. I shouldn't complain, because I know she has already put her big fat lips all over many parts of the country, but I will complain anyway. It makes me feel better. If you want to see how the early arrival of winter has treated other gardeners, then visit Carol at May Dreams Garden, who hosts Garden Bloggers Bloom Day on the 15th of each month.