Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, November 2010

My goodness, I actually remembered this time. Here is what's blooming in my home and garden on this lovely November 15. And yes, it actually is lovely. Sunny and around 50F. Crisp leaves underfoot. I'm learning to appreciate autumn for what it is, rather than imbuing it with a sense of dread and doom as winter approaches.

Indoors first, since this is a houseplant blog:

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, unidentified cultivar

Aloe greenii x lineata

Crassula lactea

Three views of Echeveria 'Black Prince.' First the whole plant with bloom stalk, then a closeup of the blooming rosette, then the flowers themselves.

Now for the outdoors. We've had a mild November for the most part, but we've had our frosts at night. Most of the garden has gone to sleep, but there are a couple of things hanging on, and one thing, at least, freshly emerged for the season.

Gaillardia x grandiflora 'Dazzler.' This late planting is still hanging on, well past its usual blooming season.

Mums among the leaves. These Chrysanthemums are past their prime, and a touch frostbitten, but still pretty.

Newly emerged Autumn Crocus. (Crocus pulchellus, I think.) I planted a few earlier this season, and amazingly, the squirrels didn't get them all.

Happy Bloom Day, every day.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, August 2010

Once again, I am happy to participate in Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. August is a bit of a slow month for blooms in my garden. The flowers of June and July have faded, and the September show of Sedums, Asters, and Sweet Autumn Clematis have not yet begun. And since I tend to grow my houseplants more for foliage and form than flowers, there is not a lot going on there either. But I do have a few things to share.

Indoors:

Aglaonema 'Sethimankong' with its greenish spathe-and-spadix flower

Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora' The white flower stands out against the red-patterned leaves. There is an old spadix visible as well.

Gymnocalycium stenopleurum bud just shy of opening. Photographs of a fully open flower can be seen here, in a post from last October.

Outdoors:

Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb'

Salvia nemorosa 'East Friesland.' My older plants are pretty much spent, but the ones I planted in a new bed this spring are still going.

Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm'

Weigela florida 'Red Prince' June's big show of blooms is long past, but a few new flowers pop up all summer.

I have self-sown Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea) every year; the original planting was in 2005, I think.

Delosperma dyeri cultivar

Container planted with Portulaca grandiflora

A recently purchased Echinacea 'Harvest Moon' planted in a new bed we've made in our backyard. The Echinacea varieties elsewhere in the garden are looking a bit weathered at this point, since they've been in bloom for more than a month.

Here's hoping that every day is a happy bloom day for my fellow gardeners.

Bloom Day, Birth Day

So once again it is the 15th of the month, Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. It is also my 50th birthday. I am alternating between being pleased, unfazed, and holding my head in my hands wondering how in the hell this happened. (The turning 50 part; Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, I can face with complete equanimity.)

So here is what is in bloom here among the leaves today. First the houseplants:

Aechmea fasciata inflorescence. The blue buds, which are about to open, are the true flowers.

Hoya multiflora

It is outdoors right now, but since my Hibiscus rosa-sinensis spends more than half the year indoors, it is officially a houseplant.

The same goes for Euphorbia milii

Now a selection of what's blooming outdoors:

Rudbeckia hirta 'Prarie Sun,' my favorite garden flower. Something's been nibbling on this one.

Double flowered Platycodon grandiflorus, aka Balloon Flower

An apricot-hued Hemerocallis (Daylily)

Another Daylily

A Delosperma (Ice Plant) variety

Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm'

Gaillardia 'Goblin'

Echinacea purpurea. I have a few different cultivars of this, but I never remember which is which.

I realize that cut flowers don't fit the theme, because they aren't growing, but they are here, and they are blooming and I love them. My Birthday flowers:

Dendrobium orchids from my cousins in New York

A beautiful blooming basket from my husband and stepson

Happy Bloom Day, everyone!

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day, June 2010

I've decided, for the first time, to formally participate in Garden Blogger's Bloom Day. I may have posted flower pictures on the 15th of the month before, but never on purpose. So here is what is blooming today here among the leaves.

First indoors:

Sinningia speciosa variety (Florist's Gloxinia)

Hoya carnosa 'Krimson Queen'

And Outdoors:

Leucanthemum x superbum (Shasta Daisy)

Rudbeckia hirta cultivar

NoId Lilium (Asiatic lily)

I'm pretty sure that this is Hemerocallis 'Happy Returns'

Sedum kamtschaticum

Clematis 'Jackmanii'

Sedum reflexum 'Blue Spruce.' I included this photo just because I love how the colors came out so oddly. Something about the contrast between the bluish foliage and the yellow flowers confused my camera, I guess. The plant isn't as otherworldly looking in person.

All photos open larger when clicked.