Garden Bloggers’ November 2011 Bloom Day–Before The Rain

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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?

We’re Not Hobbits

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I let it happen again.

Somehow I managed not to notice that the Coral Vine (Antigonon leptopus),  was draping, ever-lower, over the rickety arch.

Every year, I promise myself that in August, as the Coral Vine begins its fall growth spurt and bloom-up, that I’ll control the vine so that it doesn’t grow too low into the arch.

And once again, I was so entranced with this lovely vine and its sweet, little blooms, that I didn’t have the self-discipline to better control its growth.  So, until it freezes, we have to bend over to walk through the arch.  We’re not a tall family, but we’re not hobbits, either.

Well, there are worse things to deal with in the garden.

My garden hasn’t experienced the first frost of the year.  I know some outlying areas around Austin dipped below the freeze point, but  in central Austin, we’re still green ‘n growing.  Even so, I thought it best to snap a few photos of my Coral Vine before winter’s chill.

This gorgeous vine is native to Mexico, but very common in the mid-to-southern parts of Texas.  It has lovely heart-shaped leaves,

and strands of lacy, pink blooms.

In Austin, it tends to bloom in the latter part summer and into fall, until the first freeze and then, it’s a goner.  It grows from a large tuber and the new strands will appear late in the spring.  Established plants grow remarkably quickly once the temperatures warm.  I  don’t spy new growth until late April and my arch is usually covered within a month.   Coral Vine is drought and heat tolerant.  It will produce a smattering of blooms in the summer,

but its main bloom time begins in August.  Mine is usually swarming with bees–so much so, that the arch is animated with movement.  However, in this drought year, the vine didn’t grow quite as rampantly, didn’t bloom as prolifically  and there weren’t as many bees buzzing about.  Still, Coral Vine remains a favorite of those who do visit.

About three years ago, the Coral Vine was completely covered with blooms and therefore, with bees.  I frequently observed an anole lizard, who apparently lived in the vine.  He would saunter out from somewhere in the vine to bee hunt.  I only saw him actually snatch a bee once for his meal, but he was a big, healthy guy, so I guess he was getting plenty of bees to eat.

Coral Vine is a wonderful vine to grow on a trellis or fence.  It’s beautiful, easy, fast-growing, a great wildlife plant.

Just make sure that it doesn’t grow so much that you have to machete your way through its thicket.

Patience, Young Padawon

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Recently, several people have mentioned to me that they’ve planted Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra) and asked, “why is it taking so long to grow and bloom?”

It’s a pokey little puppy, that’s why.

Barbados Cherry is a slow-growing, mostly evergreen shrub, native to Texas and Lands South Of The Border. It isn’t an exciting plant.  It’s not something that catches the eye and takes the breath away.  But for a tough and hardy hedge for privacy, you’ll find none that serves better.   It’s also an excellent plant for attracting wildlife to your garden.

In Austin, Barbados Cherry will freeze when it gets below 32 for any length of time.  I’ve never had it die back completely–usually it stays leafy on at least some parts of the shrub.  I used to prune at the end of winter, but now  I just  wait until spring and reliably, the leaves flush out–bright, cheery, little  green leaves all over the branches.  I  prune only for shape, (or if the branches are rubbing up against a car, since mine is planted along the driveway).

I planted this group about fifteen years ago.  It took FOREVER for them to do anything.  After year four–Boom! The group really took off. This has been a great hedge for privacy and the birds love to hang out in its thicket.  Birds also love the bright red fruit that develops after the blooms.    Currently this is the only fruit on any of my plants.

I’ve observed some mockingbird action lately, so he/she/they might have gobbled the others up.  (There is also a Turk’s Cap planted in the same area and a mockingbird has been dining on that fruit too.)  Additionally, Barbados Cherry is a  host and nectar source for bees  and butterflies. The flowers look like tiny Crapemyrtle blooms to me.

According to  the NPIN site, one of the common names for Barbados Cherry is Wild crapemyrtle.  The bloom-time  lasts four to six weeks during both spring and fall and appear all over the shrub.  Usually, though not this year,  there are both blooms and fruit on the shrub and this red-pink combination is striking.

I planted this group at the back of my garage about four years ago.

They have a while to go before they reach the mature height of five to six feet.

Barbados Cherry is a stalwart plant. I don’t have a sprinkler system and I don’t have a soaker hose in this group of plants.

This past Summer From Hell, I watered four times, by hand.  That’s it.  There was a point, in early August when the shrubs were droopy–I don’t think I’ve ever seen that in this plant before.  But with a little drink,  they perked up and survived the heat.  They’re still surviving the drought.

So, if you’ve planted lovely Barbados Cherry recently, be patient–with time, it will grow up to become a large shrub that requires very little care.

And may the (gardening) force be with you.