November Bloomers
It’s getting a bit harder now!
Viburnum x bodnantense (above) is one of the few plants coming into bloom. There are still some summer hangers on and I’m grateful for them. But if we are going to have a reliably all seasons garden I need to bring in more interest for this time of year.
The hydrangeas are still fading oh so gracefully.
We had our first frost a couple of nights ago and more cold weather is forecast for next week. Certainly more leaves have now fallen from the trees.
Rosa ‘Pat Austin’
And yet this most reliable of roses is still going strong. It is the third time it’s featured on the Bloomers this year. If you have the right spot to place the colour it would be hard to find a longer lasting variety. It first appeared at the end of June and in previous years I have even seen it flowering in December. The blooms may get progressively smaller as the months go by, but remain beautiful nonetheless.
Hemerocallis ‘Stella de Oro’
Another repeat bloomer is this late flowering day lily, still bearing buds.
Astrantia ‘Roma’
And the exquisite Astrantia ‘Roma’, the delicate stripes on the bracts picked up in the autumnal shades of the Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ behind it. This second flush of flowers has been a lighter colour than the first.
Sedum (inherited), deepening in tone as it matures
Sedum spurium
A low growing variety, also enjoying a second flush.
Skimmia japonica
When the flower buds of the Skimmia start to appear, Christmas is near. I use sprigs of it with ivy and other seasonal foliage in wreaths, garlands and posies all around the house.
Gentiana ‘Shot Silk’
And finally.. this month’s purchase.
This gentian will flower throughout autumn. It likes to be in full sun, in a moisture retentive lime free soil. 7.5cm high. It may need dividing in due course, but that means I can spread it around. How about a carpet of it in front of a flaming red acer? Pow.
Linking to Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day at May Dreams Gardens, where you will find other November bloomers from around the world.
The colour of that gentiana is stunning. We managed a small vase of roses this week – no doubt the last.
It’s supposed to be very cold and windy next week, I don’t suppose there will be much left after that. I’ll pick what I can over the weekend I think.
You really do have such an amazing selection of plants in your garden Jessica, whatever the season. We have quite a few different hydrangeas in our garden and I love them in the Autumn when they go through various changes of colour …. you really get your money’s worth with them.
We have a David Austin ‘ St Swithun ‘ rose, climbing the front wall of our house. It has masses of flowers in May and then flowers until December. I am always amazed at how much colour there still is at this time of year. XXXX
Your rose sounds gorgeous Jackie, and fragrant too I’ll bet!
Another great selection. I particularly love the gentian and the astrantia. Beautiful.
Thanks Jenny. I’ve really fallen for astrantias this year. The deep red ones have given up the ghost now, but this one (mid pink) has been flowering all summer and is still going!
Beautiful hydrangeas. I love their fading beauty.
You have so much colour in your garden. I have no flowers left – it’s a totally midsummer garden. I shall read and learn from you.
To be honest I thought this garden was too… the sedums and hydrangeas have saved the day, but I do want to bring in more autumn and early spring flowers. I just wish I could grow bulbs, but the wet and the mice have so far defeated me.
Better than our garden up here in Cumbria, nothing left that even looks alive, the whole garden has that bare unkempt winter look.
Give it a couple more frosts (next week?) and ours will be the same. I’ve still got loads of tidying up to do… perhaps it will just get buried under all the leaves.
A beautiful gentian indeed. I picked the last of my pink roses at the allotment this week. A bit battered, but still lovely. I don’t know what variety they are, but they’ve been going for months. I spotted some Christmas Box breaking into flower yesterday. Winter must be here I think.
I have buds on the Christmas box, but no flowers yet. They’re so tiny though, we usually smell them before spotting them!
Did you get to the bottom of who’d made a pincushion of your lawn? I have been wondering…
I think it probably was a cow. A while later we discovered that a farmer up the road had ‘lost’ some on the same day as our visitor. I can only assume one of the miscreants got separated from the rest and was searching for them. I’m not sure the farmer got them all back either, some may have made it to the border, false passports etc. I just hope they’re OK.
Gorgeous blooms. It takes a dedicated gardener to have a flowering garden through every season.
Thanks Janice. Next month will be the interesting one!
Lots of color still…what zone are you in? Your plants are faring very well…..
We don’t have a zone map in quite the same way, but we’ve had temps down to -10C in the South West in recent years, lower still on higher ground I have no doubt. So far this year one very light frost.
Wow, so beautiful!! I saw a dandelion the other today, and even that is a miracle for here in November!
For the December post I may yet be looking for dandelions!
I’ll be watching!
Even they have given up now.. 🙁
I approve of your November purchase, such a gorgeous coloured plant. It’s getting harder to find flowering plants now that the end of the year is nearing, I don’t know what I’ll find for December. I love that darker coloured sedum too, that’s a beautiful colour.
Thanks Jo. This time around I had a choice of the gentian, a mahonia or a viburnum. That was it! The last two I don’t have room for at the moment, so it was the gentian by default. I do like it though!
I am amazed that your day lillies are in still producing buds, mine have died back completely for the year. Your rose is beautiful, I could do with some more roses, so I will have to try and remember that one. Lovely to see some flowers still going in your garden at this time of year. xx
My ‘normal’ day lilies have finished as well. This one is a miniature, about 12 ins high and seems to have a much longer flowering season. Even so, it is doing well!
Your Gentian is stunning and so is your rose, such a pretty colour. I have had to go and search for flowers, they are hidden in the foliage around them that I should have cut down by now.
Same here Pauline. Next two days I really must get out there, before it gets much colder again next week.
Another vote for the gentiana! Stunning blue; just the colour for a taffeta ball gown! Still got some yellow poppies here and this year I remembered to get my lemon verbena into the greenhouse before the first frost which arrived last week. Phew!
I meant to get the French Tarragon in, and haven’t. Daren’t look…
How is your allotment going?
I believe we are anticipating some rather magnificent parsnips for Christmas Dinner. Well, the tops of them are looking hopeful anyway! The broccoli looks like it is getting its backside in gear for 25th, too!
Wonderful Denise! I should have sprouts… bovine visitations permitting.
This months purchase is a lovely one. Such a pretty shade of blue for the winter months!
It’s just started to open out now, in the greenhouse, and the insides of the flower trumpets are tinged purple.
Lovely blooms in your garden still! Even the weeds have given up in mine!!!
I wish the weeds would give up in mine!!!
It is lovely to see some colour in your garden. I really appreciate those summer hangers on, too – especially any late flowering roses. Those are about the only flowers I have here, now. I do love the colour of your ‘Pat Austin’ rose.
It’s a stunning colour, it’s just really difficult to find the right place for it to go. I have it as a centrepiece in a bed that is isolated by paths around it, along with white and black companion plants. It sort of works!
That is such a lovely shade of blue in your latest purchase! Like you we still have some faded, papery hydrangeas, sedum and a couple of roses lingering on – I expect they will disappear as soon as the weather gets colder:)
I will be picking for the house this weekend, especially the hydrangeas which should last for a while once they’ve finished drying out. Not looking forward to the weather next week, I think the season is coming to a close for this fair weather gardener!
I love those Gentian – never had any luck with them. It will look incredible with the Acer, I’m sure. Pat Austin is a lovely rose – I had to choose between it and Lady Emma Hamilton. I chose Lady E. – I could always add next year 😉 Happy Bloom Day!
Hi Angie and welcome to rusty duck!
I have Lady E too, having something of a weakness for that colour of rose. Pat Austin is marginally lighter in my garden, and fades to pale apricot. Both have superb fragrance. Oh dear, I hope my gentian doesn’t go the same way. They are supposed to like moisture, well they won’t go short of that!
So many buds on your Stella! I had a few late ones on my Mini Stella, but not as many as this – very nice! And that rose is lovely, but as you say it would need to be in the right place with that distinctive colour. Keep looking – there will be things to share next month too, I am sure 😉
I hope the Stella flowers come out before next week, otherwise I suspect the frost will put an end to it.
I can’t believe how many gorgeous flowers you’ve still got going. It’s a wasteland here! Very envious and impressed with your gardening prowess.
Thankfully they don’t need to rely on me..
I do love that russet seedum, a beautiful plant for autumn. You do have a lot still going on, I only have marigolds and lavender….and rocket in flower now. Time to hit the garden centres.xxxx
The sedum flowers have progressed through green, light pink and now russet as the season has advanced. It’s been a good value plant.
I’m amazed at the day lily still flowering, I really need to seriously consider getting some of those myself. And I have been offered some Astrantia roma, clearly something I need to say a vigorous “yes” to! I rather like the fact that the flowers are smaller and quieter (nerines apart) at this time of year, I like the clear demarkation of seasons, but equally there is something magical about turning a corner and seeing flowers.
Definitely bite the hand off re the Astrantia, it’s been an excellent do-er for me. I set out looking for nerines on the trip that provided the gentian. It seems they are sold as dry bulbs. I shall have to plan ahead next year. An experiment is also hatching.. plant bulbs in an open topped ‘vase’ of wire mesh to try and keep the mice at bay.
It does indeed get harder at this time of year Jessica 🙂 Like Janet i’m amazed to see you have day lilies in bud. Mine all ceased some time ago but I know that there are some that flower later in the season. Must do some research. I’m not usually a big fan of orange roses but your ‘Pat Austin’ could well convert me 🙂
I identified the Stella de Oro from the internet, as I inherited it. But it does look identical and has all the same characteristics, including a long flowering season. So it’s an educated guess rather than 100% certainty!
Thank you for sharing you remaining loveles. I love the new Gentiana. I may see if that is something that will do here, but somehow I doubt it will. Have a great weekend, Jessica. Blessings, Natalie
They are moisture lovers. For once, this is a habitat I can provide without too much trouble!
Divine blooms to brighten up November.
Thanks Penny. Today is so grey and miserable, it’s needed!
you have quite a lot in flower Jessica despite the rain, wind and frost, Frances
There’s a relatively sheltered spot down the hill close to the house, and all but one of the photos were taken there. I’m ignoring the rest!!
hmm … I know the ignoring feeling! Frances 😉
I started out trying to attack too many fronts at once. So now the plan is to establish a base around the house and work outwards. As most of the ‘outwards’ is woodland it’s sort of easy to ignore. Until a tree falls down that is, which has happened. The woodland has never been properly maintained unfortunately.
The last of the Autumn flowers and the first of the Spring ones are the most appreciated. Love your day lily and astrantia (names), the gentian (the vivid blue colour) and the changing colour of the sedum. Lots of ideas for our garden at the back end of the year!
I really must get more autumn flowers for next year and extend the season. They are so cheering aren’t they? The wait until Spring seems so long…
Gosh, impressed by the variety and number of your autumn blooms ! Love the hydrangeas gently fading!
Hi Jane and welcome to rusty duck!
I’ve become a fan of hydrangeas this year but only really when they start to fade. I shall endure the sugar sweetness next summer knowing that the best is yet to come!
Every year I keep meaning to put astrantia in my garden… must remember next year!! I love the fading hydrangeas, beautiful. Julie x
Thanks Julie, I hope things will settle down for you now, after the next busy month anyway. x
You do have some pretty flowers for Bloom Day in spite of the frost. ‘Pat Austin’ is such a lovely color! I especially like the Astrantia ‘Roma’. I’m not familiar with it, but what pretty flowers! It probably likes more cold
than my zone 9b climate. But I enjoyed seeing your photos!
Apparently Astrantia is OK for zones 4-9, so could be worth a try? You would need to give it a lot of water and probably plant it in the shade/part shade.
Lovely November flowers – I can’t believe you still have a daylily in flower! All mine are in semi shade and have given up flowering a long time ago. The hydrangeas look so pretty even when they are fading.
Can I ask how you made your animated photo banner? Is it a feature in WordPress? (I use Blogger) Or have you used software online or bought a program? I’d love to have a banner like that, with a drop shadow, would be great if you can tell me how you made it 🙂
Happy GBBD!
Thanks Helene.
The banner is from a WordPress theme, Clean Retina, which I then upgraded to the Pro version to get the slider feature. It is now available on other themes too, I’ve just done a quick google search, but they do all seem to be WordPress. Could there be something similar in your library of Blogger themes?
Not being particularly techy I didn’t look at anything I’d need to build myself, so there may well be a program out there that could be used in conjunction with Blogger, I don’t know. Even the WP plugin was quite a pain to set up, but having paid 40 dollars I refused to be defeated!
Thanks, I guessed it was part of your theme, shame, I’d love to have it!
I have looked at numerous programs to download, both free and paid for, but none can make the drop-down shadow. I can make an animated gif in Photoshop, but it won’t give me that nice shadow 🙁 I am still looking…
Good luck!
I wish I had your technical skill. Now the slider is there I don’t dare touch it for fear of messing it up!
I DO love your diversity of plants, Rusty.
If you get around to daffs in cages for the Spring try Tahiti and Hawaii, sensational flowers and scents and then Pheasant’s eye for late bloomers.
Cheers, Pats x.
Thanks! I do like Pheasant’s Eye and it would seem appropriate… as long as the pheasants didn’t attack it!
I really miss having bulbs in the garden, especially in Spring. Gotta find a way around those damn mice.
Only roses here. But lots of berries on the evergreents no idea what the proper name is. Great fort my planned wreath making session early December.
Lots of berries around this year, I hope it doesn’t mean a hard winter.
Can’t believe there is still astrantia blooming in your garden! Love all the colour there’s still to enjoy in your garden. Especially love the Gentian!
O and love the picture with the squirrel visiting the ducks in your previous post. Forgot to mention that in my comment there 😉
Marian
This Astrantia seems to be a particularly long lasting variety. Others in the garden, even just a few feet away from it, have already died back. In fact I cut one of them down only this afternoon, just a pile of twigs!
a few roses and some asters still surviving here…but my hydrangeas and stella d’ors are long spent–as is the sedum. sigh. as much as i love autumn, the garden needs some serious attention to get more late bloomers going! you are such an inspiration!
Isn’t it weird how things react differently to different climates. It’s my asters that are all spent.
IfWhen I need knitting inspiration I know exactly where to come.I’m just catching up with your blog posts after a busy week and can’t believe that a week ago you had hemerocallis, astrantia and sedums still blooming in your garden! I have lavender, nasturtiums, cerinthe, geraniums … and strawberries! They don’t know what’s about to hit them though! Nasturtiums looking very droopy this morning after a couple of chilly nights!
I know. The day lily buds are still there, but not doing anything. The astrantia and sedums are going strong! Alstroemeria and hardy fuchsia still much in evidence too. But we too are into night time frosts now and I’m tucking up the garden for winter.