Here we are at the fifteenth of the month again, a day on which I used to regularly participate in Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. I haven't done a Bloom Day post in recent months but I decided it was time to jump in once again. So here are some pictures of what is blooming in my hot - very hot! - Southeast Texas garden this Bloom Day. Full disclosure: These pictures were taken earlier because it is just too damned hot to be out there with a camera today. Our high today is expected to be 104 degrees Fahrenheit. It's not quite there yet, but it will be.
The heat doesn't bother 'Pride of Barbados,' of course. In fact, it seems to relish it. The hotter it gets the more it blooms.
Perhaps it is not a coincidence that in the hottest month of the year, many of my blooms are also in very hot colors, like this
Justicia 'Orange Flame.'
Nothing discourages this old crape myrtle.
And, of course, neither heat nor our lack of rain is a problem for the water lilies.
That is also true of the blue plumbago, one of my few "cool" bloomers.
Purslane blooms in a pot on a patio table.
And here it is in another color.
'Turk's Cap' is another bloomer undaunted by heat.
The old milkweed, butterfly weed, likewise seems to relish the heat.
Hamelia patens, aka Firebush. Its common name describes it well. It blooms from spring until about late November or December when our first heavy frost finally knocks it back.
And there you have it - a tour of the blooms in my garden that are able to survive drought and heat. Tough plants all and how I do appreciate them!
If climate change continues to accelerate, we'll all be appreciating those plants (many of which aren't hardy where I live I suspect). You found a lot of blooms and I salute each and every one of these tough and heat resistant plants. I'm happy you decided to join.
ReplyDeleteAs the "Heat Belt" moves farther and farther north across the continent, we may see these plants appearing in northern gardens.
DeleteYour garden looks terrific, Dorothy. Even for heat- loving plants though there must be an upper temperature limit. They must metabolize water exceptionally well.
ReplyDeleteThey are tough plants, survivors. We don't routinely provide extra water so they have to be able to deal with our climate.
DeleteGorgeous blooms! I love your photo of the purslane. :D
ReplyDeleteYour garden looks fantastic when so many around us have little to show in this heat.
ReplyDeleteI have to give props to my hubby who has been employing the hoses daily to keep things going until we finally get some rain.
DeleteI really enjoyed my virtual tour of your garden, Dorothy. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYeah the crape myrtle is really great. I'm in Calif right now and there's a purple one here that is in full bloom big, wow! I hope your garden will survive the 100 degree temps till it cools off a bit.
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