Monday, November 15, 2010

garden bloggers' bloom day

 Cooler weather but precious little rain has led me to water my vegetable garden and a few potted plants but allow the rest of the yard to fend for itself. So I don't have a big bloom showing this month. You can find other garden bloggers' blooms at Carol's May Dreams Gardens blog. Also blooming are blue and white plumbago, lavender, trailing lantana, a few blackfoot daisies, and ruellia.
Alyssum
Pentas
Snapdragon with loropetalum
Marigolds with chard and shallots
This Torenia has been blooming since early April. It's my favorite summer annual.
"Diamond Frost" Euphorbia: curious to see if it's too tender to make it through a predicted mild winter.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Iris, I don't have much more going on in my garden, either, but I love the cool temps we are having. I can't believe you've had Torenia blooming for months - I keep killing it! And your Diamond Frost is much better than mine - I finally pulled mine out and tossed it because it looked so straggly. Happy Thanksgiving!

Iris said...

getgrounded--Yep, these cool temps rock! I was pretty darn faithful about watering the torenia--it's in a pot--and trimming it when it got leggy (which it is right now.) Don't you still love the Diamond Frost, though, even if short-lived? Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!

mss @ Zanthan Gardens said...

The cooler weather is wonderful, of course, but the lack of rain is really hurting us Austinites this bloom day. In a good year, the flowers are going all out trying to beat the first freeze.

I just love that 'Diamond Frost' euphorbia. Haven't gotten any yet and wouldn't know where to put it if I did. But I'm looking for a spot.

I haven't grown pentas in years. I need to again. I really like the white ones best. I just love white flowers.

Amy Farrier said...

I'll have to check out that Torenia; so cheerful and purple! And glad to see someone else growing shallots; I planted a few again this year. Happy Austin gardening!

Iris said...

mss--My "Diamond Frost" euphorbia--my first--gets lots of sun plus late afternoon shade and has been thriving. I'll be happy to buy it again next spring if it doesn't make it through the winter. I now love white flowers even more than blue/purple (gasp).

Iris said...

Amy--This is the second year I've had Torenia ("Purple Moon") in a pot that bloomed from April to November. It's a winner! My shallots came back up from last year. I didn't even know they would do that! Hope they turn out because I love LOVE shallots.

Wally said...

Lovely pics. The pentas in the pot is really nice, and gives me an idea for my spare pots, I'll have to find out if they grow here.

LindaCTG said...

You have such an artistic eye! And amazing talent. I can't keep torenia alive for 5 minutes, but I'll try the pot idea. It'll be interesting to see if the Diamond Frost euphorbia makes it through this winter. Last year was my first to have them and of course, they were gone with the first cold blast. But they grow so quickly with new ones in the spring.

Iris said...

Mac_fromAustralia--I've been to (and loved) Cairns, Port Douglas, and Brisbane but not Canberra. Not sure how Pentas would do there. I've only tried them in pots here, too. Thanks for stopping by!

Linda--You are too kind! Thank you! I've only tried torenia in a pot, and it does need watering several times a week during the summer. I don't have high high expectations for the Diamond Frost euphorbia this winter, but it's close to the front porch so maybe it will make it.

TexasDeb said...

I'm so happy you shared your Diamond Frost. The deer ate mine to the ground. I'm not sure about how they deal with cold but their response to being chewed to the ground in the summertime is to DIE.

I haven't had pentas for a while - sure like the looks of the white ones though. Torenia is brand new to me. Is that a native? Gorgeous flowers....

Tina Poe said...

I love all of your white blooms! It's perfect for this cooler weather. If I squint, I can pretend it is the snow that we don't get very often here.

Iris said...

Deb--So sorry about your Diamond Frost. Pretty sure torenia is not native. I forgot to mention mine (potted) has always done well in part shade w/consistent water.

Tina Poe--Thanks--I've really been getting into white flowers lately, too. I hope your not holding your breath for snow...