Oops! I almost forgot Bloom Day! Then I saw
Carol's of May Dreams Gardens post this morning and, of course, I had to get busy and participate in my favorite monthly meme.
In fact, I really don't have much to show you this month. It has not been a great year for my garden, but still, my old reliables continue showing up month after month.
There is one new face in the crowd. The
Lycoris Radiata has been in bloom all month. I prefer their common name, "Naked Ladies", so called because they pop out of the ground fully bloomed with no leaves on.
The fall asters are well past their prime but still sporting a few blooms.
There is nothing more iconic of October in my garden than the blooms of the
Anisacanthus wrightii and the little yellow Sulphur butterflies that love them.
And, of course, the yellow bell-shaped blooms of the Esperanza.
The large shrub reaches for the October sky.
More down-to-earth is the Mexican firebush which lives up to its common name in October as it blazes with its flame-shaped blossoms.
The blue plumbago is a bank of these blossoms.
And the old yellow cestrum continues its blooming. That's the watermelon-colored crape myrtle in the background.
The pink Knockout rose is putting forth a few of its pretty little single blooms.
The 'Lady of Shallott' rose has been one of my most dependable and beautiful bloomers throughout the summer.
The autumn sage is decorating the season with its flowers.
The Vitex, aka chaste tree, is one of my garden favorites.
The old-fashioned 4 o'clocks are undaunted.
Lantana is at its best now. That's basil next to it.
The Turk's cap blooms just about twelve months of the year in my garden.
The butterfly ginger has not had a good year but it is rallying to put out a few blooms now.
And the chrysanthemums are just beginning to bloom. There will be more shortly.
Jatropha blooms on.
And my purple oxalis is enjoying the cooler temperatures we've had recently.
Strolling through my garden, even when it is not at its best, as is the case now, always gives me hope.
May your garden also help to keep hope alive. Thank you for visiting mine. Happy Bloom Day!
Wow, you pulled together a lot of great photos together for your last-minute post! I adore the red Lycoris at the top of your post. Your Chaste Tree is spectacular too. I planted one 2 years ago and it's still a puny thing, but I have hope it'll come through eventually as my other Vitex (V. trifolia) also look its sweet time getting established. Happy GBBD!
ReplyDeleteMy experience with the Vitex is that they can be slow getting growing, but mine has been quite glorious this year.
DeleteHappy garden Bloggers Bloom Day! I don't grwo any roses, but I do like seeing photos of them on others' blogs and seeing them in other people's gardens. I love your photo of 'The Lady of Shallott,' it's such a pretty color. I'm glad you enjoyed your visit to my blog, your comment brought me to yours which I also enjoyed.
ReplyDelete'The Lady of Shallott' has been a real winner for me this year when many parts of the garden have struggled because I haven't been able to care for them properly.
DeleteThe yellow on that esperanza is something! It's a bit too warm loving for my zone, otherwise I'd replace my ill lilac. You're right about the garden giving hope. Even as I pull out dead plants I see the new growth on others, readying themselves for spring.
ReplyDeleteYou are exactly right. Even as the garden begins to wind down for the year, one sees the promise of a new year and the hope of bigger and better things!
DeleteYour garden looks quite splendid to me, Dorothy. As you might imagine, our gardens here are pretty much done for the year. There was frost this morning.
ReplyDeleteThank you, David. I think, like a lot of gardeners, when I look at mine, I only see what needs to be "fixed". But it doesn't impede my enjoyment of what is there. We usually get our first frost in early December, so we should have at least another month of blooms.
DeleteGlad to see Four-o'clocks - they remind me of my mother.
ReplyDeleteMy Naked Ladies have already faded away, and oh, how I wish I had that beautiful purple Oxalis!
Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!
My mother always grew four o'clocks, too. In fact, one of my earliest memories is playing around a large four o'clock plant that grew next to our back porch. I always have a few in my garden to honor that memory.
DeleteThank you for posting your garden pictures. Starting next month, your GBBD will be one of several keeping hope alive after the bittersweet season delivers its killing freezes in New York State and I am left with...garden memories. I enjoyed all your blooms (so please don't fret), especially the orange rose and the oxalis. Happy GBBD!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Alana. That rose and the oxalis are two of my favorites, also.
DeleteLovely blooms.As every month we share same blooms in this month too.Glad to spot chrysanthemum in your post sice we have to wait for two long months to get them into blooms.Happy bloggers blooms day.Be happy always.
ReplyDeleteMy chrysanthemums won't be at their peak for another two to three weeks. I am lucky to have just a few of their blooms this early.
DeleteI am glad you remembered. I love Bloom Day!
ReplyDeleteMe, too.
DeleteBeautiful blooms, Dorothy. I love your name for Lycoris Radiata. I've heard it called spider lily. I had some but they didn't return after the first year. I am barely pushing zone 6, so I think the harsh winter got them. Happy GBBD! P. x
ReplyDelete"Spider lily" is one of the many names the Lycoris is known by. Some around here call it the "hurricane lily" because it blooms during hurricane season, but I still prefer "naked lady"!
DeleteDorothy-your blooms are beautiful and I am in awe over the Lycoris Radiata! Your roses and purple oxalis are beautiful too and I love your 'Hope" plaque...perfect!
ReplyDeleteI'm very fond of that "Hope" plaque. It reminds me to never give up.
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