Garden Bloggers Bloom Day 2008 Review

Since I have very little to show for Garden Blogger's Bloom Day in December I'll display a review of each Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day post over 2008 that I've done. Inside this post you will see one or two pictures from each post that in my view are the best of the blooms. Unfortunately I missed a few months like February, July, and November but all the others are accounted for with plenty of photos! The highlight of the Bloom Day Pictures for me was the Monarch Butterfly I photographed in October. Click on the Month to go to the original post for more pictures of my garden! Be sure to visit May Dreams Gardens for more Bloom day posts.

January

Nandina Berries














March

Bradford Pear Buds

Henbit!

April

Tulips

Redbuds and Dogwoods

May

'Caradonna' Salvia

'May Night' Salvia with an Achillea backdrop

June
Asiatic Lilies















August

Sedum/Stonecrop

Verbena x hybrida

September

'Oranges and Lemons' Gaillardia

'Longwood Blue' Caryopteris

October 2008

Monarch Butterfly on Asclepias

Pink Cosmos

November Blooming (The Unusuals)

Our unusually spring like fall weather has encouraged quite a few plants to either continue blooming longer than usual or bloom at a very unusual time!  I went out this morning and took a few pictures of what's blooming in our Tennessee garden as a result of those 70 degree days we've had.

Three different varieties of Achillea millifolium are in our garden with two of them currently blooming. All three may in fact be blooming, I just forgot to check the third!

'Paprika' Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

 

'Appleblossom' Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

 

I found several salvias still producing flowers. This first one is 'Caradonna' Salvia nemorosa. I'm a big fan of the dark purple colors of the Salvia nemorosas and also have 'East Friesland' and 'May Night' in the garden. I love to propagate salvia in the spring!

 

The 'Mystic Spires' salvia is beginning to fade but the color of the flowers is still hanging on. I bought one of these last year but it didn't survive the winter. Maybe things will be different this year.

 

This Texas sage (Salvia coccinea) that I added to the garden this year is still doing well after several frosts. Hopefully it had enough time to reseed just in case it doesn't come back next year.

 

One of my favorite Gaillardias, 'Oranges and Lemons' is still prolifically blooming. I have two of these planted and both still have quite a few flowers growing. Last year the one I had passed away over the winter (bad location - not enough sun, too wet) but seeded a different gaillardia to replace it. It's probably a reversion back to the parent plant.

 

It's a strange and straggly version of the Susan (Rudbeckia) that was blooming but it's a bloom nonetheless.

 

The 'Purple Homestead' Verbena is still growing strong! I love this plant!

 

While this isn't a bloom I thought it was worth sharing. It's one of the most unusual looking leaves on a red maple (Acer rubrum) I've seen. It didn't appear like this last year, but then it was suffering from repeated deer munchings.

 

I hope you enjoyed what's blooming here in my garden. Hop over to visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens for more Bloomsday Blooms! I wonder what, if anything, will be blooming in December?

November Blooms (Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day)

Being mid-November there isn't much to show for blooms. We've had several light frosts and a couple hard freezes which for the most part silences the perennials and annuals that worked so hard for us during the growing season. But there is always something worth looking at in the garden!

Like these pansies in the front garden.

The salvia by the garden shed.

The yarrow (Achillea) by the patio which seems to always be in bloom.

The 'Oranges and Lemons' Gaillardia which surely won't be blooming much longer! A little sad looking this morning don't you think?

The 'Purple Homestead' Verbena

Thanks for stopping by and commenting! Join Carol for more November Blooms!

I went back and looked at what was blooming last year at this time and it's amazing to see how consistent plants can be!

A Day Late But Not A Flower Short for Bloom Day

Unfortunately I'm a day late on Bloom Day but I'm definitely not a bloom short! Yesterday I posted the Fall Color Project Post for the week. Be sure to take plenty of photos for your Fall Color Project 2010 Post!

On with the blooms!

Yellow Pansies - still need planted...

Pink annual Salvia coccinnea

Purple Coneflowers - a little washed out.

Mystic Spires Salvia - I like to plant this one every year.

Purple Wave Petunias - a nice discount rack find!

Red Achillea - most likely 'Paprika'

Red Flowered Gaillardia with a little yellow on the petals

Red Mums with a side order of 'Oranges and Lemons' Gaillardia

Pineapple sage - bloomin' strong

Red mums and red salvia - do you think I like salvia?

Red Zinnia grown from seed - it's definitely time to begin collecting seeds!

Salvia farinacea next to the blue garden shed! Yep I like salvia!

'Walker's Low' Catmint - a reliable nearly no care, deer resistant, and rabbit resistant favorite of mine! And it propagates easily too!

Sheffield Pink Mums! A new addition to the garden from a spring plant swap. I will be propagating many more of these in the spring!

Thanks for stopping by for Bloom Day!

Go visit Carol to see what's blooming in other backyards!

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day - October 2012

 

 Last month, I mentioned in my blog that a special event was going to happen in the garden.  If  you are looking at the pictures, you now know what the event happened to be.  I was asked to host a wedding in my garden.  I always thought my garden could be a beautiful spot for a wedding.  I was delighted when my son asked if he and his future wife could be married in the garden.  I did worry about the appearance of the garden due to a long period of drought, early cold temperatures and if we could have rain. 

I said "Yes" to the wedding and hoped for the best on that special day.  I had 2 1/2 months to try to put my garden back into as much bloom (after three months of no rain) as was possible for this time of the year.  With lots of deadheading and adding additional mums, I did have a nice looking garden with some flowers from roses,  'Limelight'  hydrangeas and other late blooming flowers.

Here are a few of the pictures of the garden for the wedding.

 Just about 45 minutes from the beginning of the wedding, we did have a light rain, getting the tables and chairs wet. Everyone helped dry chairs and by 5:15 p.m. we were ready for a 5:30 wedding.

 



 After the wedding, the temperatures started to drop creating fog on the river.  It made for some very special wedding photos by the photographers.  I can't wait to see those photos.

The gazebo had a rainfall fountain inside that was running with lots of lights and candles.  It looked very pretty in the evening.

 

And our couple, well they are happily married!  If you are planning or thinking about having a wedding in your garden, please check back for a future post on how to make it happen.  I will have lots of great photos and tips to share for that special day.

Have a great Garden Blogger's Bloom Day and Happy Gardening!

Debbie