GARDEN BLOGGERS' BLOOM DAY OCTOBER 2009

After what has seemed to be an eternity the rain and cloudy days are gone and bright sunshine has taken its place. Along with temperatures in the 90s and a heat index of 99 degrees. Most of the garden is all the better for the rain although the weeds are rampant. Carol, of Maydreams invites us to show what is growing in our garden in the middle of October.

This is the time of year when the daylight sensitive plants begin to bloom. They have been waiting in the wings with their green foliage for the shorter days and cooler nights.

High on my list of favorites is the Philippine violet. Although the plant usually dies back to the ground each winter, this year it did not. Still, I cut it back to improve the shape. It is a plant that neither bug nor disease seems to bother.

The Stapelia, Huernia.

Mexican marigold mint, Tagetes lucida, an acceptable substitute for tarragon.

The Japanese anemone x marguerite.

Then there are the big time spring bloomers who want to get in on the action. Damianita, Chrysactinia mexicana. Not the profuse blooming of the spring but a few flowers to mingle with the grasses.

African daisy, Osteospermum, resting for most of the summer.

and still the blanket flowers Gaillardia pulchella keeps blooming among the gomphrena and alyssum.

Greg's blue mistflower, Eupatorium greggii.

The hybrid blanket flower Gaillardia pulchella x 'Sundance'

Red spider zinnia, Zinnia tenuifolia 'red spider' among blackfoot daisies, Melampodium leucanthum.

White mandevilla climbing among the ripening berries of the Firethorn, Pyracantha.

Datura.

The inevitable sea of narrow leaf zinnias, Zinnia augustifolia, so plentiful this year because of the mild winter. The garden made it through the hottest summer on record. It can now rest and prepare itself for the big spring bloom. Judging by the number of wildflower seedlings 2010 is going to be a big year.