Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - November '09

Our weekend was spent away, visiting our son and DIL to celebrate our oldest grandson's 8th birthday. It's hard to believe he's 8 years old already. Doesn't time fly by?
Consequently, my Bloom Day post is a day late (again).


Our yard and garden are strewn with fallen leaves and colored in greens and browns, but  a very close look reveals glimpses of color where a few hardy plants are still braving the elements. I'm happy to say that we've had some glorious Indian Summer-like days with mild temperatures and abundant sunshine. Not all, mind you, but a few lovely days in between the colder ones. This has encouraged me to get outside and plant Tulip and Hyacinth bulbs. I still have a few tulips left to plant, but it's a good feeling to almost have that job completed. One more to cross off the list!

This Clouded Sulphur butterfly flitted happily in the brilliant sunshine on a recent warm afternoon and found sustenance in the Verbena Homestead Purple, which blooms on in spite of the heavy frosts.

Anemone de caen (Dutch Windflower) is still opening blooms. Do you see the little honey bee on the leaf below the flowers?

He was warming up in the early morning sunshine.

The pink Abutilon is blooming profusely. I took it and the orange one outside to soak up some bright rays on one of the glorious days.

Georgous blooms, aren't they?

The Abutilon "Gold Dust" has grown very large this past summer. That's Molly supervising the photo shoot.

It's easy to see where the name comes from. Those variegated leaves are so pretty.

The "Anthony Waterer" Spirea in the Pink Garden still shows beautiful fall color, and Lamium blooms on at its feet. The Key Lime Pie Heuchera adds its lovely chartreuse to the mix.

The frosty mornings are still providing some good opportunities for close-ups.

Here's the Spirea.

Frosty Lamium

and a few last blooms on the Obedient plant (Physostegia Virginiana).

Euphorbia

"Cerise Queen" Achillea (Yarrow) is another plant that continues to produce blooms in the cold weather.

Lamium and Verbena Homestead Purple in the Rose/Clematis Garden.

White Alyssum blooms on amid the Verbena.

Several things are blooming indoors. Most of the Ivy Geraniums are still hanging on the covered side porch. This one is "Marimba". They'll be moved to the cool upstairs bedroom windows soon.

I'm loving these Angelwing Begonia blooms.

I'm pleased with the red Christmas Cactus which was purchased last year. The pretty flowers are  beginning to open, and there are lots of buds to look forward to. I fed it all summer.

A friend gave me cuttings of this white one. There's pink in the flowers as well when they open.

My dear hubby added lights to the plant shelves he built for me last winter. The Columnea (middle of top shelf) is producing a few bright orange blooms. Numerous overwintering Wax Begonias are blooming a little and one lovely purple African Violet (not shown).

Some of my containers are still housed in the garage, but sometimes I carry a few out to soak up the sun's warmth and light. I can't bear to throw away plants that are still blooming so nicely. Some of the plants will go into the cellar to overwinter. Hubby has lights and tables set up to accommodate these. Murphy (the self-appointed head barn cat) is the "cat of the moment" here.

The yellow Chrysanthemum is still blooming, although the blooms are beginning to fade. The buds were still closed when I bought it and I've never before had a potted Mum whose blooms lasted as well as this one.
Hannah was sniffing the blooms and I ran for the camera, but I missed the moment. She's a cat who loves to stop and smell the flowers. For those who have asked, yes, she and Molly are sisters and look so much alike that it's hard to tell them apart unless you know them well. But they are quite different in personality.


If you'd like to see what's  blooming around the world, stop by Carol's May Dreams Gardens, and join in with your own bloom post if you care to.


Happy November everyone!