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Monday, November 15, 2010

GARDEN BLOGGERS' BLOOM DAY NOVEMBER 2010

Welcome to bloom day in Austin Texas. Stop by at May Dreams to catch up with what is blooming in other gardens.

November is a special time for three plants in my garden. First, the Philippine violet, Barleria cristata. Dying back down to the ground every winter, it takes time to fill out into a rounded 5' bush before bursting into bloom.

The copper canyon daisy, Tagetes limmonii.

Seen here mixed with gomphrena.

The Mexican mint Marigold, Tagetes lucida. Sometimes used as a substitute for tarragon. It has a tendency to be a little invasive. Here I have allowed a plant to grow in between the pavers in the herb garden.

I'm not actually sure what this red salvia or where it came from. It spreads by underground runners forming a green mat and sending up spikes of red flowers from time to time. It seems to flower better during the cooler weather. Thanks to one reader, now identified as Salvia darcyi.

Cat's whiskers, Orthosiphon aristatus, still blooming, but with smaller spikes.

Blanket flowers, Gaillardia aristata, never seems to stop blooming.

This one came back true to the parent plant, which was a hybrid I grew last year. It found a home in between the vegetable beds and of course I let it stay.

And still the cone flowers, Echinacea purpurea, keep blooming.

and the little flowers of the snapdragon vine among the chile pequin.

Wright's skullcap, Scutellaria wrightii.

Wait a minute! This leather flower, Clematis pitcheri, shouldn't be flowering now.

and it is far too early for the Carolina jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens. However, at the Wildflower Center on Thursday I saw an Anacacho orchid tree in full bloom. Clearly, others are experiencing this out of season blooming. I wonder what will happen in the spring!
Happy Bloom Day.

20 comments:

  1. I think it's been a topsy-turvy year all over the globe ... weather-wise ... and it's had an effect on gardens everywhere. It's true of my spot in Oz as well.

    Such a great selection of blooms ... your Scutellaria is beautiful. Mine is the pink Texas Skullcap, but I do love your purple variety. I just love your Mexican mint Marigold too ... it looks fabulous growing in amongst those pavers. Fabulous GBBD post.

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  2. What a beautiful array of blooms. Our garden is begining to fade as the cool temps move in. It is nice to see such vivid color!

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  3. Very nice display of blooms for November. I like how the plants came up between the pavers...and the Royal Carpet Alyssum is pretty under the Blanket Flowers..

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  4. I love your Philippine violet, such a delicate colour. I also love that combination of copper canyon daisy (great name!) with gomphrena. Its good to know that just as my garden is going to sleep for the winter other people's are in full bloom!

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  5. Such beautiful bright flowers. Like Janet in the previous comment, I also love the copper canyon daisy/gomphrena combination.

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  6. Your garden shines beautifully as always! The gomphrena and copper canyon daisy are so cheery together. My gomphrena went in during the early fall and it's starting to bloom but they are very small...would you mind seting some seeds aside for me as I fear mine won't be making enough flowers for me to sow seeds next spring...I saw them on your blog earlier in the summer but didn't know they were an annual ;) Thanks, Cat

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  7. The Philippine violet is spectacular... I've never seen one before and assume it's not zone 5 hardy? L

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  8. Very nice...I am quite the fan of rock and hardscape, and what happens in its gaps! Some of your flowering does seem untimely, so enjoy it for those of us where the chill-down is right on time!

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  9. Bernie-This weird weather is starting to worry me about next spring. Many plants have bloomed twice this year, surely they won't have enough strength to bloom in the spring too. Thanks for your kind words.
    Redneck Rosarian-This season has been a really long one. I'm sure the garden is ready for a break too.
    Darla- I have a bit of a weakness for letting plants grow between the pavers. It means a lot of weeding but then sometimes the plants are in the perfect spot. Thanks for visiting.
    Janet- It is nice to have this late color but the shortening days are taking their toll on plants. Winter is on the way.
    Mac- So much happens by accident!
    The Whimsical Gardener-I'll be sure to save some seeds for you. They can be planted in the garden after the last frost date.
    LC- I doubt it is hardy in zone 5 unless you can really give it some very good winter protection and prevent the ground from freezing. We had 15 degrees last winter but it was not prolonged.
    Desert dweller- The garden is always full of surprises. Wouldn't it be boring if it was always the same.

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  10. You've got LOTS of great blooms--I'm a little envious. Is that red salvia the one often referred to as "cedar sage"? Your Wright's skullcap is lovely. A tiny bit of mine came back. Love the Philippine violet, too!

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  11. Iris- I checked out the cedar sage and I am not 100% sure that it is this one. It does seem to like the shade but the leaf form looks slightly different. Cedar sage likes to grow under Ashe juniper so I may try to put some out there and see how it fares. It would certainly add something to my native areas.
    Wright's skull cap is a great one for seeding in the gravel.

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  12. I tried the Clematis pitcheri two autumns ago, but it still hasn't done a thing in my garden, in or out of season. I keep thinking I'll have to try the Philippine violet. Do you have yours in sun or part-shade?

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  13. Now really, how do you do this?! Outstanding pictures and such a beautiful array of flowers, even the ones that pop up on their one. That salvia isn't a coccinea?

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  14. I have been lucky with this one, although I think it would prefer a little more sun as it reaches all the time. One that I bought this year has not done well. Maybe it's just finding its feet.
    Linda- I just checked your suggestion and I am still not sure. Isn't that an annual. This is definitely perennial. However I do have some similar ones that reseed every year.

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  15. I really enjoy your blog. Love your Philippine Violet. I thought they were only purple or white, but a friend gave me one of hers and it has yellow flowers.

    Here in southwest Florida I am hoping for a winter much milder than last year.

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  16. Pam- Forgot to say the P violet is just about in full sun. The full sun doesn't reach it until late morning but then it is in full sun for the rest of the day.
    Siesta sister- I would love to see a yellow one. Must check it out. I hope you have a mild winter as we will be spending a couple of weeks in Florida!

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  17. The gomphrena looks too fun, I love that color. Also, have you cooked with the mexican mint marigold? My mom loves tarragon, but I read that we can't grow it in this area. I'm thinking of getting her one.

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  18. Tina-Yes, it's true, we can't grow French tarragon here and this is a good substitute. Have not tried it myself, but come if you need this plant I have plenty of passalongs. You need to come to our Blogger get togethers. Have you joined?

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  19. I believe your salvia is a salvia darcyi. And the garden looks beautiful, especially this time of year.

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  20. Anon- Thanks for the id. Certainly looks like it

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