Despite the rough start with a horrific plant-killing heatwave, the rest of the summer in my area of Southern California has been relatively mild, not that I'm counting summer quite over yet - another warm-up is expected next week. Still, the generally cooler temperatures over the past month, combined with an easing of our water restrictions (now set at a 10% reduction of 2013 water use levels as opposed to 36%), have produced a number of surprises, the biggest of which were these:
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| Although we've had no rain, perhaps high levels of humidity and increased irrigation finally prompted these blooms from the 3 clumps of Zephyranthes candida (rain lilies) I planted in 2014 |
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| I was about to replace this Clematis terniflora (aka Sweet Autumn Clematis), planted in 2013, when it bloomed |
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| Last month, I had a few blooms here and there from my roses but this month Rosa 'Medallion' surprised me by producing a dozen large blooms |
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| Brugmansia 'Charles Grimaldi', planted in a pot in 2013, was another plant living on borrowed time when it bloomed. To be fair, increased water again probably made the difference. |
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| I grow Correa 'Wyn's Wonder' mainly for its foliage but it's currently sporting off-season flowers rose-pink flowers |
The timing of other blooms was more to be expected but were pleasant to discover nonetheless:
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| Bauhinia x blakeana (aka Hong Kong orchid tree) produced a few blooms last month but it's loaded with them now |
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| The Osteospermums are blooming again in response to cooler weather. Osteospermum '4D Silver' is shown on the left and O. 'Berry White' on the right. |
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| Two of the small Hebes sported blooms. I've noID for the one on the left. The one on the right is Hebe 'Purple Shamrock'. |
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| A berry-colored Angelonia, planted last year, burst into bloom alongside burgundy Pelargonium peltatum, mixing nicely with the variegated Pseuderanthemum 'Texas Tri-star'in the same area. The classification of the latter plant has always posed an issue. It was labeled as Pseuderanthemum when I bought it but I've also found it labeled as Strobilanthes. Things were complicated further this week when I found Australian growers calling it a variegated Barleria obtusa 'Purple Gem'. |
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| No, these aren't flowers but their pretty color makes them just as compelling in the garden (even with the raggedy foliage). These are 'Hachiya' persimmons. |
There are also a couple of oddities:
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| This Duranta was purchased as D. repens 'Gold Mound'. Not only did it significantly exceed its forecasted 2x2 foot size but it's also producing far more pale blue flowers than anticipated. |
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| I came across this bloom on succulent Faucaria tigrina (aka Tiger's Jaw) by accident |
And then there are the garden stalwarts:
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| The Abelias are STILL blooming |
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| While the Eustoma grandiflorum (Lisianthus) planted in prior years are mostly bloomed out, those planted this spring are now throwing up blooms. Clockwise from the left are a pale yellow form tinged with pink, a white form, a blue variety and one of the pale green ones. |
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| Gomphrenas continue to produce masses of bloom. From left to right: Gomphrena globosa 'Fireworks', G, decumbens 'Itsy Bitsy', and G. hybrid 'Pinball Snow-tip Lavender'. |
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| Some Grevilleas bloom for a season. Grevillea 'Peaches & Cream' (left) and G. 'Superb' (right) bloom all year. |
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| Ornamental grasses are the stars of my late summer and fall garden. Pennisetum 'Fireworks', shown here in 2 different areas of the garden, are making a big splash. |
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| Blue Salvias of various species are all in bloom, to the delight of the bumble bees. From left to right here are: Salvia greggii 'Mesa Azure', S. chamaedryoides 'Marine Blue' and S. hybrid 'Mystic Spires'. |
I'll close with some honorable mentions:
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Top row: Cuphea vermillionaire (newish), Gaillaridia 'Goblin' (self-seeded), and Gaura lindheimeri (refreshed after a trim)
Middle row: Leucanthemum x superbum (2nd flowering), Limonium perezii (2nd flowering), and Liriope muscari
Bottom row: Nierembergia caerulea, Pentas 'Nova', and Trichostema 'Midnight Magic' (easier to grow than most Blue Curls) |
Visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens to find Bloom Day posts from all over the world.
All material © 2012-2016 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
