What's Bloomin' - October 2013

 Welcome to my garden...

It's Garden Bloggers 
Bloom Day!

Let's see what's bloomin'

October is one of my favorite months in my garden.  It is like a second spring in Texas.  The blooms intensify in color in response to the cooler temps and a little bit of rain.

Here are a few wide shots of the front perennial garden to get us started.

 Above is my favorite view off my front porch.

Moving in a little closer...

Annual 'Cora' vincas in the hellstrip are still going strong across the sidewalk from the perennials... salvias, lantana, canna, purple heart, zexmenia, 'Lindheimer's' muhly grass, 'Katie's' Ruellia.

The blue Salvia 'May Night' in the foreground really seems to appreciate the milder temps of spring and fall.   The zexmenia, purple heart, salvias, and lantana behind could care less about the triple digits of summer.

My garden would not be complete without my favorite Salvia greggii 

exploding with hot pink blooms in the fall.   

 Leading up to the entry, more zexmenia and salvia greggii, along with 'Karley Rose' Fountaingrass, 'King Humbert' Canna, annual melampodium, and 'Henry Duelberg' salvia

At the entryway, the 'John Fanick' Phlox puts out the last of its blooms, Wood Ferns are hugging the fountain, and the 'Carolyn Wharton' Caladiums do surprisingly well in this area that gets more sun than I would think the caladiums would like. 

The 'Lindheimer's' Muhly Grass raises its tall plumes in praise of fall :-)

 Mexican Bush Sage has just started blooming this month.  I just planted another one in my garden this week because I just love these velvety purple spikes next to the bright pink salvia greggii.

I just transplanted a deep red Salvia darcyi (Salvia oresbia) near the Lindheimer's Muhly grass and Mexican Bush Sage.   I hope it survives the transplant!   I love the punch of red next to the purple blooms and gray/green foliage.

 Last fall I tried a little experiment and transplanted some garlic chives in spots where I grow daylilies.    I thought since the foliage is similar, I would try growing the two together to extend the bloom in these daylily areas.

I'm happy to report that the experiment worked!    

The daylilies bloomed during the summer, and the garlic chives put on a good show this fall.    I just recently cut off the blooms of the garlic chives as they were going to seed, and I don't want garlic chives all over the place.

Summer daylilies

Garlic Chives in the fall

I just could not be more pleased with the progress on the hellstrip plantings.

 

  

Fall aster is in full bloom this month.    

Such a shame that this plant does not bloom longer! 

The golden oregano is starting to increase in size.

 Earlier in the summer the 'Elfin' Thyme was suffering as it was trying to get established, but it has made a rebound this fall and has really started spreading around the flagstones at the curb.

The 'Helen von Stein' Lamb's Ear and 'Hameln' Fountaingrass 

add nice texture to the plantings

 In the backyard, a few red spider lilies popped up this fall.   I transplanted about 20 bulbs a couple years ago, so I was hoping for a better show.  

Maybe next year?

I have always grown Turk's Cap in my shady backyard, but I have started adding more of it to my front perennial beds as the trees are creating more part sun/part shade areas.    It certainly blooms better with a little more sun. 

 Another bulb, the Oxblood Lily blooms are short lived 

but cheerfully announce the arrival of fall.  

Another sure sign that fall is here 

is when the Mexican Mint Marigold begins to bloom.

The green beans I planted last month are blooming and have just started producing tiny beans.   I missed planting my spring crop of beans, so I am really looking forward to having fresh green beans for dinner soon!

The Cubanelle peppers produced like gangbusters this summer

 and are still going strong!  

How's that for some fall color :-)

Water lilies...

floating on the water below 

and sprinkled with water from the heavens today :-)

I am so grateful for the wonderful slow soaking rains we've had for the last couple days here in North Texas.   Should make for a nice wildflower show next spring!

To enjoy more blooms around the world, visit Carol @ May Dreams Gardens.

Happy Garden Bloggers Bloom Day!

Toni :-)

August Fruits of my Labor

I didn't want August to just fade into the annals of photographic history, so on this Labor Day Holiday in September, I thought I'd take a look back at last month's progress in my redeemed hellstrip to see the fruits of my spring labor.

 Here is a picture of the "before" in January 

and the "after" right after planting was completed in late May.

And here's August...

 The Blackfoot Daisies have grown huge!   

And they have the most lovely fragrance :-) 

Sometimes they can be a little cold tender in North Texas, but I am hoping since they are surrounded by all that rock and concrete that they won't go on strike come winter.

The annual 'Cora' Vincas and Moss Roses have done a nice job of filling empty spaces until the perennials fill in.   They have not taken a day off from blooming all summer!

The 'Walker's Low' Catmint and Zexmenia have been working hard all summer in this strip too.   They have definitely earned their keep in my garden!

The driveway end of the strip is progressing a little slower than the rest of the bed because of drier conditions, but the Pink Skullcap and Sedums should be back in business next spring.

Here are some August photos from the other side of the walk, where my garden has performed well all summer even in hot and humid working conditions.

The 'Azure Skies' Heliotrope and Blackfoot Daisies have grown so much, they have almost completely blocked passage down the sidewalk.

Mexican Mikweed (Asclepias curassavica) is on the job, waiting for the Monarch butterflies to report for duty next month.

I hope you were able to take a break from work today to enjoy the fruits of your labors.

Gardens are so rewarding, aren't they?!!

Toni :-)

What's Bloomin' - July 2013

July is one of my favorite months in my garden.   The hard work of spring is over and I can just enjoy my garden and the wildlife it brings.   What better way to spend the day than strolling through my garden with no specific agenda, just deadheading perennials here and there, plucking a few weeds,  marveling at the bees and butterflies, and pausing to take a picture of the newest bloom on the scene (and yes, I must admit, dripping sweat and swatting mosquitoes -- this is Texas in July, after all).

So humor me with my delusions of garden grandeur and come stroll through my garden with me to see what's blooming...

The front perennial beds are full of color:   

Lantana, salvias, phlox, rudbeckia, loosestrife, daylilies, and more.

This swallowtail butterfly paused just long enough on the 'John Fanick' Phlox for a nice photo op.

 

Last month the swallowtails were partial to the bee balm

The fountain by the front walk bubbles away among 

the phlox, rudbeckia, and ferns

 

 

Unlike those pesky mosquitoes,
annual cosmos is always welcome wherever it lands.

The bold foliage of the 'King Humbert' Canna provides a beautiful backdrop for the orange cosmos and 'Karley Rose' fountain grass on one side, as well as the spikes of 'Morden's Pink' Loosestrife on the other side

The new hellstrip (a/k/a heavenly patch of perennials) along the street is starting to fill in nicely.

The crape myrtles are in full bloom

 Mosquitoes being the exception, good things can come in small packages.   

Katie's Ruellia is a faithful summer bloomer

I am starting to become a daylily addict, 

recently adding seven new varieties to my garden.

Here are a few still blooming this month.

Top Left:  Orange (unknown variety - gift from a friend)

Top Right:  Hawaiian Nights

Lower Left:  Persian Market

Lower Right:  Rosy Rhino

Moving to the backyard....

This pink water lily is new to my garden (also a gift from a friend)

After getting off to a very rocky start after being transplanted in 2011 (our worst summer on record!), the 'Endless Summer' Hydrangea proved to be a survivor and bloomed beautifully this year. 

 

And the Oakleaf Hydrangeas have faded to a lovely shade of pink.

 

Unlike my sweaty clothes after a day in the garden, 

the blooms of my 'Guacamole' Hosta have a gardenia-like fragrance :-)

Speaking of sweating, on a recent trip to Beaufort, South Carolina 

(it's just a wee bit humid there),

 I purchased this new hummingbird feeder.  

I hope the hummers like it as much as I do

All sweating and swatting aside,
I hope you've enjoyed July's blooms in my garden.

Join Carol at May Dreams Gardens for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day
and a look at more gardens around the world.

And may your delusions of garden grandeur become reality

Toni :-)