Sunday, September 15, 2013

September 2013 Bloom Day Scavenger Hunt

I somehow lost track of Bloom Day this month.  This was mostly to do with the fact that, after our recent heat wave, there are relatively few flowers to be found in my garden.  And, with a few exceptions, those that are there are relatively undistinguished.  However, in the interest of maintaining a record, here are the results of today's Bloom Day scavenger hunt:

I'm impressed by this Acanthus mollis (probably 'Summer Beauty'), which is still putting out new bloom spikes despite the heat and the exposure to scorching sun following the removal of a nearby tree in February


The foliage of this Anemone japonica (no ID) is looking horrible but I do love the flowers

I placed 3 Angelonia 'Angelmist Pink' in my dry garden, not expecting much, but they've done fine there despite the hot, dry conditions

Argyranthemum frutescens 'Elsa White' isn't splashy but the blooms have kept up non-stop since I put in 3 4-inch pots in late February

Billbergia nutans, brought from my former garden and largely ignored in this one, regularly surprises me with new blooms (Note: the quality of the photo doesn't do it justice)

The first Camellia sasanqua (no ID) has appeared - maybe fall is on its way to SoCal after all

Coreopsis 'Big Bang Redshift' is still blooming, although the flowers are smaller and, presumably in response to the recent heat, are showing less red

This Cymbidium (no ID), rescued from my mother-in-law's garden before sale of her house, has delivered a bloom spike since its arrival in my garden

Echinacea 'Sombrero Hot Coral' is more pink than coral now but it handled the heat well in a partially shaded spot in the back border

I grow Lavandula multifida (fernleaf lavender) more for the foliage than the flowers but it's pumping out flowers right now

Leucanthemum x superbum 'Snow Lady,' a short, non-flopping Shasta daisy, is producing a new round of blooms

Lisianthus 'Echo Pink' continues to produce relatively short, sweet pink blooms

Osteospermum ecklonis '3D Silver' is also producing new blooms since being cut back several weeks ago

This low-growing Pentas lanceolata (no ID), relocated from my former garden, is brightening the border of my vegetable garden

A flower has already appeared on one of the Phlomis fruticosa (Jerusalem sage) in my back border

The Plectranthus ciliatus (no ID), brought in as a cutting from my former garden, is producing its first blooms of the season

This Plectranthus ecklonii, purchased by mail order from Annie's and moved once, has beautiful blooms on a still immature plant

Salvia mexicana is putting out a few blooms

Salvia 'Mystic Spires" is still going strong

Bloom Day is sponsored by Carol of May Dreams Gardens.  Please go to her webpage here to see other gardeners' Bloom Day selections.

15 comments:

  1. I'm amazed that your Acanthus mollis is blooming in high heat. I love those blooms, but mine has never yet flowered. Austin's tricky for them -- but I keep trying!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Acanthus mollis in my old, shady garden bloomed in early spring and looked shabby by the time summer arrived. I'm fairly certain this must be 'Summer Beauty' which is said to be a mix of A. mollis and A. spinosus. It's supposed to be heat-tolerant. Now the trick is to find another one...

      Delete
  2. Happy Bloomday Kris.. I would love to see more photos of that interesting Billbergia..My sasanqua has started to bloom too, no escaping the march of time !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Billbergia's colors are brighter and more varied than the photo showed. It needs a perch to display its long blooms but, as it's rather uninteresting when not blooming, I have it tucked away in a corner.

      Delete
  3. Looks like your scavenger hunt was successful! Personally I'm partial to the 4th photo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The 4th picture is the Argyranthemum so I'm guessing you meant the Billbergia below that. It's prickly as heck so it's your kind of plant, Loree!

      Delete
  4. Hi Kris!
    Most of my blooms have to be "found" as well, right now.
    I'm interested in seeing your plants that are blooming despite the heat! I think I may need to add some angelonia, if I can find space for it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The blooms were few and far between here, Linnae. I have some Gaillardia blooming too but even those heat-lovers are starting to go. I like your "burgundy" version. It's funny how off the color descriptions on plants can be - judgments based on the descriptions have made for some "interesting" combinations in my garden.

      Delete
  5. You have a lovely set of photos, Kris! I wouldn't mind taking a minute to appreciate these breathtaking flowers in full bloom. They're all gorgeous!

    Rosalinda Hone @ Riddle Me

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a beautiful garden and post. You Californians! I grew lisianthus this year for the first time and next year I am going to plant them where I can really tend them and admire them. Angelonia works great for me. If I keep it watered.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The mere mention of the word heat wave made me warm and fuzzy inside Kris :)
    I do like your Argyranthemum and Stachys combo, very fetching and your Leucanthemum Snow Lady certainly looks so much better than mines does at this moment in time!
    Happy Bloom Day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 90 degrees in November is a little extreme - everything needed extra water as we haven't seen much rain yet - but I don't mind the sunny days in the high 70s/low 80s! Thanks for visiting, Angie!

      Delete
  8. I'm enjoying all your California flowers and warmth, not much blooming up here now. The orchid in the ground is sensational. I'm wondering how my Plectranthus would have done planted in the ground as an annual. Yours look great, and I really admired Mona Lavender when I was in San Francisco.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, that Cymbidium is in a pot - it's just hard to make out in the picture. Still, it surprised me with that bloom spike. Thanks for visiting, Hannah!

      Delete