Thursday, August 15, 2013

Bloomday for August 2013...

I say this every month but really...it's August 15th already? How is that possible? Seems like just yesterday it was barely June...once again I went out to photograph flowers thinking there wasn't much blooming and was amazed at what I found. That's the beauty of this Bloomday tradition, it makes you stop and look and take note. In roughly alphabetical order...

Aloe dorotheae, I know it's not quite yet a bloom but it's gonna be and I can celebrate that.

Abutilon hybrid 'Fairy Coral Red'

Acanthus mollis, slowing down and dropping bits but still, it counts!

Adenanthos sericeus (Coastal Woollybush), just the tiniest little flowers. I love it. Of course the Aeonium on the right almost count as flowers but no.

Chasmanthium latifolium back-lit.

Chasmanthium latifolium as it looks without drama.

Eucomis Oakhurst or is it Sparkling Burgundy? I've mixed them together and honestly lost track of what's what.

Ditto.

Grevillea juniperina ‘Lava Cascade’ starts the Grevillea show...

Grevillea juniperina ‘Molonglo’ framed by Verbascum bombyciferum 'Arctic Summer'...

Grevillea victoriae 'Murray Queen' just keeps making promises of an amazing show but isn't letting go...open open open!

Grevillea'Poorinda Leane'...this is why I love Grevillea. Look at that flower!

Hesperaloe parviflora

Hibiscus syriacus 'Red Heart'

Ipomea horsfalliae...before, during, and after.

Kniphofia, one of the Popsicle Series, don't ask me which one. Behind it are multiple blooms of Eryngium venustum.

Lobelia laxiflora. This was a random impulse buy at Garden Fever (a nursery near me). Little did I know it gets to be huge (sure the tag said that, but who reads those things?)...

Lotus berthelotii (Parrot's Beak)

Macleaya cordata flowers look like they're gonna become more than this but really not so much.

This is very exciting! I came back from the beach to discover my Musa basjoo is blooming!

It's not the most gorgeous bloom in the world but it's very exciting.

Meanwhile the Musella lasiocarpa (Chinese Yellow Banana) just keeps on unfolding layers.

Opuntia NOID - how cool are these? They start out yellow and then on the second day (and there after) are orange!

I am in love with my Salvia discolor, if we have a mild winter and it lives great, if not I'll be buying one again next year.

Sempervivum NOID

Sempervivum NOID, yet another. Look close...they remind me of the Sea Anemone I wanted to bring home from the beach, only a pink version.

And finally Verbascum bombyciferum 'Arctic Summer.' A friend who was visiting last month asked me about this plant. She wanted a name and was trying to describe it..."you know, the one that looks like sprayed foam but with yellow flowers"...

That's a wrap on this Bloomday from my garden. Click on over to our hostess Carol's site for blooms, blooms, and more blooms!

All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. If this post appears anywhere but danger garden it has been reposted without permission.

38 comments:

  1. How wonderful. As always I'm amazed with how many unusual plants you have that I've never heard of. I have serious zone envy. You have so many things I can't grow here. I am looking forward to getting my hands of Eucomis 'Oakhurst' as that is supposed to be hardy in Zone 5. We'll see. Those Popsicle Kniphofias are lovely. Again, wish I could grow them here.

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    1. Wow Deanne I would have thought those Kniphofia would have been very happy in Zone 5...bummer! I hope the Eucomis works for you!

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  2. Concerning 'Murray Valley Queen' - well, you can't be too impatient with a plant that blooms from October thru April! And no, it can't be August 15th... don't say that.

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    1. Okay I'll back off on 'Murray Valley Queen' - it's true those flowers in November (December, January...) will be a sight for sore winter weary eyes.

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  3. Ha! I thought the same thing about my Plume Poppy...I kept thinking it was just a day or two from blooming...but that seems to be it...nice, all the same :-)

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    1. Indeed, and then once it gets the seed thing going on it's kind of a crazy chaotic mess...but still cool.

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  4. I'm a hack! The five little succulents in my garden are pathetic. Your succulents are wonderful! I'm amazed at the variety. I've never seen anything like Verbascum bombyciferum! Impressive!

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    1. A hack!? I doubt it, besides you've got those cute Japanese Lanterns in your garden.

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  5. Lobelia laxifolia now thats one I dont know and I do like a lobelia so I will have to check it out.
    I have Gevillea Canberra Gem which is fab and very hardy here. Interested to see all your Grevillea

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    1. I've admired 'Canberra Gem' in a couple of nurseries and wished I had a place for it...

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  6. What a great diversity of plants in flower. It is scary how quickly we get mid August.

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    1. Indeed it is, soon it will be September and then October and then! Augh. Don't even want to think about that.

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  7. Love your garden. Congrats for your Musa basjoo bloom. Love that salvia too.

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  8. So many interesting plants to look at I can't decide which one is my favorite! AND I almost poked an eye out ;D..

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    1. Yikes, maybe don't get so close to the computer screen?

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  9. I don't think my Lasio is ever going to bloom ? I have a dozen or so pups jammed into that container , maybe I should separate them?

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    1. But since that main trunk will die after blooming maybe you don't want it to bloom? Mine has pups too and I'll be leaving them so they can (hopefully) fill in the space once the big trunk is gone.

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  10. Could that Opuntia be O. ellisiana? That is what my flowers do, too. Ever tried the Opuntia ID tool from Discover Life? http://www.discoverlife.org/20/q?guide=Opuntia

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    1. Yes I think it might be, and wow never seen the opuntia ID tool...hours of fun! (thank you)

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  11. Oh, man...once Murray Queen gets going, who will be able to look anywhere else? Nice of her to hold off so we could appreciate all of these other beauties.

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    1. I know right? That show is going to be amazing.

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  12. fifi la fontaineAugust 15, 2013

    So gorgeous! Hey,didn't you say you weren't into flowers? (Heehee)

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    1. Those silly plants just insist on flowering!

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  13. Your garden looks good--reward for all that hard work.

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    1. Are you talking about your watering experience last June? :)

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  14. You made me laugh out loud with the "sure the label said that it would, but who reads those things" comment. Thanks! Grevillea victoriae 'Murray Queen' will be blooming all winter for you and mine even threw out a few late blooms in May and June.

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    1. Glad to provide a little comic relief...

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  15. Looking good Loree! I've been eyeing that Salvia discolor for a couple years, but the only time I see it for sale is out on the (frost free) coast.

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    1. Oh ya, not the hardiest of things but really if you can enjoy it for a season...

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  16. Your flowers are always so compelling. The Musa basjoo is a kick and I adore the color-changing opuntia - it's wonderful! If you don't post when your Grevillea 'Murray Queen' pops I will have to come over personally for the show!

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    1. You are welcome to come over anytime Jane!

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  17. So many amazing things it is impossible to pick a favorite! I have serious banana envy - can't even seem to keep one alive, let alone flower!

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    1. I have to share my banana isn't looking real good this year, not enough water to keep it happy I suppose.

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  18. Great blooms Loree! And to have two bananas in bloom simultaneously as well, wow!

    Really must grow Chasmanthium latifolium again...

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    1. It is pretty bizarre that they both decided to bloom this year. That plus the aloe, manfreda...it's been a very fun summer.

      I wish I could share my Chasmanthium latifolium with you!

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  19. I enjoy seeing all your tropical-esque blooms, since I don't grow any. Lovely!

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