Bloom Day - December 2007
Carol at May Dreams Gardens invites us to tell her what’s blooming in our gardens on the 15th of each month.
In Austin, the talk of most of the gardening websites I've seen the past couple of days is centered around preparing for tonight's "big" freeze -- it might get down to 30°F or so. While the number of blooms in my garden is substantially lower than it was last month, it doesn't look like a garden in danger of a freeze tonight. Like many others, my rose bushes are still blooming today.
The winds have picked up today, and while the skies are a gorgeous clear blue, the breeze is chilly, and many heat-loving central Texans are starting to complain about the winter.
In Austin, the talk of most of the gardening websites I've seen the past couple of days is centered around preparing for tonight's "big" freeze -- it might get down to 30°F or so. While the number of blooms in my garden is substantially lower than it was last month, it doesn't look like a garden in danger of a freeze tonight. Like many others, my rose bushes are still blooming today.
Pink rose, beautiful fragrance; I have no idea of the variety.
The winds have picked up today, and while the skies are a gorgeous clear blue, the breeze is chilly, and many heat-loving central Texans are starting to complain about the winter.
"Mini-Bachelor Buttons" - Gomphrena 'Grapes'
These little Texas natives are blooming like crazy. I found them at a plant swap in October, and was told that they were "miniature bachelor buttons." Can anyone tell me the scientific name for them? Google was no help. (Edited 1/14/2008 to add: Thank you so much to my wonderful readers who, with the help of Barton Springs Nursery, identified these as Gomphrena 'Grapes'. They unfortunately died back when the freezes finally arrived, but I'm hopeful they'll return in future seasons.) They're beautiful and dainty, with little blooms about the size of a pea.
Heirloom Tomatoes
The fall harvest of heirloom tomatoes is growing a bit too slowly this season. The bush has some seven or eight small green tomatoes that aren't likely to ripen for another few weeks at least; they're likely to freeze before then, even with protection.
No, my opinion of lantana hasn't changed. This trailing lantana pre-dates us in this house, though, and it has remained fairly small and well behaved so far. It resides in an out-of-the-way space in the front bed nearest the street.
These little chile de arbol peppers are so festively red. They seem like a very southwestern homage to the holiday season.
These dainty white oxalis love the shade in my little side garden. They've bloomed consistently since summer.
This trailing geranium (species unknown) came with us from our previous abode and has bloomed faithfully for us all year. I'm afraid it isn't going to live through the winter, which would be a shame, because I love the way it spills out of this frog pot.
This seemingly abstract portrait is the whimsical little bloom of a Haworthia I've been plant-sitting for several months.
Lantana montevidensis 'Trailing Lavender'
No, my opinion of lantana hasn't changed. This trailing lantana pre-dates us in this house, though, and it has remained fairly small and well behaved so far. It resides in an out-of-the-way space in the front bed nearest the street.
Capsicum annuum 'Chile de Arbol'
These little chile de arbol peppers are so festively red. They seem like a very southwestern homage to the holiday season.
These dainty white oxalis love the shade in my little side garden. They've bloomed consistently since summer.This trailing geranium (species unknown) came with us from our previous abode and has bloomed faithfully for us all year. I'm afraid it isn't going to live through the winter, which would be a shame, because I love the way it spills out of this frog pot.This seemingly abstract portrait is the whimsical little bloom of a Haworthia I've been plant-sitting for several months.This little pot of pansies decorates a plant bracket in front of our house. I love pansies - they're bright and cheerful and do extremely well in our mild Texas winters.
The number of blooms I have currently belies the number of new plants I've been establishing in my garden the last couple of months. Autumn is, of course, the best time to establish new plants in central Texas, so they have healthy root systems before the heat of summer tests their limits. I'm hoping to have many more blooming plants in the spring months.
Some of my old faithfuls continue to bloom, though they are sparser and less lush than they were earlier in the year, including:
Guara
Salvia greggii
Bulbine
Some of my old faithfuls continue to bloom, though they are sparser and less lush than they were earlier in the year, including:
Guara
Salvia greggii
Bulbine
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Austin must be the rose capital of December, at least. Your roses look so 'summery' to me. Hopefully your freeze won't do too much damage.
Thanks for posting for bloom day!
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
All your photos are gorgeous but that first one of the rose is stunning.
I thought maybe your mini-bachelor buttons were scarlet spiderling, Boerhaavia coccinea but the leaves look different.
Pam @ Digging says:
I don't know what that miniature bachelor's button is called, but I saw it for sale last week at Barton Springs Nursery. You might give them a call and ask for the scientific name.
I like your chiles---very Christmasy.
The Haworthia looks like something out of an alien movie- or maybe that new Stephen King movie The Mist! And my bulbine is blooming well too- must like this on again off again weather. Thanks Rachel.
Hi,
The plant in the picture and planted at Barton Springs Nursery is called Grapes Gomphrena. I was enamoured with it at the nursery and later called them about it. It appears to be a perennial in this area but an annual in other parts of the country. It is lovely.
Rebecca S.
How could I have missed this post?? I saw your Grapes Gomphrena and just laughed because I just purchased it from Barton Springs Nursery and planted it in my new bed. I just love it. I refer to it as my Dr. Seuss plant. I'll be anxious to compare notes on how your's does in the coming months.