It's Bloom Day again. Because this Autumn had been so warm, there are still a few things blooming here at Squirrelhaven. Down to the last few blossoms are:
an Aster tartaricus that I recently moved, the Labrador violet (Viola labridorica) which had its main flush in Spring,
Phlox maculata 'Natasha,' a Monkshood,
surprisingly, this Osteospermum in a pot, and a pink Lamium, combining well with the foliage of Ceratostigma plumbaginoides.
There's even a bud on Campanula 'Sarastro.'
The amazing display by Anemone 'Andrea Atkinson' is also finally winding down, with just a few new blooms left.
These plants have been blooming continuously since August. But they are far from being the winner in the long-blooming sweepstakes here. That award has yet to be determined, as the two front-runners, 
Geranium nodosum 'Svelte Lilac' and 
Malva zebrinus are still producing buds and show no sign of stopping yet. The Geranium has been blooming since the middle of May, while the Malva didn't start until June, so what happens in the next couple of weeks could be decisive.I don't know whether this will be my last entry in Bloom Day for the season; I just noticed that some Galanthus elwesii are sprouting.
14 comments:
I grew a Malvaviscus zebrinus last year which Annie in Austin gave me. It bloomed in early summer and then was quickly devastated by Austin's heat. Seeing yours makes me doubly-sad that I lost it.
Anemone is a must have for me next year. I don't know where I will put it but I just love the look.
I also like the Osteospermum and pink lamium together.
That osteospermum is so pretty. I don't think I've ever seen it in fall. I've pretty much given up on growing them, because they fizzle out by early summer here and are long gone by fall. But I have no excuse for not growing that Malva; you've inspired me to plant it next year. Thanks!
Pretty blooms! I love the look of that old weathered fence!
Hi there, Mr McGregor's Daughter :-)
Yep, many flowers are winding down for the season aren't they. I love to see the last ones just hang in there as your photos show :-)
My garden is pretty much the same. I too have my anemones still in flower and the odd crane's bill geranium. It is now a time for reflection and perhaps some planning for next year :-D
I have a violet blooming now, too!
I also had one little tiny frozen violet flower, but I ran out of daylight and camera battery before I could get a good picture of it.
Thanks for joining in for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day again.
Carol at May Dreams Gardens
You have lots of great things blooming, too. My Sarastro campanula was blooming a couple of weeks ago, but the snow did it in. Aren't osteos wonderful?
I can't believe 'andrea' is still blooming for you! I love how early that one is but it doesn't last like that for us. and what do you MEAN it might be your last bloom day? I'll bet Carol's not a stickler about the parameters - and it might be a good excuse to treat your self to mid-winter-months blooming bouquets....
Squirrelhaven looks charming in your photos, Mr Mcgregor's Daughter - I love those delicate-looking plants like perennial geraniums, campanula and violets.
I hope to find a few seedlings of the Malva zebrina under a white crepe myrtles in early spring, so MSS and I will have flowers next year - it's one of my all time favorites.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Your asters are nice. Sadly, it's time to say goodbye to the Chicagoland gardens and pray for enough snow cover to protect them this winter.
M. Sinclair Stevens - I had no idea Malva couldn't tolerate heat. (Granted we don't get as many 100F days as Texas.) The biggest threat to Malva here in Chicagoland is rabbits. I wish my specimens were prettier, but I can't seem to keep ahead of the critter's munching. I hope you'll try Malva again.
Lisa - I've proselytized b4 for Japanese Anemones. I think anyone who can grow them should. You just have to keep an eye on them when they start trying to conquer the neighboring beds.
Nan Ondra - I think this Osteospernum did so well because it is in an insulated fiberglass pot/planter and it got shade from late in the afternoon in midsummer. The pot was new this year, as was the plant, so I think I'll try to repeat this successful experiment.
Connie - I wish I liked that old weathered fence as much as you do, but it has suffered too much from the weather & needs to be replaced. I've been putting off that unpleasant chore for a couple of years now.
Hi, Shirl! I don't usually have that many flowers still hanging on in November. I'd like to say I'm enjoying it, but I've learned the hard way that plants need to go dormant before the hard freeze comes. A few years ago, many gardeners around here, including my mom, had roses blooming in December, & those roses all died.
Muum- violets are small, & so easy to overlook, but I treasure them. Tiny garden gems.
Carol - you don't have flood lights by which to take garden photos? Thanks for coming up with the great idea for Bloom Day.
Jodi - My mom has grown Osteospernums for years, I just don't know why I didn't try them before. She grows the white with the dark blue eye.
Kris - Bloom Day came at a very good time this month - this morning's freeze zapped the last of Andrea's blooms. I wish I could have photos of indoor blooms, but I kill houseplants & I'm allergic to molds, so no cut flowers. If my Snowdrops don't bloom early, I'll have to get very creative to come up with something for December.
Annie - I'm so glad you have Malva seeds for MSS. I thought I might have to mail him some. I'm always pulling out those seedlings. I've given them away to everyone I know around here who gardens. It's a gift that keeps on giving. (Or is that VD?) Thanks for visiting!
Carolyn Gail - being a gardener has turned me into 1 of those people I always considered nuts - you know, the 1s with the bumper stickers that say "Pray For Snow." Our recent experiences of erratic snow cover has driven me to distraction!
I LOVE that 'Svelte Lilac' geranium!!
Kylee - thanks for the visit! 'Svelte Lilac' is small, but it packs a punch.
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