November is not a very floriferous month here in my garden, however, going for a record six months of nonstop blooming (thankfully) we have the beautiful Abutilon hybrid 'Fairy Coral Red’...
Not even the powerhouse runner-up Grevillea juniperina ‘Molonglo’ can claim six months nonstop as it’s currently taking a bit of a breather. All summer I was rooting for this plant to grow so it would be visible in it's carefully chosen spot at the back of the border, against the wall. I finally read the tag the other day...turns out it only gets 2ft tall. Duh. Guess I'll be moving this one.
I shared this one last month too, but heck I'm desperate! Grevillea 'Neil Bell'...
I noticed these Aloe haworthioides buds shortly before bringing the plant inside for the winter. They keep getting bigger and bigger, I hope changing it's surroundings won't keep them from opening.
This Cryptanthus budded up while still outside, it's been a nonstop flower show now for a few weeks.
Disporum cantoniense 'Night Heron'...I know, these are not flowers. But this plant generated so much praise when I shared it's blooms back in May that I wanted to share what happens next...
Callistemon 'Clemson' round two of the crazy bottle brush flowers still going strong...
Fatsia japonica, this is a different plant than the one I shared pictures of earlier in the week. It's blooms show signs of a lot of activity. I can't see this one from the house so I'm not sure who's been visiting with such energy.
Mahonia x media 'Charity' how can you not love a plant that sends up blooms like this in November? I think I need another, or three.
Close up...
Mahonia fortunei 'Curlyque,' these are almost finished, just a couple of flowers remain. They have been enjoyed by a visitor just like the Fatsia above and are planted only about 6 ft away from it. I wish I had a window on all this activity.
Last winter I threatened to move this Mahonia eurybracteata 'Soft Caress' as early as possible in the spring. Instead I removed the leaves of the bamboo and Tetrapanax that were hiding it and it's responded very well. New growth and flowers too!
Need a few more flowers to brighten your November day? Visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens (our virtual hostess). Happy Bloomday!
Hmmm, I fancy one of those Mahonia "soft caress" and there are some nurseries selling them in the UK so I will buy one next year.
ReplyDeleteAt first I thought that there was nothing in bloom in my garden, but then I remembered my Cyclamen and my Mahonia japonica and I still have some blooms on my Hellebores as well, so I am not totally bloomless!
Hooray!
DeleteMy first "firstie" ;)
Congratulations! Wish I had a prize for you.
DeleteMark and Gaz had a beautiful Mahonia 'soft caress' in their garden too. It's such a beautiful plant.
You just can't beat abutilons for longevity of bloom! Mahonias are beautiful year round, look dangerous, bloom in the winter, have beautiful blue berries - who wouldn't love them?
ReplyDeleteNot only do they look dangerous but they pack a pretty good poke too. If you know what I mean...
DeleteLove that Mahonia 'Charity'! The upswept blooms with the downturning branches -- just fantastic!
ReplyDeleteThe Abutilon looks much nicer in your photos than in other photos I've seen. Is it really that deep red?
On my screen (and in real life) the Abutilon is much more orange than red. Then again I have been known to say "orange" when Andrew says "red"...so who really knows...
DeleteOMG...I'm so glad I'm not the only one who was SURE a plant was supposed to be taller/shorter/narrower than what it really says! I can never decide how I feel about Mahonias...but your 'Charity' could make me a believer ;-)
ReplyDeleteIf we could only wish our plants into being the size we want them to be...
DeleteAnd I can see your garden happily accepting a couple of 'Charity' too!
Oh, that Mahonia! WOW.
ReplyDeleteYou ended up planting a couple didn't you?
DeleteI am in love with your mahonia 'charity.' I agree, you need three more at least! I get soo excited about mahonia time! Even though it comes with the cold, that is one thing to get all plant geek about this time of year.
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing some beautiful ones in Vancouver BC, I think actually that was the final straw that convinced me I needed to take the plunge.
DeleteThey are a popular one up here. It has kind of become a staple in commercial landscapes and I LOVE IT!
Delete'Charity' looks a lot like 'Arthur Menzies', but Arthur is just budding for me and has always gotten frozen out of blooming in years past. I swear I'm putting a sock on it at the first hint of freeze this year. Otherwise, it is going great guns, so I really can't complain. Do you know if 'Charity' is supposed to be hardier?
ReplyDeleteYes I agree they do look a lot alike and I don't think 'Charity' is theoretically any hardier. Maybe it's a slightly earlier bloomer thus getting things going before the freeze attacks? This is my second one as I lost the first completely, no idea what did it in.
DeleteHow lovely to still have so much in bloom. I really love the globe shaped flowers of the fatsia. Marvelous!
ReplyDeleteIndeed. Such a wonderful plant!
DeletePlenty of blooms you have there even at this time of the year! The photo of the cryptanthus is great, love the foliage and the dinky flower,
ReplyDeleteIf more than one of those little flowers would open at the same time that would be great, but they seem to be on a timer and just open one at a time!
DeleteLove the Mahonia's, am going to try my hand at an abutilon in 2013 too!
ReplyDeleteAfter having lost a couple of Abutilon over winters I thought this one was a goner too and just stuck the container in the garage last fall during a hasty clean up. Surprise! It lived all winter with no water and virtually no light. What a survivor! I highly recommend it.
DeleteNot only the quirky fun flower, but the foliage of that Mahonia looks Dangerous, too. :) Happy GBBD!
ReplyDeleteAnd it is...I speak from experience.
DeleteHmmm... I'm rethinking the Mohonia, I have the extremely pesky Oregon grape , every where.
ReplyDelete"pesky/everywhere" sounds like it is not a plant I want to introduce into my garden. Did you inherit it? Yes, sounds like it's time for you to discover the nice Mahonia! May I suggest:
DeleteM. eurybracteata 'Soft Caress'
M. fortunei 'Curlyque'
M. fortunei ‘Dan Hinkley’
M. gracilipes
M. x media 'Charity'
Wow-love the Mahonia 'Charity'! A few Mahonias are just marginally hardy enough here to drive a gardener nuts and winter takes it's toll on the foliage.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to look for that Disporum. Is it a spreader? I grow a variegated variety in dry crappy shade and it's a thug.
In my experience it's not at all a spreader, in fact I wish it were a little more thuggish. Hope you can find it, I do know Cistus and Gossler Farms have both had it in the past, and they both ship!
DeleteI'm a bit jealous of your Abutilon. It's lovely and far more refined that mine (that I didn't even show for Bloom Day - I'm that tired of it!) Charity is looking gorgeous - wish I had the space!
ReplyDeleteWow--that mahonia is fabulous. Why don't I have mahonia in my garden? Hmmm...must add it to the wish list! The fatsia blooms are fabulous--love that, too. You have a lot blooming in your November garden--lucky you! Hope you have a lovely week!
ReplyDelete