Catching up

 Well, it's been a few weeks since my last entry but things have been busy for me and not quite so busy for the garden, thus less to photograph. Still, there was a surprising bounty to capture on film today so I share that with you now.  Though winter is not quite upon us, losing daylight savings time and having shorter days always makes it seem as if winter is around the corner.

This sunny bed is already showing the first clumps of Babiana shoots. It has has a lovely petunia in a pot and some Lemon Balm in the right foreground.

This dense mound is the always charming Oxalis 'White Pillow.'

A new addition to my garden, this yellow blooming Aloe 'Sunshine' is already attracting hummingbirds.

Correa 'Ray's Tangerine.' Correas can sometimes bloom in winter and I have two varieties doing just that.

My ceramic hedgehog planter is now sprouting some Sedum Angelina.

My Berberis 'Orange Rocket' had its best year ever, holding onto its rich burgundy-red color all year.

This is one of many mixed dwarf conifer bowls in my garden. For those of you who get the Regional Parks Botanic Garden eNewsletter, keep an eye out for my article on dwarf conifers that will appear in the January edition.

This new addition to my garden, Juniper horizontalis 'Pancake' is slowly spilling out of its pot.

Another of my favorite dwarf conifers is this Chamaecyparis 'Golden Mops.' It too has held onto its color all throughout the year.

It's not too late for Hibiscus to be in bloom and that includes my H. 'Cherie.'

I've begun collecting Dianthus (carnation) and this is one of my favorites - D. 'Chabaud Orange Sherbet.'

I got a bee harvesting nectar from my Asclepias cancellata flowers today. There are so many flowers that the branches are weighted down nearly to the ground.

Pelargonium 'Raspberry Twizzle.' This fun geranium always seems to be in bloom.

I'm pretty sure this Begonia 'Summerwings Ebony and Orange has some B. boliviensis in it, given its telltale orange flowers.

Azalea 'Court Jester.' This azalea is a late season bloomer, sometimes up until nearly XMas.

This striking Begonia 'Gryphon' has never bloomed but I don't mind. I bought it for its foliage.

On the other hand, this Begonia 'Irene Nuss' does put on quite the blooming show in the fall.

Billbergia 'Hallelujah.' This is one of the more spectacular billbergias and it's one of those plants that thrives with benign neglect.

And finally another bromeliad that I think is an Aechmea though I'm not sure. I love the banding.

Transitions

 Not much to share today, just hoping that everyone has been able to get vaccinated. Fall has made itself known, with some cool mornings and/or nights. Okay, onto the photos.

 

Suncatcher. I found this cool Etsy seller who custom prints on tempered glass. I gave him this image and voila.

Evolvulus. I never get tired of photographing this plant. I'm a sucker for true blue flowers.

There is a Begonia series called Belleconia and here's a new one I added to my garden.

Above and below are two Petunias, each with their own unique pattern.

I yanked out a dying Ninebark shrub and replanted that area a month ago. That's a golden spirea in the back and of course alyssum circling it.

The latest Salvia in my garden, this Skyscraper Orange has a lovely coral-orange color.

My Itoh peony, bought as a bulb, is making slow progress. Though it has yet to bloom, it has acquired a lovely bronze fall color to its foliage.

Gaillardias may be common but they bloom over a long period, attract bees and butterflies, and add a bit of sunshine wherever they're positioned.

This unusual Centaurea (C. ragusina) has the most silvery foliage. Looking forward to its flowers.

Tillandsia tectorum. The most silvery (and fine textures) of all air plants.

My deciduous begonias were late leafing out this year (like this B. Gryphon). Not sure why. 

Maybe only exciting to bromeliad lovers but seeing my Vriesea fenestralis bloom was a moment to savor.

Justicia Fruit Cocktail. A funny variety name but it sort of fits. Chartreuse bracts sprout bright red flowers on this plume flower.

Verbena lilacina de la Mina. This CA native sub-shrub is famous for its long blooming period and its drought tolerance.

Here's another Justicia, this one J. fulvicoma. I love its combination of reds, oranges and corals. A late bloomer but worth waiting for.

Picea Papoose. This dwarf spruce is a personal favorite. Conifers always seemed boring to me until I really began to investigate them.

Many bromeliads will color up when put in some sun. That's true for this Neoregelia, which has added a deepening purple color to its center.

Aeonium Kiwi. This pinwheel aeonium brightens up any space.

Dianthus variety. Can't remember now which one this is but I love its picotee edges.

 Azalea 'Court Jester'. This late blooming azalea's flowers are all different, with a white base and either streaks or speckles of purple.

Fall has Fallen

 Though we are a week away from the Fall Equinox, it does seem as if the first days of fall are upon us. Cooler mornings and then pleasant days. Our gardens too are in transition, as most of the spring annuals are done. And the fall/winter seasonal color plants are in at our local nurseries (cyclamen, primroses, pansies and violas etc). And for those of us with Salvias in our gardens, this is their time to shine. 

To honor the last of summer, here are some garden photos taken last week.

This Begonia variety was brought to our nursery by Kathy Eckols, without a variety name. Anyone know which one it is?

Begonias are the show right now and here's one in full bloom.

Celosia may be common but they're great for instant color.

Mandevilla Apricot. This color isn't common so I'm glad I grabbed one while I had the chance.

This unusual Centaurea (C. ragusina) has beautiful silvery foliage.

Aloe rooikappie. The colorful tubular flowers are a hit with hummers.

Though this shot is in too much shade, I wanted to show the huge leaves and interesting color on my Vitis coignetiae.

One last lily, my L. Flavia. Huge, very pink and deliciously fragrant.

One thing interesting about the bromeliad Neoregelia is that many will 'color up' in more sun. That's the case with this variety.

Monardella Marion Sampson. The 'mighty mite' of coyote mints, this guy's flowers are almost as big as the plant itself.

Here's my Lantana, now rooted down through its pot and happy as a clam.

This mixed succulent bowl features a bronze Kalanchoe.

This is a new art piece. Though it looks like glass, it's actually molded plastic. Very cool!

Duranta repens Gold Mound. After a hard prune, this golden duranta has filled out again quickly.

Neoregelia Green Apple x Vulcan. Many of the bromeliads are crosses, as is the case with this colorful Neo.

Rhipsalis variety. Neither a regular flowering plant nor a succulent. One website explains "Rhipsalis is a genus of numerous species, many of which are commonly known as mistletoe cactus or coral cactus. These plants are epiphytic or lithophytic* , jungle cacti, primarily native to the tropical and subtropical forests of Central and South America. Jungle cacti typically grow in a pocket of moss or debris in the crook of a tree branch or a rock."

Porcelain Berry vine is an apt description for this vine. Its berries start out white, then become green, blue and finally a deep purple, often with speckling.

Speaking of bromeliads, this Vriesea fenestralis has produced its first bloom spike. The flowers have yet to appear but will do so in time.