perennials – 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!

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!!

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 Great Pollinator Plants 22 Aug 2025

Today is Day 1 of the Great Southeast Pollinator Census. It’s a simple task. You spend 15 minutes counting the pollinators seen of a particular pollinator. In my case, I was watching a zinnia and lantana combination. You use the dedicated website to upload your observations. This can be repeated as often as you like. This was originally a project in the adjoining state of Georgia but this year my state of Alabama is included. The website is https://gsepc.org

I submitted my observations but took 6 photos at the same time for today’s blog. Of course, it is zinnia and lantana. It is a departure from the norm, but I know you will appreciate the photos.

I will be posting them on the Six on Saturday blog tomorrow. https://gardenruminations.co.uk . Look for the group on that site hosted by Jim Stephens.

My zinnias have been magnificent this year and here is a swallowtail enjoying them.

Next, is a ‘fuzzy butt’ bumblebee on a small white zinnia.

This gulf fritillary is on the ‘Miss Huff’ lantana.

The cloudless sulphur is on another simple zinnia with wonderful color.

The ‘shiny hiney’ carpenter bee is on a chaste tree ‘Vitex agnus-castus’

Hope you have as many pollinators in your gardens as I have in mine this year.

Happy gardening!

Summer Heat 27 June 2025

It’s hot here. My pattern has become to garden in the morning and complete indoor tasks in the afternoon.

I took last week off for a trip touring gardens in Sewanee, Tennessee. It was cool and rainy at times but well worth our time to visit. Sewannee is a small college town located on the Cumberland Plateau just 90 miles southeast of Nashville. There are many beautiful vistas there. Many alumni have built homes near to the campus and that is where we visited.

My photos today are from my garden on the corner. I volunteer there every Friday that I am in town. I have one other photo that I took in Sewanee.

As usual, I will be joining the Six on Saturday group tomorrow. Come check it out. The rules are there if you wish to post 6 photos of your own. Here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk

I have shown this aster before but it is in full bloom and magnificent today. The crocosmia is not my favorite but it is charming me this year. There are more blooms than ever and most of the stalks are upright. Meanwhile, the Limelight hydrangeas is stunning. You can see my repurposed fountain just to the side.

The pollinators are really loving the purple coneflowers this year. I am loving the purple coneflowers too. The growth in the perennial bed is so lush that we have very little weeding to do. The Texas star struggled last year but is making a resurgence this year.

This is my Sewannee picture. This gorgeous Diana Fritillary is thirsting on the Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowflake’).

Happy Gardening! Next Friday is Independence Day here in the USA so Happy 4th to all my fellow Americans.

June Heats Up 13 June

It is getting hotter as the days lengthen. The humidity is rising and most days is around 75%. I am good for 2 or 3 hours every morning but I am avoiding the afternoon as much as possible.

The perennial beds are so dense now that little weeding is necessary and that is a good thing. I am enjoying cut flowers for display in the house.

In the morning, I will be joining the SixonSaturday crowd. It is fun to find six photos, put them in a blog or post and then upload it to our host website. In this case, it is hosted by Jim Stephens. Here it is https://gardenruminations.co.uk/.

The purple coneflowers continue to be impressive. It is attracting the pollinators. I am preparing for the Great Southeast Pollinator Census https://gsepc.org which will occur on August 22 and 23. This fuzzy fellow is a bumblebee.

The canna started blooming this week. I moved it here last fall so I am glad to see that it is happy. I am uncertain of a name but it may be Durban.

The Stoke’s aster has just begun blooming. It has done so well in my garden that I have divided it and now have two thriving colonies.

The plumbago is in a container. It is the second time that I have tried this phlox look alike. The first time, I planted it into the perennial bed and it fizzled. I am giving it another try in a container. It is such a beautiful blue.

The Henry’s Lily is in its second year in this location. No pests or predators and a magnificent bloom. I love those massive stamens.

The Blephilia or pagoda plant is a polite plant along a walking path. It meanders a little but it can be forgiven.

It continues to be a special year in my garden. The rain is sufficient and the heat is just right.

Happy Gardening!

June Heat 6 June 2025

It is heating up. Slowly but surely, as the days continue to lengthen and the sun moves to the north, it is hotter. It’s been gradual but consistent. The rainfall has also been steady so the garden is in great shape.

I have been able to tend the garden regularly and I am very pleased with its progress. My blueberries really started to produce this past week and I have made some blueberry ice cream. Yum!

I will be joining the SixonSaturday group again tomorrow. It is fun. Just take 6 photos and link the post or blog where they are located to the group. Here is the website hosted by Jim Stephens https://gardenruminations.co.uk.

The Vitex Agnus-castus or Chaste tree is in full bloom this week. It was a struggle to plant it a few years back since it was in a 15 gallon container. It was worth it.

This Rose of Sharon is a beauty of an heirloom plant. I have another with a white throat. The shrub survives a long time and is often found in old country cemeteries and abandoned farm properties.

I apologize that this is a little out of focus. This Tradescantia is a reliable perennial. It dies back over winter but reliable returns each spring and grows all summer with these delicate blooms.

The Knockouts need weekly Neem applications to keep the sawfly larvae at bay. I recently put a new layer of compost around them and I am being rewarded with the second blooming of the year. There will likely be a third bloom in the fall.

All the daylilies are doing so well this year. I am showing this representative which will be nameless.

This Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’ steals the show for me today. It will be a large plant of 8 to 10 feet in height so it may need some pruning at times in its present location.

Hope you are able to enjoy some gardening! It makes you happy!!

Summer Perennial Beauty 30 May

All the photos today are from the Corner Garden near my home where I volunteer every Friday. The perennial border is magnificent this month. The weather has been just great.

This garden is along a busy highway and a busy intersection. As much as 1700 cars a day pass by according to the bean counters. Many motorists acknowledge us as they wait for traffic lights to change. It can be noisy there.

I will be joining the Six on Saturday group in the morning. There, gardener’s gather to show 6 photos each. Come see. Join us and post your own from a blog or post. The website is https://gardenruminations.co.uk. Jim Stephens is our host.

There are hundreds of Shastas that have just begun to open this week. I think the variety is ‘Becky’.

I don’t have the cultivar name of this lovely daylily. There are so many cultivars to keep up with. These were moved to a sunnier location last fall and they are thriving.

Here is another anonymous perennial. This time its a coreopsis. Look closely and you will see the hover fly on the right.

The Stoke’s Aster may be ‘Peachy Pink’. Although it is an ill-fitting name, the bloom is outstanding. From 3 plants started several years ago, there are now several dozen in the garden.

This perennials is dominating. It has formed several independent clumps. The growth of this and the other perennials has minimized the need for weeding.

As you can see, the daylily is true to its name. The fleeting blooms are accompanied by lush foliage. It is also anonymous but a beauty.

Hope you are enjoying time in your garden. Happy Gardening!!