Is this Helleborus 'Pink Lady Strain' very, very late, or very, very early?
Welcome to weird, brought to you by El Nino, that warming of the waters of the Pacific Ocean, which causes warmer and drier than normal winter weather for the Midwest. A series of freezes have knocked out the usual November bloomers, Monkshood, Campanula 'Sarastro,' Geranium 'Gerwat' (Rozanne) and Geranium nodosum 'Svelte Lilac.' Yes, it's warmer now than it was throughout most of October, and it hadn't rained in over two weeks (there was a trace amount last night). Is it any wonder some of the plants are confused?
While there are no new plants blooming, here is the Bloom Day debut of a plant I put in the garden last spring, Geranium 'Bob's Blunder.'
For Bloom Day, I don't usually include plants that haven't spent an entire season in the ground, as I feel it isn't representative of the plant's performance in my garden. I'm making an exception for this nifty little plant, as it is the very last Geranium still blooming, even beyond its neighbor and fellow recent plantee, Geranium 'Blogold' (Blue Sunrise). If this plant is a blunder, I can only imagine how fantastic one of Bob Brown's successes would be.
And now, Squirrelhaven's toughest plants (if you are curious about how these plants manage to bloom despite freezes, check out "Understanding Perennials" which I've reviewed here):
The porch has provided enough protection for the Petunia to spit out a few final blooms.
Say goodbye to Symphyotrichum (Aster) laeve 'Bluebird.'
This is the very last bloom.
The Mum that was just starting to open for last month's Bloom Day, is nearly done, with only a couple of buds yet to open. The last of the pollinators appreciate it. (Click on photo to see the insect.)
Aster tataricus is nearing the end of its run (the yellow foliage behind it is a Thalictrum).
This Wallflower continues to bloom, even as its foliage has started to turn.
Showing no sign of stopping is Malva Zebrina. It wouldn't surprise me if they are still in bloom a month from now.
With an El Nino winter it's possible that the Sweet Alyssum
and these Pansies
will also bloom through December. The leaves are gone from the trees, and the only shrubs still showing autumn colored foliage are the Hydrangea quercifolias, Cotinus coggygria 'Nordine,' and the Tree Peony. But many of the perennials still have colorful foliage, so the garden remains attractive for a little while longer. It will be interesting to see what December brings.
Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day is the brainchild of Carol of May Dreams Gardens, where this month's participants have left links to their posts. Take a virtual tour to see what's still blooming in your area and in climates dramatically different.