This week we had our first true cold snap of the season. While it didn't get as cold as had been predicted, the low temperature for the past two nights in my backyard was 38 degrees F., and that's actually pretty cold for this part of the world in mid-November. This weekend, high temperatures are supposed to be in the 80s once again. Such is our highly changeable weather.
Our average first frost date of the season comes around December 10 and so November Bloom Day finds the garden in perhaps its final big flush of bloom for the year. Here's a sample of those blooms from my garden this week.
All the brugmansias are full of buds, and this white one is blooming already.
The 'Caldwell Pink' roses are offering up their pretty blossoms.
Sweet-smelling almost verbena reaches toward the autumn sky.
The sunny yellow hibiscus continues to produce blooms on a daily basis.
All the lantanas are in their glory in autumn, which makes the bumblebees happy.
And the Gulf Fritillary butterflies, as well.
A Painted Lady rests on the purple trailing lantana.
'Butter and cream' lantana, too, is blooming profusely just now.
The white cat's whiskers continue to put out some blooms.
Autumn, of course, is also the time when the sages and salvias are at their best, like this pineapple sage.
'Coral Nymph' salvia.
' Mystic Spires' salvia.
'Hot Lips' salvia.
This white mistflower has been in full bloom for about a week now.
Cape honeysuckle is still attracting butterflies like this Cloudless Sulphur, as well as passing hummingbirds.
Even spring-blooming crossvine, 'Tangerine Dream,' gets into the act with a few blossoms.
The Copper Canyon daisies are nearing full bloom.
And
Hamelia patens, the so-called Mexican firebush, continues its all summer and fall bloom. It will keep blooming until first frost.
Clerodendrum 'Bleeding Heart.'
This butterfly weed waits for passing Monarch butterflies. We've have a few straggling through, but I haven't noticed any eggs or caterpillars on any of my milkweed.
The old cannas likewise continue their almost year-long bloom which will end with our first frost.
Wedelia, a wonderful ground cover.
Shrimp plant blossom.
Turk's Cap 'Big Momma.'
The cheerful blossoms of bush marigold.
Even the tropical Jatropha continues its bloom.
The 'Graham Thomas' rose is always at its best in autumn.
Things may look quite different in the garden by December Bloom Day, but for now the season of flowers continues to gladden our hearts.
As always, thanks to
Carol of May Dreams Gardens for hosting Bloom Day, and thank you for visiting my garden this month.
Oh so many beautiful blooms!
ReplyDeleteHappy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!
Lea
Thanks for dropping by, Lea, and happy Bloom Day to you.
DeleteWow! Your plants are so beautiful and abundant. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWe do still have plenty of blooms here at the middle of November, but things are beginning to wind down. We enjoy the color while it lasts.
DeleteI'm in zone 8b....your flowers are as though winter will never come....: ) Happy gbbd!
ReplyDeleteOur winters are generally pretty mild, but we did have just a glimpse of it this week. More to come I'm sure.
DeleteYour flowers are wonderful, so nice to see beautiful flowers when most here are gone. I always loved fall and spring in Houston.
ReplyDeleteFall is my favorite, I think.
DeleteSo many beautiful blooms! It's such a treat to see them as well as the butterflies and bees. We had our first snow this past week and temps in the teens, so my garden is pretty much done for the year.
ReplyDeleteSnow seems to be coming early in lots of places this year. There are times (usually when it's 80 degrees at Christmas) that I envy you your snow!
DeleteDorothy, I think I stumbled on a Big Momma today while driving through a new to me neighborhood. They have totally different leaves than the regular Turk's Cap, right? Do you know if they will root from cuttings?
ReplyDeleteThey would probably root from cuttings. They reseed prolifically and I have to pull up seedlings every year. If you try one, just be sure to give it plenty of room. The name 'BIG Momma' is not a misnomer!
DeleteI can see that. This one I found was easily 8x8!
DeleteHi Dorothy, a lot of your plants are also here in the tropics. Don't you experience the changes also in the seasons, or abnormal dates like others experience? I alwasy fees sad when plants in my blogfriend's garden succumb to frost and winter. It is just like the feeling when our plants succumb to typhoons!
ReplyDeleteWe generally get our first frost the second week in December, and it's not really a sad event. It puts the plants in my garden to sleep and gives them a chance to rest for a few weeks. Gives the gardener a bit of a rest, too!
DeleteThe typhoon, on the other hand, truly is a catastrophic event both for plants and humans. Nature will replenish itself, but it does take time. The plants will grow again and humans will persevere and rebuild. Meantime, those who have been so devastated are in our thoughts as we send whatever aid we are able to.
Hi Dorothy, I really enjoyed all the pictures on this post. And can't wait to see what you share for December. What ever you share will be more colorful than my window view here in Omaha!
ReplyDeleteBy the time December Bloom Day rolls around, we should have had our first frost, so I may not have much to share at all. But we'll see. Thanks for visiting!
DeleteWOW! What variety.
ReplyDeleteYes, there is still quite a lot going on in the garden here at middle and now late November. It's really just about my favorite time of year.
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