Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - October 2010

On this mid-October evening a cold, rowdy wind is whipping the baskets and containers on the front porch and the sound of it is making me shiver! I've just brought the still flowering pink Abutilon in because it's blown over twice. 

Autumn is in the air, but tonight feels decidedly winterish.

Our first heavy frost hit the garden on 10/10/10 and zapped most of the color in one fell swoop. If you click to enlarge the longshots you'll have a much better view of the remaining colors. There are a few.

The bright patch of marigolds in the Lily Garden is frost damaged, but still pretty from a distance. Nicotiana is persevering and continues to open blooms, and in the front a couple of Gladioli stalks are gradually unfolding their flowers.

Calendulars resist the cold, frosty mornings.

Feverfew is one of the few survivers in the lower Rock Garden.

In this sheltered corner of the house the Rose/Clematis Garden wins the prize for the best show of colors. Unfortunately, the shadow of the large Silver Maple hides some of them. Back there in the shadows Pink Morn Petunias still bloom with Alyssum in a window box.

Below are more Petunias, self-sown Alyssum (I've thinned it several times!), a dark-leaved Heuchera, Homestead Verbena and Diascia. 

Only one of the two Hydrangeas produced a bloom this summer - very disappointing.

Clematis Jackmanii surprised me with 2 bonus blooms. C. Carnaby has a few as well, but that's normal behavior for her.

Diascia is quite frost resistent and still blooms happily with Petunias.

Here it is in a pretty coral shade, surrounded by Alyssum.

A Cabbage moth enjoys the Homestead Verbena.

 Alyssum and Homestead Verbena are 2 very frost resistent plants, blooming prolifically all summer.

I've been moving the containers into the garage when frost threatens and some still look fairly presentable.

Crocosmia is a first for my garden this fall. I love its bright red flower sprays.

Osteospermums/Cape Daisy/African Daisy bloom best in the cooler weather of spring and fall.

Chysanthemum Zesty Victoria Coral glows in the afternoon sunshine.


We had 3 days of beautiful sunshine before cooler temps returned and rain set in yesterday afternoon and all day today. Wednesday was one of those golden autumn days that you wish would last forever - a precious gift.

A bee is busy on the Nemesia

Geraniums are looking good and blooming nicely.

Cosmos is lovely with the sun shining through the petals.

Gaura survived the frost in the Pink Garden

And Snapdragons hang in there.

Johnny Jump-ups just keep going!

This has been a beautiful container all summer. Yellow Bidens is a constant bloomer. Also in there is pink Nemesia, burgundy leaved Alternanthera 'Royal Tapestry', Osteospermum 'Zion Copper amethyst' (barely visible) and a Wedding Veil Coleus (not showing in this photo).

Salvia farinacea is still pretty with the small flowered 'Lemon Gem' Marigold, which holds up to frost better than the larger flowered group of 'Safari Yellow' marigolds on the right.

The Dwarf Burning Bush is never spectacularly red, like some I see, but it does provide autumn color and bright berries.

Stuck behind it and needing to be moved to a spot that delivers more light, is the beautiful white Japanese Anemone. The pink has finished blooming now. Jasmine fits in nicely with the fall colors.

I've been working this week in the Lilac Garden where the wheelbarrow sits. This bed was suffering from neglect and badly in need of tidying.
The Autumn Joy Sedum in the Driveway Garden has turned a lovely shade of deep red.

Knockout Roses 'Radrazz' bloom on either side of it.

Behind it is Malva Sylvestris 'Zebrina'/Mallow, self sown. It began blooming only recently. It's related to Hollyhocks. The deep red Dahlia to the right is 'Le Baron'. This photo was taken just before the frost, and the beautiful flowers are sadly, now whithered and brown. I saved a few for a bouquet though.

Here's a close-up of the Mallow with a little "Gorilla" spider friend. I call him this because he looks like a tiny gorilla. Click the photo to see him a little better. I'll show a closer photo of this curious fellow in a future post.

Rose 'Social Climber' is still producing a few blooms.

Gloriosa Daisies/Rudbeckia hirta hang on till the very end!

There's some color left in the hills but the peak is past. Driving through the countryside is a delight, with some leaves still clinging to trees and the ground strewn with carpets of orange and brown. I have photos of the peak colors and will post them soon.

Hannah is my faithful shadow

There's some 'Cerise Queen' Yarrow still blooming under the fence.

Mum 'Victoria Pink' and pumpkins decorate the front porch.

Happy Bloom Day everyone!

Stop over at Carol of May Dreams Gardens' Blog to see what else is blooming in other corners of the world, and if you're feeling as chilly as I am, maybe a visit to a warmer climate garden would help take the chill off.
Those Texas and Florida gals will be enjoying their gardens now, while Daffodils and Tulips are blooming 'Down Under' in Australia!