My garden is less colorful this month but, in coastal Southern California, there's always something to share. I'll start with some of the plants that make a habit of blooming at this time of the year.
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| Many of my aloes are getting ready to bloom but Aloe lukeana in ahead of the pack. It bloomed back in July and I didn't expect another round this year. |
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| Hybrid Aloe 'Safari Sunset' also got an early start |
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| Barleria obtusa was just starting to bloom last month but all 4 of my shrubs are flowering now |
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| The Camellia sasanquas that came with the garden weren't put off schedule by the recent Santa Ana winds but they do seem inclined to bloom facing the house instead of outward |
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| Senna bicapsularis (aka winter cassia) has once again sent its flowers sky high |
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| Tagetes lemmonii (aka Mexican marigold) blooms in spring and then again in the fall |
As is true in most months, there are some blooms that surprised me.
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| Callistemon 'Cane's Hybrid' reliably flowers during late summer but it's only produced a flush of flowers in November once before in 2016 |
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| I've previously missed all the flowers of Disocactus anguligar (aka fishbone cactus, syn. Epiphyllum anguliger) but I finally caught one before it withered away |
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| I picked up a Helianthus 'Sunfinity' in late September and it took its time about getting its bloom on. I'd thought that most sunflowers would have thrown in the towel for the season by November. |
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| Medinilla myriantha (aka Malaysian orchid) always surprises me when it graces me with a flower or 2 |
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| While the Protea 'Pick Ice' in another area has already bloomed out, Protea neriifolia 'Claire' is made of stronger stuff (or it just gets more water from the irrigation system) |
And then there are the dependable plants that offer color all or most of the year, at least off and on.
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| Correas (aka Australian fuchsias), left to right: 'Ivory Bells', 'Pink Eyre', and 'Wyn's Wonder' |
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| Cupheas 'Honeybells', 'Starfire Pink', and 'Vermillionaire' |
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| These noID self-seeded Gazanias are coming back with cooler temperatures |
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| Grevilleas 'Moonlight' (left) and 'Peaches & Cream' (right) are more sporadic with their flowers than others in my gardens |
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| Grevillea 'Superb' blooms all year round but it's current flower frenzy has been greatly appreciated by the hummingbirds since the flowers of Arbutus 'Marina' have faded |
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| The Pelargoniums are putting on a decent show too. Clockwise from the upper left are: P. hortorum 'Dynamo Hot Pink', P. hybrid 'Little Pink Splash', and 3 varieties of P. peltatum. |
There are a few recent additions to my garden in bloom too.
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Antirrhinum majus 'Sonnet Speedy White', Argyranthemum 'Aramis Apricot', Nasturtium 'Alaska', and Primula vulgaris |
I'll close as I always do with collages featuring the best of the rest.
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Felicia aethiopica, Polygala myrtifolia, Salvia 'Mystic Spires', Salvia discolor, and Vitex trifolia |
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| From the upper left: noID Cyclamen, noID Dipladenia, Eriocapitella hupehensis, Fuchsia 'Windchimes White', and noID Impatiens |
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| Gomphrena decumbens 'Itsy Bitsy', Osteospermum '4D Pink', and Persicaria capitata |
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| Faucaria tigrida, Leonotis lonurus, and Pennisetum 'Sky Rocket' |
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| noID Anthurium, Gaillardia 'Arizona Sun', and Leucadendron salignum 'Summer Red' |
It's been more than six months since we've had anything that could be characterized as real rain. Ours is characterized as a Mediterranean climate so long stretches without rain aren't unusual but this is getting ridiculous. The marine layer has made tiny contributions at intervals since then but, since the start of the current "water year" on October 1st, those only amount to 0.03/inch of precipitation. We're very, very dry. Forecasters keep teasing us with reports of rain that "might" spill down the state from Northern California but, to date, that hasn't happened. There's another slight chance in the wee hours of Friday morning but I'm trying not to get my hopes up.
For more Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day posts, check in with our host, Carol at May Dreams Gardens.
All material © 2012-2024 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
As you say, there are so many lovelies to share any time of year from S. California. Thank you. I truly wish I could grow Camellias. I tried a potted one once with no luck; maybe I'll try again. They're so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI actually had more Camellias in my former tiny garden than this one, Beth. They don't do as well with the drier conditions here. I think I was lucky that all the Camellia sasanquas were already well established when we moved in. I added just one, a C. williamsii, when we moved in.
DeleteLovely, lovely. The Barleria you gave me is looking good--wondering if it is in a bit too shaded a spot. Very sunny spring-summer-most-of-autumn, but pretty shaded come winter. Well, time will tell. 'Claire' is a good one, mine's doing well too. A. lukeana grown but no flowers--I think it's spot is too dry. Aloe flower stems appearing, but won't flower for a while yet--cameronii, suprafoliata, thraskii, rubroviolacea. Have a good weekend, Kris. Hope your kitty is calmer and happy, and that your husband is well and happy, too.
ReplyDeleteBack out to the garden where I belong!
One of my 4 Barleria shrubs is in partial shade - it blooms but later and more lightly than the others in full sun. Assuming I get more seedlings, I save one or two for you to try elsewhere if you wish. I think Meeko is getting better, although my husband might disagree. One half step back for most every step forward but that's still progress.
DeleteSo many nice blooms! I like the Helianthus 'Sunfinity.' I had a Helianthus for quite a few years, then it died. I need to look that up, maybe they are short lived.
ReplyDeleteHelianthus 'Sunfinity' was labeled as an annual, which struck me as odd given its name ;)
DeleteI always enjoy your bloom day posts for the amazing range of of flowers you grow all year round. That lovely aloe is new to me but what I always drool over the most are your callistemons and grevilleas in colours you never see here.
ReplyDeleteBreeders seem to be developing more and more varieties of both Callistemons and Grevilleas every year. I'm lucky that species of both do well in my climate, although my Callistemon viridiflorus doesn't flower as heavily as I'd like...
DeleteSo many wonderful plants. You might chuckle, but I'll use this post to make a shopping list.
ReplyDeleteWell, your posts frequently add to my shopping list so I guess that's tit for tat. The plants in my garden are probably easier to find than many in yours ;)
DeleteOh wow, so much beauty for mid November. I'm with Gerhard -making a list! * I left my medinilla(s) out in the cold oops- it was 37 last night. Pretty sure they're toast, enjoy that flower! ;)
ReplyDelete37 is COLD! If our temperature has ever dropped that low here, I haven't noticed it - and it couldn't have lasted long. Even so, my Medinilla can't be characterized as a profuse bloomer. Every time I think of jettisoning it to plant something else, though, I cave and hold on to it.
DeleteWonderful colours! My garden is quite bare at the moment.
ReplyDeleteGardening in Southern California has its advantages, Nikki (as long as your realize rain isn't generally one of them).
DeleteAll those flowers - I feasted on them all. I enjoy GBBD because I get to see gardens in other climates, and I get to see camillias, one of my favorite flowers. I actually tried to grow one once (zone 5b) and it lasted about three years. We've been down to 28 so far this fall and are having an unusually mild fall with temps most days in the low 50's.
ReplyDeleteToday's temperature is in the low 60s here, Alana, and we consider that cold ;) Temperatures below freezing are unheard of but then at the moment so is rain.
DeleteIt's feels good to see all the flowers lit up by the sun in your photos. 30s for lows (no frost yet), and 40's-50's for highs with dark clouds and rain. I like it, but I want to curl up next to the radiator, with a cat, a book, a cup of cinnamon tea, and take a nap.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds pretty good to me, Jerry! I'd gladly exchange some of our sunny skies for a little of your rain.
DeleteI always love your bloom day posts, Kris. While it may not be the numbers of blooms at other times of the year, at least you still have flowers in fair abundance. All you need now is rain! 🌧️ Eliza
ReplyDeleteYes, we're still waiting for rain. There's another chance this coming weekend but, at the moment, I'm beginning to fear that this might be another year in which we get only 4 inches in total.
DeleteBeautiful blooms, as always. Many plants at the Huntington (which I visited last Thursday) were looking so very dry. Fingers crossed rain comes your way soon!
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize you were in SoCal. I'm glad you got some sunny skies at least.
DeleteI always look forward to your Bloom Day posts Kris and as always, there are so many beautiful blooms! I loved seeing the Aloe buds getting ready for their show!
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing the Aloes may be the Bloom Day stars in December, Lee. It looks as though others are lining up for takeoff.
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