Even though we are well past Labor Day, summer hangs on like a blanket over Central Texas. Days go by faster, but the heat hadn't begun to wane until today.
After months without rain, my plants enjoyed an inch of the wet stuff this week - enough to rejuvenate the garden as we head into fall.
The Pride of Barbados seems to mimic the sun with its hot orange blossoms reaching for the sky.
Jutting out like this, it seems alien-like.
Bursting with color, plants in the front garden look like they are in a race to see who can grow the fastest, bloom the longest and be the brightest. Hot time in the city...
Sometimes I am frustrated with the thryallis -- it's definitely a late summer bloomer and occasionally sleeps in after winter. I think we're spoiled with our vast array of three season plants. I'm spoiled - a season and a half just doesn't seem long enough!
Like its cousin, the red Turk's cap, this Pam's pink variety never disappoints in my garden. In part shade with some morning sun, its delicate hats tip to me in the breeze.
More than 30 different species of Duranta grow in tropical climates. Mine have been perennials most years, coming back in summer to bloom through the fall. Only in very frigid winters have I lost them -- two failed to come back after the winter of 3 days at 17 degrees. I have the purple sapphire showers, the alba white and this lavender growing in my garden.
Another stunning tropical, this plumeria started blooming a few weeks ago. Its scent is sweeter than the yellow flowering varieties I grow, but the color is amazing.
The candlestick tree (cassia alata) towering over other plants in the garden is just now starting to bloom.
The back shade garden brings some hot tropical colors to the party as well. I have to replant Persian shield every spring, but I couldn't garden without its color and texture.
While the Moy grande hibiscus is done with its plate-sized flowers, Lord Baltimore is still blooming strong beside the pool.
I know this is the result of my not pruning enough in the spring, but I am thrilled with the weeping form that my crape Myrtle has taken on in front of the cutting garden.
Only allowed on the vegetable garden fence, this cypress vine always perks me up when the veggie garden becomes a towering and crispy mess before the fall garden clean up.
This happy garden blog post brought to you from my favorite morning roost - particularly nice on this cool morning. What's blooming in your late summer / early fall garden today?
Beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteYour late summer garden is loaded with color! As we've been more humid this summer, I'm thinking about investing in more tropical selections too. I do have a Duranta and a Plumeria, both in pots, and I've been eyeing the Caesalpinia in garden centers but I've never seen that thryallis, which I've added to my wish list - it's gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteLinda/patchwork - Thanks. It's hard to keep it alive this time of year!
ReplyDeleteKris - I love tropicals. I even smuggled back some caesalpinia seeds from Costa Rica this summer - from what they call the Malinche tree. Amazing. I'm going to plant them in pots in the greenhouse this winter. I think the thryallis would do well there - you should see if you can find it.
I need to try cypress vine again one of these days. I had it once, but it toasted to a crisp before summer's end. I'm still waiting on my duranta to bloom. Yours gives me hope. Everything looks fresh and lovely in your garden!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pam. I do have one duranta that's ended up in more shade than it likes these last 2 years. Growing tree canopy and my monstrous trumpet vine are winning that battle. I'm going to try to find a sunnier spot for it and move it soon in hopes of reviving it. It's green, but no blooms.
ReplyDeleteEverything looks so pretty! I love the Cypress Vine growing along your veggie garden fence. I have one as well, however mine is not as large as yours. Also love your shade garden bed... Pinning!!!
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