November 2013 Bloom Day

It wasn't until yesterday that it dawned on my that bloom day was approaching - luckily I had been taking pictures all week, I don't have to trawl through lots of images - I had already sorted out the better ones.  It's difficult to get decent pictures at this time of the year - the lack of light really affects how they look and they never look quite the same using the flash.  

I am running the risk of sounding like a broken record by saying how great our weather has been but there you have it, I've said it again!  I does seem wrong somehow to be expressing how pleased I am with it following recent events in a country that is so dear to my heart.

Come October/November time we have usually had our first flurries of snow and more than our fair share of frosts but not this year.  There has been no snow and only a couple of mornings that temperatures have dropped.  Up until Saturday, last, a minor frost was all we had experience. The frost on Saturday however lasted the whole day and brought many things to their knees.  Sunday was  spent clearing heaps of mush - it was garden bin day yesterday so I wanted to clear out as much as I could.  Very few deciduous shrubs have dropped their leaves yet, I hope they hang around a little longer - it would be nice if they could join in Foliage Follow Up.

For the first time in my garden I have Mahonia flowers - planted in the Autumn of 2011, it's taken a while but finally got there.  The promised scent?????  I can't smell a thing!

Mahonia x media Charity

The frost has barely touched this Astrantia - it has now been flowering since the end of May.  Apart from the 2 weeks it took to recover from being cut right back - I reckon that's not too bad in terms of flowering value.  It's name, rather apt for the time of the year - Astrantia 'Snow Star'.

Astrantia Snow Star

I've tried out Sedum in a shadier part of the garden - I do like the look of Sedum and Heuchera growing together, it has flowered later than the others that grow elsewhere in the garden.  We shall see how it copes with winter in that spot! 

I bought a tray of plug Chrysanthemum late summer 2012 - I know not what possessed me to buy them in this colour!  I must of had a plan but it was so long ago I can't remember what my intentions were.   They add a bit of cheer so for now they have a reprieve.     

A single plug

3 plugs

They had no winter protection last year, I'm not sure if they need it or not but do I need to cut them back at some point? - there is new growth at the base.  The reason I ask is that the larger of the pots is filled with dwarf daffs and left like this I'll never see them! 

The Wedgewood Rose - I'm sure the frost will have done for those buds!  This rose has featured in every bloom day post since June. 

A lingering flower remains on Astilbe Red Sentinel

There are of course some plants that just don't read the gardening books and irrespective of the time of year will want to throw up an odd flower or two.

Cirsium rivulare - 3rd time flowering this year.  This year I've learned a lot about the way some of my perennials grow and flower.  It just goes to show if you can live with the scruffy look or a gap in the border for a week or two then it's worthwhile chopping them back so the garden benefits from a second flush of flowers.  I doubt these flowers will ever open but they look equally nice in bud.

Cirsium rivulare

A drop in temperatures and a bit more moisture in the air revived Primula Francisca. 

I couldn't resist this cheeky little shot - had it not been for the wind the other night, there would have been Gladioli in bloom for this November post.  Sadly that was not to be! 

Now Pansies are usually not my thing - I was out shopping for a specific sized container in which to grow some species Narcissus - I was gifted a rather nice pot but as it has no drainage holes I needed on that would slot in.  The only suitable one I could find was sold complete with Pansies already in flower.  Rather than dispose of them I've decided to give them a go in the front garden.

I've also found a little self seeded one growing up through the Cotoneaster.  The flowers really are tiny, the Cotoneaster berries are bigger!  I haven't the heart to pull it out.  Some slug will be grateful for the feed!

Lastly for this bloom day is a pretty little Saxifraga I bought last week.  I say with all good intentions that last weekend's trip to the GC will likely be the last of the year but please don't quote me.

Saxifraga Blackberry Apple Pie

It's a dark miserable day here in Edinburgh - I hope the weather is a bit better where you are.  The fire is on and I'm off now to read what others have posted on this Bloom Day.  You can join me over at May Dream Gardens if you like.  Have a nice weekend everyone.