Tangled Branches: Cultivated
happenings in and around my zone 6b gardens in northern Virginia and in central Virginia
Monday, November 16, 2009
Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day
Mid-November and I still have flowers. That's something to talk about! Now these are not robust and happy summer flowers; these are survivors. We had our first frost in mid-October and several since then, but no hard freezes yet, and so....flowers. Some of these survived because they're hardier than others, some because they're in sheltered places, and just a few because this is their season of bloom.
I've been discouraged lately by a surge in deer damage. For 3 years, they've been politely tasting in the garden, but now they've settled in to feast. And coming closer to the house to do it. I was contemplating planting some hostas next to the front porch where these cupheas are. Now I'm not sure.
You'll notice some crudely cropped off stems in those photos - that's the work of the deer.
It's interesting that many of these survivor plants are hummingbird plants, but then again maybe that's just because I plant so many of those. I've not seen a hummingbird since late September, but keep hoping for a visit from a stray western species.
The 'Cramers' Amazon' celosia up in the vegetable garden is long gone, but the plants next to the deck are still hanging on. That's the top of one that inserted itself under the deck railing (about 4 feet off the ground).
The deer showed absolutely no interest in the lantana, by the way, and it's a hummingbird and butterfly favorite. Must remember that next year.
I think this is Krishna holy basil. Or maybe it was Rama. Or maybe it's 'Blue Spice' basil. In any case I couldn't tell the difference between 'Blue Spice' and the one holy basil variety that germinated and grew, so I'm prepared to say they are one and the same. I sowed some other holy basil varieties, but lost many seedlings to damping off and the rest to some type of larvae.
The plant was buzzing with insects in yesterday's unusual warmth.
That warmth also brought out some of my honorary flowers - the butteflies. This one is a Common Checkered Skipper.
Lastly, there are a few flowers whose season of bloom is very late in the fall or very early in the spring. I have rosemary in bloom, but the photos didn't turn out. And I have really high hopes for these - the camellias.
Last year I cautiously planted a few Camellia sasanqua and was very impressed with how well they survived last summer's drought followed by a colder-than-usual winter. So this year, I planted more camellias. More C. sasanqua, some C. japonica and even a C. sinensis - the camellia whose leaves I see every day in the bottom of my tea strainer. They're still tiny plants and most of them have flower buds, but no open flowers. Our next door neighbors have camellias in bloom next to their porch (should have photographed those), so I assume now is when at least some of them should be blooming. Actually one of mine did bloom a few weeks ago - the tea plant (C. sinensis) - and it's setting seed.
As usual, I'm a day late for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, but if you haven't been there already then head over to May Dreams Gardens and see what else is blooming on the internet.
Labels: in bloom
2 Comments:
My lantana is still hanging on, but it looks sad. My one celosia is also blooming and brand new gallardia. Loved your photos.
Tabor: Gaillardia...I've never planted one and I don't know why because I love those colors. I need to put that on my list for next year.
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