Bloom Day - December, 2018

The 15th of every month is Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, when we all post photos of what is blooming in our gardens.  But, today is not the 15th, is it?  With the rush to finish work before the holidays and our eldest son coming home tomorrow for Christmas, my mind has been elsewhere!

Although winter is right around the corner and we have had some frost, I do have a few pretties to share.

This rose looks lovely, until you realize that it is Benjain Britten, and that icy-pin color it is sporting is not its true color.

Benjamin Britten

Abraham Darby, protected by a stone wall, continues to produce near-perfect roses. 

Abraham Darby

Abraham Darby

La Sevillana has not noticed that all her neighbors are lying dormant.

Such a hard worker! 

La Sevillana

The mums are on their way out, but they still provide color.

Gaura, oh gaura!  How did I ever live without you before this year?  She has been blooming for a record-breaking 8 months!

Gaura

What is still blooming in your garden?  

Stop by May Dreams Gardens to see what's blooming in other peoples' gardens

from around the world.

Bloom Day - November 2018

The sky has been cloudy this month and the fog has crept up the river from Toledo most mornings, so these photos were taken in mad dashes yesterday when the sun peeked out its head.  What a tease, that sun!

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare is my favorite red rose.  Red?  Well, someplace between red and magenta, but its most appealing attribute is its scent.

Benjamin Britten 

I am pleased with this photo because it shows the progression of colors that Benjamin Britten is capable of producing, but in the summer the flowers are too fleeting to appreciate.  From bits of yellow, to coral, to a purpley-red, BB has got it all - with a fruity scent to boot!

Charles Darwin

In my garden and in its current location, Charles Darwin is a bit of a meek producer.  However, it is healthy and I love the color of its blooms, so it is a keeper.

?

Chrysanthemums in Spain are sold for All Saints' Day on November 1, so you will probably never see them in a garden as they are associated with cemeteries and funerals.  However, I have always loved chrysanthemums becuase of the color they bring to the fall garden.  I have several, which can be grown as perennials here.  Unfortunately, though, they are sold here sans ID.

La Sevillana

La Sevillana has been flowering since May.  She is such a hard worker.  I should probably pay more attention to her.  Ay, if only she smelled as lovely as she looks...

Podranea ricasoliana

Salvia microphylla

Winchester Cathedral

Heritage

If you have been paying attention, then you know that I do not care for the color pink.  So, what is Heritage doing in my garden?  Well, I planted this rose to commemorate the birth of my niece, Katie, exactly 7 years ago today.  

Happy Birthday, Katie!!!

And happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day to everyone!  Stop by May Dreams Gardens to see what's blooming in everyone elses' gardens.

Bloom Day, November 2014

Once again, I am joining other garden bloggers for Bloom Day at May Dreams Gardens, where bloggers from all over the world post photos of what is blooming in their gardens on the 15th of each month.

Like any other November, the pickin's in my garden are quite slim right now.  We had our first frost last week, and it has been raining on and off for the past couple of days.  So, no I have a frog in my throat.  Lovely

The amazing color of Benjamin Britten

Lavender

Winchester Cathedral

Abraham Darby

Abraham Darby is not done yet!

William Shakespeare

The Shephardess

The back yard, glistening after a rain

A rainbow, seen from the kitchen porch

And me?  Well, I'm keeping my toes up by the fire until my throat gets better. 

What's blooming today in your garden?

Hot Stuff!

The report today was that we have just had the warmest October on record since 1965.  I can't complain, though, because we did get some rain at the beginning of the month.  Today, Halloween, we hit the upper 80's, and the boys went trick-or-treating in t-shirts.  Much different from my childhood in New England when we sometimes had to wear ski pants under our costumes!

With such good weather, my garden is still full of roses and wildlife, but all that is supposed to change in just a couple of days.  So, here are some photos to wish the warm weather farewell.

Pat Austin

Benjamin Britten

 Honeysuckle

La Sevillana

Mantis

Versigny

Wasps doing whatever it is that wasps do

Gecko in the kitchen

Abelia and my little porch napper

The warm weather has been nice while it's lasted, but I can't wait for the rains to come to soften up the earth for some digging and planting.  There's so much that needs to be done!

Bloom Day, October 2014

I haven't participated in Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day for ages, but since we had some sunny weather last week, I was able to take some photos.

Abraham Darby, one of my all-time favorites

Winchester Cathedral always gets a bit of powdery mildew this time of year

Golden Celebration, my favorite yellow rose

Jude the Obscure is doing surprisingly well in the shade.

Jayne Austin

Crown Princess Margareta

 Madame Alfred Carrière is also doing very well in the shade.

Pierre de Ronsard - I wish it smelled as lovely as it looks..

??? One of the first roses I ever bought at a garden center, unlabelled.

Ah, but the scent...

 The Pilgrim is the most vigorous rose in my garden.

Benjamin Britten

Lady Emma Hamilton

Buddleia davidii

 What's blooming in your garden today?