This Bloom Day arrives at a difficult time. I suspect that, like me, you're sick at heart over the news out of Paris. After 9/11, I hoped that we'd find a way to end the hatred and inhumanity that leads to such acts of terrorism. After each new incident, I wonder what we can do. A blog post is a small thing but bloggers create communities based on shared interests, which in turn support friendship and goodwill. And friendship and goodwill is a start.
Periodic temperature spikes, hot Santa Ana winds, and dry conditions have left my November garden low on floral color. My
Senna bicapsularis, the star of last November's Bloom Day post, has already dropped most of its blooms and many of the other plants that provided color at this time last year have failed to make an appearance yet.
The biggest splashes of color are provided by:
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| Barleria obtusa, which is a brighter blue than this sun-soaked shot suggests |
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| Bauhinia x blakeana, which though ruffled by the Santa Ana winds, has maintained a good many blooms |
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| The delicate blooms of Camellia sasanqua (no ID) wither when temperatures soar but the row of plants along the back of the house continue to pump out new flowers |
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| Rather than a "splash" of color, it may be more appropriate to say that Gomphrena decumbens 'Itsy Bitsy' offers floating bits and blobs of color |
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| The grasses, especially Pennisetum 'Fireworks' and Pennisetum advena 'Rubrum' continue to make a big impression |
Other spots of color can be found in corners here and there:
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| Clockwise from the upper left, the blue and purple flower contingent includes Brachyscome 'Enduring Blue', Duranta 'Sapphire Showers', Eustoma grandiflorum 'Borealis Blue', and Hypoestes aristata |
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| Clockwise from the upper left, the pink and red flower group includes the one and only bloom on my Stapelia grandiflorum, an Echeveria bloom, the last bloom of Eustoma grandiflorum 'Echo Pink', Grevillea 'Pink Midget', burgundy and pink forms of Pelargonium peltatum, Pentas 'Kaleidoscope Appleblossom', and Rosa 'Pink Meidiland' |
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The white, yellow and orange group includes, at top: Abelia 'Kaleidoscope', Agastache 'Sunset' and Gaillardia 'Gallo Peach'
Middle: Gazania (one of the few not eaten by squirrels), Grevillea 'Superb' and Lantana 'Lucky White'
Bottom: Osteospermum 'Blue-eyed Beauty', Rosa 'Joseph's Coat' and Rosa 'Medallion' |
Visit Carol, our Bloom Day host, at
May Dreams Gardens to see what's blooming elsewhere around the world.
All material
© 2012-2015 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
