gardening – Page 2 – Fine for Friday

Autumn Colors 14 Nov 2025

We had frost 2 nights this week. It was a light touch so only a few very tender plants are done for the season. We are in a stretch of warm days and cool nights so the autumn color will persist for at least the next 10 days.

This week the feature is the Camellia sasanquas. They have emerged this week and they are stunning. The dogwood is in beautiful color as are the hydrangeas.

We are dry again but rain is expected in a few days. We will soon enter the rainy season. I have stopped irrigating and I am focusing watering on bulbs and winter pansies that I planted this week.

I will join the Six on Saturday group tomorrow. Come take a look and see. The link is https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. Our capable host is Jim Stephens.

Sorry on naming. I seem to have lost the names on these two Camellia sasanquas. They are beautiful just the same.

The Ruby Slippers has a hint of color and I love the leaf shape. It shows no leaf damage from the frost.

The Limelight continues to have well structured panicles and still some of the lime color in the leaves.

The dogwood is showing gorgeous leaf color. It has not born fruit so it lacks the bright red fruit color.

The surprise is the resiliency of the Purple coneflower. It is truly a hardy native plant.

I hope you are enjoying the seasons changing where you are. Happy gardening!!

Autumn Colors 7 November 2025

As autumn’s first frost approaches, temperatures are set to drop, prompting preparation for tender plants. This week showcases peak fall colors, particularly from Hydrangea quercifolia and Vaccinium ashei. Observations include various blooms and wildlife. The writer looks forward to sharing more photos and encourages participation in the Six on Saturday community.

Our first frost of this autumn is coming. It is cooling today and tomorrow. By Sunday morning, the temp will hover near freezing. During Sunday, the cooler air will move in and the temp will drop another 7 or 8 degrees Fahrenheit. I have my tender container plants ready to be placed in shelter. The other container annuals will have to fare the best they can.

We are at our peak color this week. My photos today will reflect that. I hope some other blooms survive for next week. If so, I will have them for next week’s photos.

I will join the Six on Saturday crowd tomorrow. Here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. Come join us and enjoy the photos.

The best color comes from the Hydrangea quercifolia. This is the ‘Snowflake’ hybrid famous in these parts. You can see some purple and green in the leaves and the bronze blooms which will persist all winter.

The Vaccinium ashei ‘Rabbiteye’ has beautiful red color. It is very distinctive as well as a heavy fruit producer this year.

The ‘Fuyu’ persimmon is visible throughout the protective fence which wards off the deer.

The Alabama croton shows its gold leaf here. This plant is an endemic.

This beautifully colored hardy mum is ‘Mrs. Gloria’s Thanksgiving Day’. I have forgotten the explanation for this name but it would be just as beautiful if I did. This is the best bloom so far for this plant.

The anole was sunning on the edge of a container which was recently emptied of its plant. It may be he was residing in it and now is in need of another home.

I hope you are enjoying the color of autumn if you are in the Northern Hemisphere. It is beautiful for us now. More rain is expected this weekend which is good news.

Happy Gardening!

Corner Garden Fountain 31 Oct 2025

We have had rain. Enough rain to replenish the water table and to refresh the plants. Enough rain to end the doomsday talk. I am grateful.

The days shorten and the temps are much cooler. Despite this, it is still very pleasant and today there is plenty of sunshine. My garden tasks consist of taking perennial cuttings, ready my tender plant protection and order seeds and bulbs.

Last week, I went with a group of my gardening nerd buddies to Atlanta which is a 3 hour drive away. We visited a plant collector’s property where we were wowed by the variety. He took us to a plant nursery of which he is founder and I found some perennials and succulents which I could not resist.

Today’s photos concentrate on the Corner Garden that I manage. After a year of fundraising, we finally were able to finance the renovation of the fountain. We also fall cleaned and serviced the shed. There are a few plant photos but most are an indulgence that I hope you will grant me.

The fountain is in its glory with cascading water. It has some sloping rock additions on either side. There is night lighting and underwater lighting for the pool.

I may have shown the ginger lilies this fall but they are more abundant since the rainfall.

A view from the other side of the fountain shows the stone work. It also shows the Flag Iris that will bloom in April.

The left facing view show the beautiful swamp sunflowers (Helianthus angustifolius). They willl bloom until frost which is at least 10 days away.

The shed was given a cleaning today. It needed it. All cutting tools were sharpened. All surfaces were wiped clean. All wood handles were lightly sanded and treated with linseed oil. That is a battery operated lawnmower which was gifted to us recently.

The Hare’s Foot Inkcap appeared after the recent rains. It is a newcomer to me.

I will join the Six On Saturday crowd tomorrow. If you have the time, please give us a look. Gardeners from around the globe are sharing 6 photos from their gardens. Here is the link. https://gardenruminations.co.uk.

We set our clocks back an hour tomorrow here in the US. I like “gaining” an hour.

Happy Gardening!!

Bright October Fall Flowers 24 October 2025

As winter approaches, shorter, sunny days and cooler nights benefit plants by reducing watering needs. Gardening tasks have been completed more efficiently, including propagating perennials and preparing tender plants for winter. Notable plants include Swamp Sunflowers, Brown Eyed Susans, Hardy Mums, and Zinnias, which attract migrating monarch butterflies. Happy Gardening!

The sunny days are continuing to shorten as we approach the winter solstice. Dry conditions prevail but since the nights are much cooler the plants need less water so they are actually faring much better.

I have been able to complete many more gardening tasks once the watering is done each day. It takes a lot less time to water. I have been busy propagating some perennials, removing annuals as the time of frost approaches and preparing the tender plants that will be moved to places of shelter.

I will be joining the Six on Saturday crowd this week. Look for us here at this link https://gardenruminations.co.uk

This helianthus is spectacular this fall after looking quite puny in the heat of August and September.

The Rudbeckia is a winner. I will be looking for more locations for this celebrity.

This mum is ‘Peachy Pink’ I think. It is putting on quite a show in the bright sunlight.

The Roselle is also a winner for me. It is annual so I will log it as a must seed start for next year.

The zinnias are such a pleaser and not just for me. The monarch butterflies have arrived on their journey south to the Gulf Coast and Mexico. They are seen here frequently.

The Confederate Rose is Hibiscus mutabilis. The blooms turn from white to pink. It indicates to pollinators that this flower has been pollinated so move on.

I hope you are enjoying mild weather that lets you enjoy your garden.

Happy Gardening!!

Bright Fall Flowers 3 October 2025

The October weather features blue skies and cool mornings, aiding garden work. Fall flowers are blooming, including swamp sunflowers and toad lilies, drawing bees and butterflies. The fragrant tea olive is a highlight. The author shares their gardening experiences and plans to post on the Six on Saturday group. Happy gardening!

The October skies are blue. I expect that this time of year. The morning temperatures are cool. I am grateful for that. The garden continues to produce bright fall flowers. I am grateful for that too.

Garden work is so much easier in these temps. It is still dry so a lot of work is being done. The butterflies are still abundant and the hummingbirds are still with us.

I hope you enjoy today’s photos. I will be joining the Six on Saturday group tomorrow and posting my blog there. Come look if you are curious. Here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk.

The swamp sunflowers are finally blooming. These blooms are bright yellow atop this 6 foot stem. The bottom leaves have browned as a result of the low rainfall.

The Solidago is attracting bees as you can see. The yellow is very intense.

The toad lily opened its blooms this week. There are several dozen blooms on this plant. The rest of the year it is nondescript. It does well is this part shade area of the garden.

The tea olive is very fragrant. In fact, I can smell it on the other side of the house from which it is located. It is a very pleasant fragrance.

I caught this swallowtail cat eating my parsley. This parsley is almost spent for the year so I was not unhappy about it.

The hydrangea is one of three that I bought last month at the Birmingham Botanical Garden Fall Plant Sale. This cultivar is in the Endless Summer series which blooms on this years growth and blooms for months. I will keep my I on it.

Hope your weather is favorable for gardening.

Happy Gardening!!

6 Drought Survivors 26 Sept 2025

Recent rains ended the drought, providing relief to plants and creating ideal conditions for growth. The author shares six flourishing garden photos, including cosmos, foxglove, echinacea, roselle, goldenrod, and ageratum. They invite readers to join the “Six on Saturday” group for further garden sharing and appreciation. Happy gardening!

The drought broke here yesterday. Two inches of rain blessed us yesterday. I could almost hear a collective sigh of relief from the plants in my yard. With the rain, the temperatures have fallen. Conditions are now ripe for a “green revival”.

I am showing 6 photos from those that have fared the best in the recent 30 days of heat and drought. Mercifully, we have returned to normal growing weather.

I will be joining the Six on Saturday group in the morning. The group will be posting 6 photos from their own gardens. Come join us. Here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk. We are ably hosted by Jim Stephens.

This sprightly, perky cosmos is from the seed packet sent from Susan B. Komen. This is the breast cancer support foundation. I like the pink edging on the petals.

This foxglove was a surprise in my windowbox this week. I did not plant it. My explanation is that I put in some compost from my own pile earlier this spring. I last had foxglove several years ago and composted the spent plants.

My purple coneflowers have long been through blooming. I don’t dead them until the goldfinches have finished feasting on the seeds. They have but this remnant was still beautiful.

The Roselle is new to me. It have performed beautifully this late summer and fall. As you can see, this plant is a hibiscus. This one is H. sabdariffa. The red calyces can be used for jellies, teas and sauces similar to cranberries.

The goldenrod (Solidago altissima) started blooming this week. I do not cultivate these since they proliferate on their own. The photo does not quite capture the intense yellow color of these blooms.

The blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum) is a native here in Alabama and as you can see, it is a pollinator favorite.

Hope you are enjoying good gardening weather as the seasons change. Happy gardening!!

Fall Bloomers in the Heat and the Drought 19 Sept 2025

It’s hot again. It’s dry. Very dry. It’s a test to see which plants do well in these conditions. I have no butterflies or insects to show you today. The butterflies are there in abundance except for the Monarchs. They are said to be migrating south but I have seen none in my yard.

I am spending most of my time watering and removing dried up leaves. I have some shrubs that I bought at the Fall Plant Sale at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens but I am not yet ready to plant them.

I will be joining the Six on Saturday group tomorrow. Come join us. Here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk.

The azalea is in it third blooming for the year. It is a magnificent color.

The Physostegia is also in its glamour. It is slowly spreading but it is definitely controllable. A good friend characterizes it as ‘Disobedient Plant’.

The Gaura has appeared. I had two but the other has completely disappeared. This is a crowded corner of the garden with rudbeckia, Shasta daisies and obedient plant being very competitive.

The Lycoris has also appeared. It is commonly called surprise lily which is an appropriate name. It completely dies back and shows no trace until a week before it blooms.

I have shown these two recently but in the morning light they really caught my eye.

The Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ is in a concrete container which really shows it off.

The limelight hydrangea is now 8 feet high and the mophead panicles are turning green and bronze. It is by far my favorite hydrangea.

Happy Gardening to all!!

Plants that bloom well in fall 12 Sept 2025

The summer blooms are dwindling, but some plants remain vibrant. Hot, dry conditions require daily watering, especially for newly planted shrubs. The Clethra alnifolia and Euonymous americanus are highlighted as native species benefiting from increased sunlight after the removal of a dogwood. Butterflies thrive, and a Mediterranean Gecko is residing in the mailbox.

The best of my summer bloomers are exhausted. There are some that are still blooming. There is some other colors that are from seed structures.

It is hot and dry now. I have needed to water sufficiently to keep plants from becoming crispy. I have planted some small shrubs this month and I am busy watering them daily.

I hope to join the Six On Saturday group in the morning. If you are curious, here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk.

On the left is the Clethra alnifolia or Sweet Pepperbush. It is a North American native which tends to sucker forming clumps which have fragrant little flowers attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. This plant was shaded by a dogwood (Cornus florida) which I had to cut down recently since it was a casualty of dogwood borer.

On the right is Euonymous americanus or Strawberry bush. The fruit has this cracked open look so that another common name is ‘Hearts a’busting’. This native North American shrub will also benefit from more sun after the removal of the dogwood.

This coleus is self seeded from last years parent which was grown from seed. It is crowding a Dragon Wing Begonia in a small container. Since both are thriving, I will enjoy the combination.

The Rudbeckia triloba or Brown Eyed Susan is another North American native which is doing very well in the garden. It is acting as a tender perennial and it is tolerating the heat and drought extremely well. It will be used in more locations in my garden.

The gulf fritillary has thrived in my garden this summer. They are by far the most abundant butterflies. They have passionflowers as a host plant of which there are plenty in my yard. This one is nectarine on a golden buddleia.

I have mentioned the lizard in my mailbox which is located at the street. The mailbox is covered with a Sweet Summer Clematis. Here is a close up. The iNaturalist app identifies it as a Mediterranean Gecko. Hmm. It seems quite happy and harmless so it is being allowed to continue squatting.

Wishing you Happy Gardening!

6 Plants for Early Fall Color 29 Aug 2025

The Great Pollinator Southeast Census was a success. I completed my 15 minute observation period and submitted my results. I have not yet seen an analysis but I am hoping that participation has climbed and that the census shows improving numbers of pollinators.

I am happy about the approach of fall. Today, my photos have glimpses of fall color. Our temps are noticeably cooler so I am accomplishing many more outside tasks. A little more rain would be appreciated.

I will join the Six on Saturday group tomorrow. If you think about it, come join us. Here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk

This liriope always catches my eye in the fall. The lavender colored flowers are so attractive. It clumps beautifully and looks so fresh after a morning rain.

The beauty berry (Callicarpa Americana) began to show the purple berries. This large shrubby plant is a native here and reseeds very nicely. There is a cultivar that I have which has white berries.

This Cornus florida has begun to change leaf color. It is a cultivar which is expected to have pink spring blooms. It has not yet done so but maybe next year. For now, I find the leaves to be very attractive.

The coral honeysuckle is blooming again this month after having put on a good display this spring. It is a very pleasing color. The plant is a vigorous grower so I have had to prune it.

The clematis grows around my mailbox. It just began blooming this week and does have a sweet fragrance. I have mentioned the Anole lizard which lives in my mailbox and frequents the clematis vine. He is just as cute as the Geico lizard.

The lily is new to my garden this year. I successfully grew 4 plants from seed purchased from Monticello. Monticello, located in Virginia, was the home place of Thomas Jefferson. He was quite a gardener in addition to his many other achievements.

I hope you are enjoying this most beautiful time of year. Happy Gardening!!

6 Beautiful Late Summer Bloomers Aug 2025

It is late summer and the summer bloomers are fading. There are still some new beautiful bloomers to catch the eye. Some are blooming again after a summer break.

It is still quite warm but the diminishing daylight hours have rejuvenated some late summer bloomers.

I will be posting tomorrow on Six On Saturday. Come join us with your morning coffee. Here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk

I had 3 hardy hibiscus in the same location. a few years ago. The ‘Midnight Marvel’ is the only one still surviving. It has been really putting on a show this month.

The Blackberry lily is a misnomer. It is Iris domestica. It is also know as tiger lily. It seeds with small black bulbils. I thought it was done since the spring but it is renewed and blooming again.

The Obedient Plant is a favorite of mine (Physostegia Virginian). It has just begun blooming and will gradually climb up the spike until it’s done. A native of these parts, it can be a little pushy as it grows and spreads.

The golden buddleia shall be nameless but still beautiful.

The male and female Tiger Swallowtails are on ‘Miss Huff’ lantana and a buttonbush (Cephalanthus Occidentalis).

The Crape myrtle is also nameless but ‘Watermelon’ seems to come to mind. This shrub grows 10 to 12 feet high. In some years, it is covered in blooms but it is much less showy this year.

I am glad to show you some bloomers that are still doing well in my garden.

Happy Gardening!!