Friday, November 15, 2013

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - November 2013

GBBD November 2013 copy
To say this Bloom Day snuck up on me would be an understatement. I literally didn't realize today was Bloom Day until yesterday morning at work. Knowing that it would be too dark after work to take photos, I ran home during lunch and snapped a few photos of what's in bloom right now.

We're having a wonderful Autumn here in Portland this year, I love the crispness in the air and the sweet fragrance of fallen leaves...come along and let's check out what's blooming.

Agastache Blue Boa
Most of the Agastaches are pretty much done, although they still toss up the occasional bloom. Here, we have 'Blue Boa', one of the more compact Agastaches.

Eutrochium Chocolate
One of my favorite late bloomers, Chocolate Joe Pye Weed (recently re-named Ageratina altissima). Seeing these fluffy white blooms scattered throughout the garden (I have quite a few) always brings a smile to my face. A nice bonus is that their foliage turns a lovely warm caramel color as the weather cools.

Persicaria golden arrow
Such a stubborn group of plants, the Persicarias (this is 'Golden Arrow') just refuse to stop blooming.

Persicaria inverleith
Another Persicaria, 'Inverleith' always gets a nice second wind in Autumn, the cooler temps seem to suit it.

Knautia macedonica
You can always count of Knautia macedonica to keep blooming until frost hits (which should be any day now, unless we have another winter like last year).

Teucrium
The patch of Teucrium is dominated by slender, twisting seed heads...and I almost missed the handful of small blooms. Last year I was puzzled why I didn't have any seedlings around this patch, as it was reputed to be quite prolific in that department. I needn't have worried, this year they've more than made up for it...I'll be in for a bit of weeding next spring!

verbena rigida polaris
The pathway up the driveway, past the house and into the backyard is quite forlorn right now, being somewhat in flux...I can't quite decide what to do with the area...and it's become something of a half-way house for plants that I haven't found a spot for. One of the permanent residents, however, are these Verbena rigida 'Polaris'. While I prefer the voilet-magenta of the straight species, this softer lavender is so nice at lighting up this shady area.

Echinacea magnus
While most of the Echinacea are now blackened sentinels in the garden, proudly offering their seeds to ravenous finches, I did spot this one, lone bloom.

geranium rozanne
Good old Geranium 'Rozanne' just won't stop blooming...not that I'm complaining. It's interesting how the blooms in the front gardens are blue...while those in back have more purple in them.

Aster Prince
My favorite Aster, the wonderful 'Prince' just keeps going. There is nothing quite like seeing this wonderful cloud of white, surrounded by billowing grasses and the bare, sere stems of Agastache 'Golden Jubilee'.

Inpatiens arguta
One of the plants that I can't honestly decide whether I like or not, Impatiens arguta. Oddly, in this cooler weather, the blooms are more pink, while during summer they are a purplish-blue. I will say that it survived being unceremoniously dumped behind a fence and left to fend for itself earlier this summer. I was shocked to see it was almost 3' tall and high a few weeks ago!

salvia amistad
And lastly, we have the sumptuous purple blooms of Salvia 'Amistad'. I have this is a pot, and am not sure it will survive the winter...I guess we'll find out!

Whole House
There were a few more things flowering, but that's most of it, as I just ran out of time and had to head back to the office. In closing, let's take a wider look at the whole garden!

Front Border from North 2
Here's the Front Border looking South.

Front Border From South
And again, looking North.

North Border From East
Here's the North Border looking West.

North Border From West
And the same looking back East.

There you have it! For more posts on what's blooming around the world right now, head over the May Dreams Garden! What's blooming in your garden...have any of you had frost yet?

64 comments:

  1. I love the tree behind the house with the lacy needles...what type of tree is that....oh, happy Gbbd!

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  2. You've still got lots going on Scott - and wow! What kerb appeal your home has. It looks beautiful in it's autumn colours. I see your side garden has a similar purpose to my front garden.
    Your Persicaria still looks very healthy - mines were reduced to mush by the first frosts. Did you know that P. Inverleith was bred here in Edinburgh at the Royal Botanic Gardens - named after the suburb it is situated in.

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  3. Pretty flowers and beautiful Autumn colors in the trees.
    Happy Garden bloggers' Bloom Day!
    Lea
    http://www.leasmenagerie.blogspot.com

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  4. I was surprised by how tiny the flowers on Aster 'Prince' are. I think it's going to need another year or two to really grow on me (hehe). What are the two small trees in your hell strip, with the golden leaves? Very pretty.

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  5. Love your amsonia in the "front border looking south" photo...and glad you were able to get away to snap some photos!


    (glad to see the "post as a guest" option on your disqus...I know I should just register already but oh how I hate yet another password/profile)

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  6. Scott, I figured I'd be eating my liver if I came to take a peek at your garden, and I was right. Enviable, blooms or no blooms. Happy Blooms Day!

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  7. Beautiful are the photos!
    Greetings from Holland, RW & SK
    http://65ries.blogspot.nl/

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  8. really fall there!! and you are searching for those last stragglers
    ....nice shots

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  9. Hei!! What a difference. We had frost in september. Norway and Alaska is perhaps more or less the the same. Beatyful november garden. People who pass your garden are lucky people. Anne

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  10. It's been more like summer in SoCal the last few days but I'm looking forward to more cooler days and, hopefully, some rain. I don't know what Impatiens arguta looks like in the large view but it's pretty impressive in close up - and points are due for thriving on benign neglect.

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  11. Wow, you still have a lot blooming! What are the amazing gold trees in your first wide shot? Beautiful! We have had several hard frosts here in North Country, NY and our first snowfall which is already gone but don't worry, I'm sure we'll have more ...

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  12. Very nice! What a sweet picture with your kitty! We have a strange mild day today, so I was able to find a few blooms--even here in the northern U.S.!

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  13. Still lots of plants in bloom, and the rich colour of autumn is still very much vibrant in your garden. Would have joined bloom day but as it gets dark so early way before either of us gets home its tricky to take any pics.

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  14. Just wondering if you guys have municipal composting. Wow, look at all those leaves...
    I need to research how Amistad compares to Purple Majesty. Either way, what a great color with the changing leaves.

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  15. You still have lots blooming! Frost has hit here, around 20-25 miles north of you, affecting the more tender plants. I also like your beautiful golden yellow trees, and the red one too, and the flaming grass by the car bumper. I'm trying to grow Ageratina altissima from seed now, it seems to be one of the few Joe Pyes that grow in dry soil so I hope it can naturalize.

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  16. Your garden is gorgeous all year but it particularly shines in autumn. Love all those warm rich tones!

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  17. The smattering of blossoms are perfect punctuation marks against the overall golden hues of your late season garden.

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  18. Donna@Gardens Eye ViewNovember 17, 2013 at 4:23 PM

    Some lovely blooms and fall foliage especially the long shots!

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  19. Hi Scott, looking at your photos is always inspiring. I still remember your autumn posts last year which reall stuck to the long term memory. The wide angle garden looks almost really spent for the year, but the selective photos are still spectacular, very Rhone Street photos! That just means how I remember your shots.

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  20. The way you photograph and describe your grasses and blooms is so compelling, Scott. It has been a particularly lovely autumn here, and I have to thank you for all your positive contributions to my AAAA (annual autumn appreciation adjustment.) ;-)

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  21. Your photos captured all the colors of fall!. I can almost smell the wood smoke that must be in the air! The golden trees along the side of your property are a spectacular color.
    We have not had a freeze here yet (Texas 8a). Our leaves have just started to turn...
    Thanks for sharing!
    Suzanne

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  22. Well, I am not surprised by all your late blooming beauties Scott. Your garden always impresses me. I'm loving the Impatiens arguta! I must get me some seed of that puppy. :)

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  23. I love how wild and wind swept the whole street looks. I see you have another cat. Helping with the post it he? I just spotted boots in the last picture; he is so well camouflaged I almost missed him.

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  24. I am drooling over the golden coloring of your Parrotias. You have such a wonderfully long stretch where your garden looks great.

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  25. What beautiful photos of a beautiful garden. My first visit, but I'll be back.

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  26. You still have a nice selection of blooms, and 'Rozanne' looks so perky! But it's your grasses and small trees that really steal the show at this time of year.

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  27. Every time I visit your blog I see plants that I want! lol 'Prince' is going on the want list now. Love those purple centers.

    Your fall garden looks great! The color on those Parrotias is amazing!

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  28. I'd say there's a golden aura emanating from your garden! So beautiful!

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  29. Thanks, Andrea :-)

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  30. You'd love 'Prince' in your garden, I hope you can find some!

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  31. I agree, Jason, it's all about the grasses right now :-)

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  32. Thanks for stopping by, I hope to see you again!

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  33. They really colored up nicely this year...our neighbor has some as well...and they were even better. I'm jealous :-)

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  34. Hahahaha...Boots always manages to squeeze in there somewhere, doesn't he!

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  35. I think you'd love it, Grace...it's super-tough as well. If you ever make it up to Portland, I'll give you some!

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  36. OMG...you are so right, Suzanne...a bunch of people have been burning wood lately...it smells amazing!

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  37. Hahaha...I do what I can, Jane ;-) It has been especially great this year...that period of cool, dry weather really made things extra intense.

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  38. Thanks, Andrea! It's so true...in the big picture, it's already very sere and getting more so by the day, however, there are still a few things blooming...you just have to look a little closer right now ;-)

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  39. Thanks, Donna...glad you liked them :-)

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  40. Thanks, Ricki :-) I tend to be so busy enjoying the grasses and fall colors that the blooms are nice surprises!

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  41. Thanks, Peter...it really is an "Autumn" garden ;-)

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  42. I love that Ageratina...I think you'll love it too! We just had our first real frost last night...so things are definitely going to start collapsing soon, I think.

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  43. Hi Denise...YES, we do have municipal composting. We have a large bin that we can fill and they will pick it up each week. Needless to say, it's been full every week for the last month or so!

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  44. I know your pain, I have to take all the photos for any posts on the weekend...it gets tricky, as I rarely think that far ahead!

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  45. Nice...we have to take advantage of those good days when they happen, don't we!

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  46. Hi Kathy! Those are Persian Ironwoods (Parrotia persica), they are related to Witch Hazels. Snow already, wow! I'm actually hoping we'll get some snow this year in Portland...it's a long-shot...but I'm crossing my fingers ;-)

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  47. I know what you mean...by the time summer starts to wrap up, I'm REALLY ready for fall. I think you'd like that Impatiens...it's a tough one...and might be evergreen for you there.

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  48. Hahaha, yes indue, Sharon! You definitely have to search a little harder around here now for blooms!

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  49. Hi, Thanks for stopping by...glad you enjoyed the post!

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  50. Oh no...I hope it's not as bad as that, Helenbee ;-) Glad I could give you a warm peek into my garden :-)

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  51. Hahahahaha...I know what you mean...that's why I left that option on...I'm so inclined not to comment when I have to login to yet ANOTHER commenting system.

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  52. Hahahaha, too funny, Alison! They are Persian Ironwoods (Parrotia persica), they are related to Witch Hazels...they are nice little trees, with gray, mottled bark, great fall color, and some years, dark red flowers in February...which are very showy, but nice, all the same.

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  53. Thanks for stopping by, Lea...glad you enjoyed the post!

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  54. Was it really, Angie...I had no idea (although I suspected something like that)! It's a fabulous Persicaria...and I was lucky to find it when I did...I've never seen it for sale before or since!

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  55. I'm actually not sure...it's in the neighbor's yard...and I'm hopeless at tree identification...sorry :-(

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  56. Thanks, Anne...the neighbors do seem to enjoy the garden as the walk by :-)

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  57. So many lovelies still blooming in your garden! But my favorite has to be all the foliage--your garden is a beautiful example of the beauty of fall!

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  58. What a delightful set of photos and a fabulous eclectic enseblble of plants!

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  59. Thanks, Rose...I agree...at this time of year, it's mostly about the foliage :-)

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  60. Thanks, William! Glad you enjoyed the post :-)

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  61. Hi Scott, I don't remember whether I saw this when I came here from FB to see your video. I am so scatterbrained, but I'm pretty sure I didn't stay to see it. Your place is looking quite lovely, as always. It's good to see a little color from the ones that are hanging on, but the fall colors are just as pretty. Corner Garden Sue

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  62. Hi, Sue...glad you stopped by again! I totally agree...the flowers are nice at this time of year...but it's the fall foliage and grasses that are the highlight of the garden right now :-)

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  63. Gorgeous photos again Scott! What are the lovely yellow trees in your last set of photos? They must just about light up your whole street!

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  64. Thanks, Ruth! Those are Persian Ironwood trees (Parrotia persica)...I planted them mostly for their fall color...so I'm pretty pleased with them :-)

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