Mid-Late October in VA

It won't be long before these are all just memories. October is surprisingly, if you take the opportunity to observe, declaring that bloom season is not...yet...over.


Abraham Lincoln is still sending out blooms. Not a prolific bloomer for me, it makes those it does send out seem especially nice. Fall is a good time here for roses.


This is a miniature rose...one that still survives from my brief infatuation with them. Did you realize that miniature roses are own root roses? Unlike the others, that you must make some effort to assure that you are purchasing own root roses, the miniatures have quietly soldiered on...on their own roots.


This is an annual that makes it to my garden...annually...ha. Nemesia. Love it. Blooms and blooms until frost takes it away.


While this camellia doesn't have the best shape, shrub-wise, yet...the blooms sure are pretty.


Closer...it's really lovely.


I almost missed these rain lilies, hidden as they were...the result of an ever-expanding garden. Once upon a time they were planted on a border where they could be seen...now, they're buried behind some other things (hmmm, daylilies, perhaps??).


Dianthus Siberian Blues which I grew from seed several years ago. It has a long bloom season and puts up with neglect.


I didn't know this...perhaps you did...that Loropetalum blooms again in fall. How 'bout that. Maybe because mine has struggled and not attained the glory that I see when I visit South Carolina. Let's hope it is because it has decided it will stay here.


Geranium Rosanne. If you don't grow this, I can't imagine why not. It is simply the best hardy geranium. Blooms forever (almost).


This is one of many phlox seedlings I find around. I particularly like this one. Unfortunately, it has decided to grow between two edging bricks and is perched directly in the path of where I will probably have some professional tree/shrub whacking going on. We shall see what happens.


Another camellia in the backyard. It's growing on me. Not what I thought I was purchasing, but it's very healthy due to, I believe, the fact that my compostor used to be right behind it.


This is my holly leaf osmanthus which only blooms in the fall. It has a stronger fragrance than the others that I grow. I was astonished to go outside recently and find it covered in blooms (sorry the picture is not so great). This has been its best year ever for bloom/fragrance.


Another not-so-good picture, this is my tea olive (osmanthus). As you can tell, it grows under my steps. I love this shrub! It's been here several years, so I'm hoping it's with me to stay. With predictions of a dire winter, I worry. This year, I brought back yet another tea olive, whose name is not in front me right now...anyway, it is supposed to be even more floriferous than the one above (imagine that!). They actually all three were blooming at the same time this year. I do have a fourth osmanthus, but it does not bloom...just a beautiful shrub. I'll be concerned for the two SC tea olives, especially the brand new one, this year. You might cross your fingers for me, too...if you're so inclined.



Monkshood.




Toad Lilies.


Hardy Cyclamen...the second one has now begun blooming...


This year I'm expecting eight lemons from my Meyer Lemon...well, tree would be generous...ha, perhaps we'll call it a shrub. It gets dragged in and out each year and so far has managed to survive this torture.

So, in sum....October is a pretty interesting month in the garden...at least in this Virginia garden.

Photos and More Photos

One of my favorite shrubs in spring:

Variegated Weigela even without the flowers has stunning foliage. It's one of those old fashioned plants and will take a lot. I suppose I should prune mine, it's gotten quite large, but I don't know...I rather like it dripping with blooms.

Here they are closer, you get pink and white together...



Needing no introduction, the first of the peonies:


I'm not really fond of the single ones and didn't realize I had any (I apparently have two...exactly the same!)...I'm going to blame it on mislabeling and/or my penchant for buying a mix (not so big on that any longer with space at a premium). Never mind, the doubles will be starting any day...and I will bring some of those inside!

Remember my white trillium(s) I was so proud of...Look what it/they did:


According to this site, these trillium(s)s do this after they have been pollinated. To my surprise, that which I thought gone...is here...and blooming:


Look above the fern (Ghost, if you're wondering), under the clematis (Polish Spirit) and mixed in with the bee balm (Raspberry Wine)...and there it is! I surely thought something had got it...so I'm very happy. The last/other trillium is not blooming but I found it hidden in the monkshood foliage...all present and accounted for. Next year, assuming I get them planted, I hope to have some other varieties. This white trillium (probably Great White) is much larger and taller than the now pink one:


The last daffodil blooming (still are a few buds to open as well):


Albus plenus odoratus...(it was blowing around, sorry for the odd picture)....for those not tired of daffodils (not me!), I will get to my review and will have pictures of some I haven't shown (just ran out of time)...with over 100 varieties (and still adding), I can go on for quite a while with them!

This will give you some idea of how large my sweet shrub aka Carolina Allspice is and why it is so deliciously fragrant (many buds!):



For those of you wondering, here are a few things residing together (I do cram)...how many can you find??


While mine is just a baby, it has started blooming...in full bloom, these trees, Fringe Trees, are stunning and fragrant:


I'll have to look as I believe I had pictures of larger trees from Maymont and Mount Vernon.

The first of the thymes to bloom...English Thyme:


Woodland phlox and Spanish bluebells:



A lone allium...when I moved things around, I apparently moved this one...good thing as I must have tossed most of the others with the bathwater:


Another Dianthus makes an appearance:



Anthemis just getting going also:


A new creeping phlox now residing under the Mohawk viburnum...aren't those variegated leaves adorable!



Speaking of variegated, how about these columbines (they're starting to seed around...which is fine with me):



And this one (sigh) growing in the weeds under...of course...the silver maple:




A cause for celebration...look closely, scapes on a daylily (Royal Eventide...usually my first)...I do have scapes on a couple of new arrivals, but I don't count those as they aren't home grown.


A cause for dismay...spiderwort! How did that find itself here??


Heucherella Sunspot....but what I really like here...look closely...poppy seedlings all around!


That'll have to do it for now...more, as always, to come. I'll just do a separate post of iris, clematis, ground covers...whatever! Still a few visits, too...Mount Vernon and Hahn Horticulture Garden...plus, I dug out a couple daylilies (REALLY need to do more of that...lol) and I'll show you how that went....I figured if I wrote/listed these...I might actually remember to do them!

Bath Has Babies

Dianthus, as you will probably see over the next few weeks, are another of my favorites. Bath's Pink is coming into bloom and has been a very reliable and dependable dianthus (some aren't).

Here she is:


Take a closer look:


I noticed that Bath has produced two babies...have a look at Baby No. 1:


Closer, you can see Mom's influence but the baby is more colorful:


And Baby No. 2 (where did you come from?!) Okay, let's just say I have more than a few dianthus, so...


Both babies are a bit taller than mom and the stems are longer and more...shall we say...floppy than mom's. It was fun to see their small clumps emerge near the mother plant and wonder what they would look like...now we know!

Here's the happy family...at the very end (closest to you) is Baby No. 2 and at the top, to the left of the daylily, is Baby No. 1


*******
I have lots of pictures I'm in the process of uploading (so many pictures, so little time...)...next week, I should be better about posting...we're expecting company this weekend and I am supposed to be getting the house ready....uh huh, right...!!)