Monday, November 16, 2009

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. Posted by Picasa



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 Posted by Picasa



"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. Posted by Picasa



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. Posted by Picasa


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!

23 comments:

Dee/reddirtramblings said...[Reply]

Still beautiful where you live, Kerri, both inside and out, and yes, time does truly fly. Happy bloom day.~~Dee

Ellie said...[Reply]

Gorgeous pictures, especially the frosty ones! Your garden looks lovely, and you still have lots of flowers, despite the frost. Well done!

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...[Reply]

For a minute there I was confused; I was thinking this can't be New York, with butterflies flitting around and Anemone de Caen still blooming, but then I saw the frost photos, and felt a bit more centered.

Needled Mom said...[Reply]

The colors even give you the feeling of autumn. Your Christmas cactus are gorgeous. Don't they have such pretty flowers? My grandmother had a HUGE plant that my poor uncle had to carry outside each summer. It was stunning.

Bren Haas said...[Reply]

A gardener after my own heart.... flowers and kitties!
Happy Autumn from my Midwest Garden!

Tabor said...[Reply]

Sulpher butterflies are still hear and on the walk yesterday several grasshoppers jumped ahead of me on the trail. No frost yet...but soon.

CanadianGardenJoy said...[Reply]

Kerri girl .. those blue blue skies are so beautifu aren't they ? I have been to overwhelmed to be blogging lately, and missed a lot of my favorite bloggers .. it is still chaotic here but I am happy to have visited your "home" and see such beautiful flowers yet !
I love the "frosted" icing on those gorgeous blooms and seeing the furry "kids" in your shots .. it has been one strange garden year for me .. I feel like I missed the whole season some how.
Yes .. time goes much quicker as we get older ? YIKES !! LOL
Joy

Philosophical Karen said...[Reply]

Love the frosty morning pictures! We are having a mild autumn this year. I am glad to stave off winter for a little longer.

Layanee said...[Reply]

I was appreciating the spirea in my garden with its' raucous fall color. Mine is 'Magic Carpet' but the colors are similar to yours. Lovely bloom day to you.

sweetbay said...[Reply]

I am glad that you have gotten some fine weather this fall after all. That's a spectacular shot of the Sulfur -- the complementary colors are beautiful. The Flowering Maples and the frosty flowers are beautiful too! I especially like the shot of the icy Spirea leaves and the verbena with the allysum. The color of the Spirea is outstanding. Your husband did a great job with those plant shelves, they look very nice.

Roses and Lilacs said...[Reply]

Hi Kerri, those plants look so pretty with a diamond dusting of frost. We've had some freezes down into the low 20's and still many of my perennials retain their foliage but no blooms.
Marnie

Alice said...[Reply]

I'm sure if your garden was covered in 2 metres of snow you would still find colour and beauty to photograph. The leaves with their frosted margins are beautiful.

Your potted plants continue to amaze and frustrate me. Amaze me with their brilliance and longevity, and frustrate me because mine never, ever look that good.

What a brilliant gardening partner you have. Those lighted plant shelves must be a joy to use, knowing you can have colour even on the gloomiest of days.

Do you mark where you've planted the bulbs, or do you remember where you put them (I wouldn't)? Or do you just let them come up and surprise you?

Glad you had a lovely birthday visit with the family....8 years old.....how fast the years go by.

Thank you once again, Kerri, for the delightful tour of your garden, and sharing your love of nature with us.

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...[Reply]

I always enjoy seeing your posts! Such beautiful flowers in your pretty gardens. I'd love to have those plant shelves in my house, your houseplants all look so healthy!

Barbee' said...[Reply]

Here in November your blog is still so lush with both outdoor plants and a lush indoor garden. It's really pretty, and surprising. Of course I know how kind and tender you are with them, and moving them in from the cold, then back out for the sun. They reflect the loving care.

Sandy Hatcher-Wallace said...[Reply]

Kerri, I had forgotten what a great photographer you've become. Your pictures are beautifully shot, but of course I have to also give credit to your pretty subjects too.

It's hard to believe that another year has rolled around so quickly and that your oldest grandson just had another birthday.

Molly looks just like our Daisy, but Daisy is much fatter, hahaha.

Deborah Raney said...[Reply]

The frost pictures are especially lovely!

Your Hannah and Molly look so much like our Sundae it made me look twice! Beautiful cats.
http://kansasprairiegarden.blogspot.com

verobirdie said...[Reply]

Kerri, I did not know anemone would be in bloom right now. As a matter of fact, to me they are the flowers my mother and I used to buy in January/February. I never had some in my garden.
When I'm going to Australia, my daughters will have to bear with me. There will be tantrums if I can't meet galahs and rosellas i person, and of course budgies. And all sort of other strange animals (but please, keep snakes and spiders away, thank you :-))
Take good care of you!

Annie in Austin said...[Reply]

That's the Harmony Blue long-blooming anemone isn't it, Kerri? I remembered seeing it on Lost Roses blog & went to check - they sure look alike!

What a good plant-mother you are, taking the children out to get a little sunshine - love the Abutilon and even a frosted Obedient Plant looks dreamy when it's in your garden!

How wonderful you got to celebrate #8 with your grandson.

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Unknown said...[Reply]

Hard to believe we were just savouring the joy of spring daffodils and now we're reminiscing over the year that was. Time flies, doesn't it? I must go check my Christmas cacti, now that you mention them...

joey said...[Reply]

Your post is so vivid for November, Kerri ... you're blessed, and your Clouded Sulphur butterfly photo, a show-stopper. Happy Thanksgiving (yes, time flies ... my oldest grandson is 8 also)!

Mountain Mama said...[Reply]

It's wonderful to see that someone still has some color in their gardens. All I have left is two pathetic looking peach colored rose buds, and some Calendula. I also found a few English Violets which I picked and brought inside. The fragrance is wonderful!!
I am beginning to think of next years gardens and as I was looking at your lovely pictures I wrote down the names of a few more flowers I would like to try.
After Christmas I start tearing into the garden catalogs, of course with the enthusiasm of a 20 year old. When I am thinking gardens I always forget my age!
I love the pictures of the frosted flowers. You sure captured some beauty.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours Kerri and God Bless.

em said...[Reply]

kerri, lovely shots... i'm really partial to the red barn wall and the plantings there. this warm weather is nice! i'm only a little worried about the bulbs coming up all over the place!

Anonymous said...[Reply]

My spouse and I are trying to find out what kind of cacti (if that is what it is at all) we have and how to care for it... Amazingly you have the exact plant we have but after searching relentlessly to identify this plant... NOTHING... But all was not lost... U have a picture of the exact plant titled (red christmas cactus). Do u have a name or instructions for care, my wife would love the help... Thanks bunches lata