Bloom Day - September 2018

Despite eagerly anticipating the change of seasons, I can't entirely get my head around the fact that it's already mid-September.  We've enjoyed cooler temperatures for the past several weeks on average, although the cool spells are still punctuated by periodic blasts of heat.  The 90-day forecast shows no significant rain until early December but that prediction isn't all that surprising as rain is a winter phenomenon here.  On the bright side, NOAA has announced a 70% chance of an El Niño event this coming winter, which could mean more rain from January through March in Southern California, albeit possibly accompanied by a host of other problems.  It's always difficult to know what to wish for but more than the 3.8 inches of rain we've received at this location since last October 1st would be welcome.

Flowers are less profuse throughout the garden than they were last month but there are still enough to fill my vases on a weekly basis.  The star of this month's Bloom Day post is unequivocally Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis paniculata aka C. terniflora).

Planted in May 2013, this is the largest bloom output from this vine to date despite what's been a very dry year.  Although sold to me by a national nursery as Clematis paniculata, I understand that name properly refers to a New Zealand native and what I have is probably Clematis terniflora, which in turn is not to be confused with Clematis virginiana, an invasive species that shares the same common name.  Are you confused yet?  I was, especially as the flower photos posted on-line mix the 3 species.

The ornamental grasses are looking great as usual at this time of year.

Pennisetum advena 'Rubrum' is a star in the front garden.  Pennisetum 'Fireworks' is in full bloom in the back and south side areas.

Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition' isn't as robust as the Pennisetums but I'm enjoying the flowers that dance around Yucca 'Bright Star' nonetheless

Benefiting from more deep watering this summer, my Lantanas look especially good this September.

Lantana camara 'Irene' (upper left) is still my favorite but Lantana 'Lucky White' (upper right) and variegated 'Samantha' (lower right) are giving it a run for its money.  The noID orange and pink forms also deserve "As" for effort.

Some new additions are providing spots of color too.

Echinacea is a pricey annual here but I couldn't resist picking up a pot of 'Cheyenne Spirit' on a Labor Day weekend nursery trip

Gomphrena 'Itsy Bitsy' (top) isn't new to my garden but 'Pinball Snowtip Lavender' (bottom) is.  Both are providing bright touches of color at the moment.

The dahlias and zinnias also continue to produce a steady supply of blooms.

I'm still waiting impatiently to see if one errant dahlia tuber is going to bloom this season but those that were blooming last month are still blooming now.  Clockwise from the upper left, they include: Dahlia 'Punkin Spice', 'Terracotta', 'Loverboy', 'Strawberry Ice'' and 'Otto's Thrill'.

My hodge-podge collection of Zinnia elegans is blooming but strangely it hasn't attracted the butterflies it did last year

There have been a few surprises.

While a few rain lilies (Zephyranthes candida) were blooming last month, this month I've got 2 good-sized clumps of them (despite the utter absence of rain)

The Mexican tulip poppy (Hunnemannia fumariifolia) has been blooming non-stop since April.  The plant looks a good deal scruffier than it did back then but I'm hoping at least some of the seeds it's shed will produce more plants next year.

Last year I planted 5 globe thistles (Echinops ritro ruthenicus).  If they ever bloomed, I've no recollection or record of it but this bloom and a few buds appeared recently, prompted perhaps by one of my deep watering sessions.  My fingers are crossed that more blooms will follow.  Theoretically, these plants should like it here but they've yet to show that.

I also planted this milkweed, Asclepias physocarpa (referred to as the "family jewels tree" by the grower), last year.  It never bloomed and I thought it'd died but it reappeared this summer.  The blooms weren't impressive but the seedpods that followed are.

As is my habit, I've prepared a few collages to capture what else is in bloom this month.

Top row: Duranta 'Sapphire Showers', Erigeron glaucus 'Wayne Roderick', and Eustoma grandiflorum 'Black Pearl'
Middle row: Liriope muscari, Plumbago auriculata, and Polygala fruticosa 'Petite Butterfly'
Bottom row: Rosmarinus 'Gold Dust', Scabiosa caucasica 'Fama Blue', and Aster x frikartii 'Monch'

Top row: Abelia x grandiflora 'Edward Goucher', Allium tuberosum, and Cistanthe grandiflora
Middle row: Gaura lindheimeri, normal Pelargonium peltatum flower, and virus-affected Pelargonium flower (on the same plant)
Bottom row: Pentas 'Kaleidoscope Appleblossom', Pentas lanceolata 'Nova', and Pyrethropsis hosmariense

Clockwise from the top left: Gaillardia 'Fanfare Citronella', self-seeded Gazania, Eustoma grandiflorum 'Mint Cocoa', Grevillea 'Ned Kelly', G. 'Superb', and Russelia equisetiformis 'Flamingo Park'

For more Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day posts, visit our host, Carol at May Dreams Gardens.


All material © 2012-2018 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

September Scavenger Hunt - Bloom Day Edition

I stepped into the garden to conduct my Bloom Day survey believing once again that I didn't have much going on.  In actuality, there are a lot of plants with blooms but few plants with a lot of blooms.  However, there were a few exceptions.

Gaura lindheimeri is back after being cut back by half in June

The Pennisetums are in their glory.  From left to right are Pennisetum 'Fireworks', P. advena 'Rubrum', and P. orientale

This part of the backyard border is the most floriferous right now.  Gaillardia 'Arizona Sun' and Mimulus 'Fiesta Marigold' occupy the foreground; Leonotis leonurus (also back after a June trim) sits in the background; and Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition' is scattered in between.

Bauhinia x blakeana (aka Hong Kong orchid tree) is making its regular September appearance

With the exception of the Gaura, most of the plants shown above were also blooming last month, although less robustly.  There are only a few recent arrivals.

This noID Oncidium produced several bloom stalks for the first time since last December

This variegated rosemary, Rosmarinus 'Gold Dust', just developed flowers

Most of the cutting garden flowers are on the decline but Salvia elegans (aka pineapple sage) has finally produced a mass of flowers

The stars of last month's Bloom Day post - the dahlias, sunflowers, zinnias and Lisianthus - are on their way out.

Clockwise from the left are: Dahlia 'Loverboy', D. 'Little Robert', D. 'Otto's Thrill', D. 'Punkin' Spice', and D. 'Terracotta'.  'Otto's Thrill' and 'Punkin' Spice' produced what seem to be the last of their blooms earlier this month but the other 3 are troopers.

After I cut the head off Helianthus annuus 'Lemon Queen', she produced a large batch of short-stemmed flowers, all clustered tightly around her stem and half-hidden under her leaves

I pulled about a third of my scorched Zinnia elegans after our last heatwave but some are still going strong

Eustoma grandiflorum (Lisianthus) did poorly overall this summer and I'm not sure why as the plants got more water this year than during last year's drought.  The one on the far left is 'Rosanne Black Pearl' but I don't have cultivar names for the others shown here.  The pink, solid blue, yellow and green forms are all MIA.

The tough, virtually ever-blooming plants are still going strong despite the extended heatwave we had from late August into early September.

Cuphea 'Starfire Pink'

Duranta repens 'Sapphire Showers'

Gomphrena decumbens 'Itsy Bitsy'

The large-flowered Grevilleas, left to right: Grevillea 'Ned Kelly', G. 'Peaches & Cream', and G. 'Superb'

The Lantanas also enjoy summer's heat.  From left to right: noID trailing lavender variety, variegated L. 'Samantha', and L. 'Lucky White'

All the ivy geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum) are blooming well

The heatwave may have set back the clematis, which was blooming more heavily last year at this time than it is at present.

Clematis paniculata (aka Sweet Autumn Clematis)

Other tidbits of bloom found during my scavenger hunt can be seen here:

Clockwise from the left: Mandevilla 'Sun Parasol Apricot', Achillea 'Moonshine', Coreopsis 'Redshift', Gaiilardia aristata 'Gallo Peach', Bulbine frutescens 'Hallmark', Cuphea 'Vermillionaire', and Russelia 'Flamingo Park'

Clockwise from the left: Abelia 'Kaleidoscope', Anemone hupehensis japonica, Asparagus fern, Cosmos bipinnatus, noID white Pentas, Tanacetum parthenium, and Zephyranthes candida

Clockwise from the upper left: Argyranthemum frutescens; Correa 'Wyn's Wonder, Gomphrena globosa 'Fireworks', noID violet Pentas, Pseuderanthemum 'Texas Tri-star', and Rosa chinensis "Mutabilis'

Top row: noID Angelonia, Catananche caerulea, and Globularia x indubia
Middle row: Liriope muscari, Lobelia valida, and noID Osteospermum
Bottom row: Salvia macrophylla, Symphyotrichum 'Monch', and Trichostema 'Midnight Magic'

If you're hunting for more flowers to view, visit Carol of May Dreams Gardens, the host of the monthly event that is Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day.

All material © 2012-2017 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

In a Vase on Monday: Fuzzy Touches

I'm a little in love with my first vase this week.  I finally broke down and cut a stem of the green Eustoma grandiflorum (Lisianthus) growing in the backyard.  Of the 6 plugs of the green variety I obtained by mail order this spring only one plant has produced green flowers thus far.  The blooms fade as they age, looking more pale yellow than mint green in the strong outdoor sunlight.

The Lisianthus flower buds look greener than the fully opened blooms

The back view flaunts the foliage elements

Top view

I considered a number of possible companions for the pale blooms of the green Lisianthus but, to avoid eclipsing their delicate color, I stuck mainly to plants with equally soft colors.

Clockwise from the upper left, the vase contains: unnamed green Eustoma grandiflorum, Achillea 'Moondust', Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition (shown with Leucadendron salignum 'Chief), Coprosma 'Evening Glow', Phylica pubescens (aka Featherhead), and Xylosma congestum.  The vase itself is a decorative teapot that once belonged to my mother-in-law.

Thrilled as I am with the green Lisianthus, the fuzzy Featherhead and the 'Blonde Ambition'  ornamental grass may steal the show.  I've coveted the latter since I saw it at Tongva Park in Santa Monica back in 2013.  (Click here if you'd like to view my post on Tongva Park, which was designed by James Corner, the landscape architect responsible for the High Line in New York City.)  For unknown reasons, the plants haven't been available locally but I recently obtained 5 from a mail order nursery.  (Once again I broke my own rule against planting during the summer months  - but the plants were on sale and they're drought tolerant!).

I still have some pink Eustoma grandiflorum so of course I again have a second vase containing that flower.  The blooms are gradually fading and they don't last as long in the vase as they did when the stems were fresher but even I'm surprised at the value I've gotten from these plants.  The double pink-flowered Lisianthus may well be the Energizer Bunny of summer blooms.  Maybe it's no coincidence they're both pink.

Front view

A very similar back view, highlighting the fuzzy beauty of the ornamental grass's purple tassels

Top view

Clockwise from the left, the vase contains: Eustoma grandiflorum ('Echo Pink' cultivar I think), Coprosma 'Plum Hussey', burgundy Pelargonium peltatum, dark pink Pelargonium, Pennisetum 'Fireworks', and dry seedpods of Phlomis fruticosa

Last week's vases met a premature end.  No, Pipig played no role in their demise (this time).  Our air conditioning system conked out.  The earliest date we could get a repairman in was Wednesday of this week so, despite slightly cooler temperatures, we steam-cooked inside over the next few days as the humidity rose.  (Southern California's heat has traditionally been called a "dry heat" but it's seemed a lot less dry this year.)  While we waited out the arrival of the repairman, my husband rush-ordered an inexpensive replacement part on the chance that it'd do the trick.  The great news is that it did so the AC is back on and we hope to string our system out through the remainder of the summer, planning to replace it in the fall when the prices of AC units should fall to more palatable levels.  Hopefully, with cooler indoor temperatures, this week's vases will last a bit longer than the last ones.

The first arrangement sits on the dining room table

The second arrangement sits in the front entry

Visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden, our "IaVoM" host, to see what she and other gardeners are featuring in their vases this week.


All material © 2012-2016 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party