I’ve really had a come-to-jaysus moment, as far as my little garden. No more ambitious planning for seasonal blooms, emphasis on summer. No more planning for strictly blooms at all.
Now I’m viewing my little space as more of an outdoor conservatory, with all the freedom from seasonal concerns that concept implies. It’s getting very sharp and pointy out there, is all I’m saying for the moment. But wouldn’t you know it, what I have to show for blooms this November is that bastion of summer and fall-flowering gardens, the echinacea, a couple ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ I brought home in early summer that tucked in their horns until the heat abated somewhat.
And what’s becoming a November tradition, the big trusses of bloom on the tetrapanax. So many of the leaves burnt in summer, it’s comically mostly stems and flowers this year.
Tragicomic, that about sums up gardens in a nutshell. Carol collects all our tragicomedy the 15th of every month on her blog May Dreams Gardens.
For the past few years my conscious gardening mind has been looking for plants that bloom or hold some other interest when gaps occur in the gardening year. Of course my unconscious gardening mind is more easily distracted.
Very well put, Les. My garden’s id and super-ego are at war!
White Echinacea is a favorite here, too.
Then there’s those tough beauties that seem to never stop blooming! I’m a sucker for both form and color, and especially like anything that blooms from 6 to 9 months of the year. Fortunately not that hard to do here, and a few favorites this time of year would include Aloe x delaetii, Aloe ‘Johnson’s Hybrid’, Kniphofia thompsonii, Arctotis hybrids, Erythrinax bidwillii, Caliandra californica, Erigeron grande rubescens, Bulbine frutescens, Anigozanthus flavidus, Tagetes lemmonii, Calandrinia grandiflora, Streptosolen jamesonii, Euphorbia ‘Ascot Rainbow’, Bougainvilleas, Brugmansia ‘Charles Grimaldi’, Tibouchina urvilleana and Leucadendron salignum cultivars.
I don’t think my Echinacea looked that good even at the height of summer, Denise. I’ve never tried Tetrapanax but it sure takes a pretty picture!
Fabulous buds on your Tetrapanax! Mine is just a baby, and I just wrapped it in bubble wrap to protect it from the icy eastern winds that bowled most of us over this past week. All ten fingers crossed that it survives!
Tragicomic certainly describes my garden about now. I really thought this was the year for my Tetrapanax blooms, but last nights 28 has them a little limp looking and tonight’s supposed to be colder. Darn it!
@Jean, I bought these CS echinaceas for their tawny coloring in bud at the nursery — and now it’s showing up white!
@David, I love it when you make lists!
@Kris, if you’re interested in giving the tetrapanax a go, I’m sure there’s a runner around here somewhere…
@Anna, I’m crossing fingers for you too. We’re having a windy day today, not icy, but dry, dry dry.
@Loree, I can’t believe those low 20 temps Portland is getting. I’d want to light smudge pots or something.
Great term, tragicomic, which certainly describes the gardening life. I’m looking forward to seeing your tetrapanax bloom as ours up here are usually cut down by frost in the bud stage. Flowers are fleeting but foliage is forever they say. Your outdoor conservatory sounds divine!
Peter, I’m just trying to keep up with your indoor winter conservatory!