My gardens haven’t experienced much of a freeze here in central Austin thus far-just a few light frosts.  Even so, there’s not much in bloom with the short days and chilly weather. Here’s a peek of what’s blooming in my part of the world in celebration of Bloggers’ Bloom Day, hosted by  Carol at May Dreams Garden:

Two views of two blooms on the lovely and talented Globe Mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua).  I’m smitten with the salmon color of the flowers and the sage green, frilly leaves.  It blooms best for me late winter/spring with fewer blooms in the summer/fall.

There are still several blooms left on one of the Firecracker Ferns (Russelia equisetiformis).  Some suffered freezer-burn during the light freezes, but not this one by the pond.

A lone Gregg’s Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii), still sweetly blooming–it just won’t quit!

One stand of Goldeneye (Viguiera dentata) still in bloom.  Half the plant shows freeze damage, the other half is in bloom.  Go figure.

There are two Purple Coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) in bloom. Interestingly, they are situated beside the Goldeneye.  Is the soil especially good there?  (Not that either of these plants care much about soil type.)  Or are they protected from the little bit of cold we’ve had because they’re beside the driveway/street and  benefit from warmth of the asphalt?  Probably, but who knows….

Also by the street, one group of Turk’s Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus), with its one bloom.  Glad it’s still around–I hope any over-wintering hummingbirds know to locate it.

I’m so excited to see a lone, open bloom on my native Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens).  There are others that will open soon.  This little dude is at the bottom of the vine.

Another “lone,” this time in the form of a Columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha).  I’ve seen blooms on Columbines before during the winter (they are a cool season plant), so I’m not shocked to see this one.  It’s on the plant where I observed two blooms back in October, which is very unusual.  I hope it’s getting prepared for its big show in spring.

And finally, there are still a few little blooms on the Blackfoot Daisy (Melampodium leucanthum).  Love, love, love that plant!

I’ve also discovered the beginnings of some blooms on my Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra)–if we don’t have a hard freeze in the next week, they’ll be in bloom too.  Wow!

I guess it’s not so skimpy for January.  What’s blooming where you live and garden?

At best, I’m fashionably late–at worst, tacky.  It’s the fifteenth of the month–the day, hosted by May Dream Gardens, that bloggers from everywhere post about what is blooming in their gardens.  I’m sure more experienced bloggers are ready for this day at sunrise–photos, text and all. This is my first time to post and I’m a little tardy.

As it is raining today (the third substantial rain since June), and dark and wet outside, the photos were taken in the last few days.  The rain won’t change the dynamics of the drought, but it’s desperately needed and most welcome in parched Central Texas.

Even with the drought, there are still plenty of blooms–a sampling:

A group of  Cuphea ‘David Verity’– I planted these almost two years ago.  They didn’t bloom  much this year until the past two months.  Generally, this hybrid is considered one of the longer-blooming of the cuphea plants.

A fragrant White Mistflower (Ageratina havanensis) is still being enjoyed by the honeybees.  Peeking from behind the White Mistflower, is a Goldeneye (Viguiera dentata) bloom, not usually so shy.

The Salvia farinacea ‘Henry Duelberg’ became one of my absolute favorite plants in the past two years.  I planted one at Shay’s Green Garden and was hooked.  Rich, blue flowers, a long blooming time (spring to frost) and heat and drought tolerant–what’s not to love about this plant? I now have four of them, scattered about in my personal gardens.

We haven’t had many butterflies this year due to the exceptional drought, but I observed this little Red Admiral a few days ago.  A fast flier, he was hard to catch, but he stopped for the Yellow Bells (Tacoma stans)–several times.

A new addition to my garden’s blooms is a variation of the red Turk’s Cap (Malvavicus arboreus),called Pam’s Pink Turk’s Cap (Malvaviscus drummondii ‘Pam Puryear’). 

Another new plant for me is the Wooly Butterfly Bush (Buddleja marrubiifolia).  Fuzzy, silver-gray leaves and tiny orange flowers encased in a ball–very 1960s.  It is native west of Austin and in higher elevations.  It’s planted in Shay’s Green Garden, has done well there and I’m hoping it won’t be offended by my rather heavy soil.

And, still in bloom, the lovely Coral Vine ((Antigonon leptopus).

A couple of my adored Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pupurea)  continue their display,

as does the ever-hardy and beloved Turk’s Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus).  It’s  blooming–a little odd for November.

Finally, the Rock Rose (Pavonia lasiopetala) and the Blackfoot Daisy (Melampodium leucanthum) just will not stop.

And that’s fine by me.  How ’bout you?