Each month when I wander in the garden looking for Bloom Day flowers, I'm reminded yet again that I don't really have a "flower garden". In fact, I just reviewed a Bloom Day post from two years ago to discover that I have almost the same set of flowers - hmmm.
But there are the August stalwarts, so here's a brief recap of what's blooming at Longview Ranch on this 15th of September, starting with the late-summer flowers of
Helianthus maximiliani. I have to wait all summer for these bright faces.
California poppies (
Eschscholzia californica) self-seed each year. This year they have lots of room where the big Ceanothus used to be.
The tiny flowers of
Berberis verruculosa are almost unnoticeable, unless, like me, you are searching for blooms.
In nice timing for the overwintering humming birds,
Mahonia fortunei 'Dan Hinkley' is beginning its flush of flowers.
With more room to grow, Solidago 'Lemon Baby' has exploded this year.
After dying to the ground over winter,
Sphearalcea 'Newleaze Coral' has bounced back this summer.
A new
Punica granatum 'Nana' has put on lots of growth, and flowers, since I bought it a few months ago.
My neighbor's
Campsis radicans is still going strong and delighting me.
Abutilon megapotamicum.
Lagerstroemia 'Natchez' is on its last few flower trusses.
A surprise white Foxglove popped up in the Northwest Territory.
I figured it out: this cultivar of
Daphne x
transatlantica is called 'Eternal Fragrance' because it never stops blooming.
Hardy Cyclamen emerge from the dusty dry rocks. I don't know how they do it.
Tricyrtis formosana var
grandiflora 'Wa-ho-ping Toad'. Not really "whopping" but very welcome in the shady bed.
They're almost over, but the little, papery blue blossoms of
Limonium speciosum 'Blue Diamond' make me happy.
The sweet blue blossoms of a prostrate Rosemary. Rosemary usually blooms in early winter around here, but it's been an odd year.
Surprise fall blooms on
Loropetalum chinense 'Sizzling Pink', as well.
Silene dioica 'Ray's Golden' is pumping out more flowers this month.
Lastly,
Erigeron glaucus won't say goodbye to summer yet. And neither will I.
See all the flowers from all over today courtesy of Carol at
May Dreams Gardens.
Happy Bloom Day!
Do you see how the dirt (ash, dust, pollen, whatever) has coalesced under each drop of water below? That shows you that things were getting a bit grimy over summer, and how welcome the rain is for cleansing the air and the plants.
But as much as my garden needs it, I hope the rains will not be constant
from now until June; I need a little transition time to make my peace
with autumn and winter. And I have plants that, after waiting seemingly for months, I can finally put in the ground.
