Bloom day: 11/15/09
November 15th, 2009 Posted in Garden Bloggers Bloom DayI’m rather amazed that I’ve celebrated Bloom Day for weeks now. Gardeners in Central Texas took a beating this dry summer with 68 days over 100º. But in my east Austin garden, the team rallied when the rains finally came, with barely a player missing.
The cosmos/chile pequin/purple sweet potato vine team bounced back to join Carol’s May Dreams Bloom Day, a virtual tour of what’s up in gardens all over the world.
Last year, I divided a shrimp plant for the front bed, and planted a bamboo muhly at the end of that stretch. In their infant states, it took a lot of imagination to see this as a good thing. They’ve convinced me that it was.
This spring, when I moved a sickly Valentine rose into a pot on the patio’s sunny side, I owed it a chance. It wasn’t its fault that I’d taken a chance by plopping it where it got its minimum daily dose of sun. Valentine’s rebound, since week one, reminds me yet again: don’t think you can change a plant’s mind about what it wants.
New Dawn on the cat cove trellis, renewed after I cut it to nubs in February.
The Fairy rose, undaunted by its grinding hot curbside in front.
‘Country Girl’ mums in the den bed.
And ‘Butterpat’.
This is just a sample of what’s blooming after two tough years. I guess it’s why gardeners don’t ever give up.
Happy Bloom Day! Linda
13 Responses to “Bloom day: 11/15/09”
By Robin at Getting Grounded on Nov 15, 2009
Linda, great roses and mums! Your photos are awesome and a joy to look at. Whenever I visit your blog, I always get an idea for something for my own garden. Thanks for Bloom Day.
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By Amy Emerick on Nov 15, 2009
Very pretty blooms! We definitely had a new beginning with the great fall weather. I love the ‘country girl’ mums.
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By Iris/Society Garlic, Austin on Nov 15, 2009
What lovely roses! I see why the Fairy rose has that name–it’s so light and charming. I’m pleasantly surprised so many things managed to live through the heat and are showing off for us now!
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By Corner Gardener Sue on Nov 15, 2009
Your flowers are so full and lush looking. You can’t tell there was a hot dry spell.
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By Diana on Nov 15, 2009
Linda — Love that Fairy Rose — it is aptly-named. You story reminds me of my garden mantra … “I am not in charge!” you just can’t control what those plants want to do sometimes!
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By Gayle Madwin on Nov 15, 2009
It looks like spring in your yard!
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By Pam/Digging on Nov 15, 2009
Your photos are always so pretty, Linda. You have a great selection of tough beauties to show off this Bloom Day.
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By jenny on Nov 16, 2009
As I sit here in the library in cold, wet England, your November flowers bring a bright ray of sunshine into the day. Your flowers are tough cookies. How else could anything survive after such a summer.
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By mss @ Zanthan Gardens on Nov 16, 2009
I like those mums. I always think of mums as those stiff potted flowers all the big box stores sell this time of year but yours look so soft and becoming.
I’ve concluded that my garden wants to live where it get double the rain Austin normally has. It’s been so happy this last month and so have I. As you say…the team has rallied.
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By Linda/patchwork on Nov 16, 2009
Lots of pretties. I love the roses, but I’m afraid my ‘deer proof’ area doesn’t get the sun roses need. I’ll have to enjoy everyone else’s.
Thanks…
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By Janie on Nov 16, 2009
I have coveted those ‘Country Girl’ mums since I first saw them 6 or 7 years ago at a Winedale function. They had them in a silent auction, and I wanted them, but did not get them. I have never found them for sale since, and they are so pretty!
Thanks for sharing you pictures. Beautiful!
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By Trisha on Dec 11, 2009
Love the Butterpat mums! Please share a start of them with me! I have several patches of Country Girl (which I got from Madeline Hill)and they bloom their heads off even in the semishade areas of my yard. The Butterpat would look nice beside an area where I have the S. madrensis and purple heart.
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By Fairy Games on Mar 13, 2010
I enjoyed reading your interesting yet very informative insights. I just love reading anything about eye-catching articles. Thank you for sharing and I am looking forward to reading your newest and most recent masterpieces!!! – Fairy
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