Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - January 2014

Actually, in my garden, it is Garden Bloggers' (non) Bloom Day this month. My garden is literally bloom-free at the moment except for a few pansies which I have shown you before.

Just about ten days ago, Southeast Texas got its share of the polar vortex storm that swept the country. Ours was pretty weak tea compared to what our friends up north received but it was enough to send our low temperatures down to 20-22 degrees Fahrenheit for a couple of nights and that put an end to the few blooms which I still had. The almond verbena, yellow cestrum, Turk's cap, shrimp plant, and various lantanas that had continued to bloom through the winter were all hit hard by the cold and sent into a deep sleep. They should return in the spring, but for now, they look brown and dead.

So, I've truly nothing to show you this month, but I look forward to visiting the gardens of others who do have blooms to share, especially those in the southern hemisphere who are now in the middle of their summer. And I hope that by the middle of February, some blooms and color will have returned to my own garden.

Happy Bloom Day and happy gardening! And as always, thank you to Carol of May Dreams Gardens for hosting us.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - December 2013

If you visit our Bloom Day hostess, Carol of May Dreams Gardens, you will find gardens featured that boast many blooms this month. But, as for my garden in mid-December, blooms are sparse indeed this year.

Although we haven't yet had that true "killing" frost and no snow and ice as in many parts of the country, we have had several lighter frosts and many nights when temperatures have dipped into the the low 30s F. That has put all the tender perennials to sleep and has bitten back others and put a real damper on any hopes of blooms for the rest of the year.

Still, a few hardy plants persevere.

There's the Turk's cap, of course. It never really stops blooming, although it slows down in winter.

The various lantanas still send out a few blooms which are nourishment for our winter visiting butterflies.

The 'Dallas Red' lantana has been a particular winner this year.

 The shrimp plant seems unbothered by the cold and continues to be covered in its weird blossoms.

 Several of the roses can still be depended upon to send a few blooms out until that killing frost finally arrives. Here is one of the double 'Radazz' blossoms.

'Belinda's Dream' is always a prolific bloomer. 

 The only "winter color" I've added so far is a few baskets of pansies like this one that hangs near the front door.

 The "faces" of pansies and violas always make me smile.

 In the garden in the backyard, the Copper Canyon daisies continue to spill their profuse blooms over the path.

But that's about it. The garden really does need some more color for the season and maybe I will bestir myself to visit the garden center to obtain some this week. Meantime, thank you for visiting my late autumn garden and happy Bloom Day!

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - November 2013

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.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - October 2013

Welcome to my October garden which is continuing its slow decline into winter. Of course, winters here are not much to write home about usually. Even so, comparatively mild though it may be, it's a time of rest and refreshment for the garden and, to some extent, for the gardener as well. An event to look forward to.

There are still plenty of blooms in the garden this month, but very few that are new.

 The goldenrod is just beginning to bloom.

 The fall asters have not done very well, but they are giving me a few blossoms.

 Autumn just wouldn't be autumn without a pot of chrysanthemums blooming by the front door.

Other than these October additions, my blooms are pretty much the same old same old.

 Shrimp plant and 'Mystic Spires' salvia bloom together.

After a long hiatus, the bush marigold is beginning to bloom again.

 Blackfoot daisies.

 Lantana

 And more lantana.

 Turk's Cap.

 Species canna.

 A few zinnias are still blooming. 

The spring-blooming crossvine puts out a few autumn blossoms, too. I didn't notice the little anole on the left until I uploaded the picture.

 Mexican firebush (Hamelia patens).

 Butterfly ginger.

 Yellowbells (Tecoma stans).

 Cypress vine.

 Sunny yellow hibiscus.

 White cat's whiskers blossom.

 Ruellia: 'Chi Chi' (left) and 'Katie' (right).

Summer-blooming wax begonia extending its bloom into autumn.

 Purslane.

 Wedelia.

 Autumn sage.

 'Tropicanna.'

 'Bleeding Heart' clerodendrum that hasn't quite started "bleeding" yet.

Yellow cestrum.

 Cape honeysuckle.

 Cape (Blue) Plumbago.

'Coral Nymph' salvia.

 David Austin rose 'Molineux.'

So, there you have it - my oldies but goodies edition for October Bloom Day.

Don't forget to visit our hostess Carol at May Dreams Gardens for a list of all the bloggers participating in this month's Bloom Day.

Happy Bloom Day and happy gardening!