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Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day, September 2015

I abruptly lost all interest in spending time outside. It just got intolerably hot and humid, so other than turning the soaker hoses on and off I've pretty much been ignoring the garden since my last post.

That said, even though I've temporarily given up on my garden, my garden hasn't given up on me: it shares blooms, so I share blooms!

First and foremost, I have to give 'props to my Salvia 'Amistad'. I transplanted all 3 of them in August, and they not only survived but are blooming profusely:
Salvia 'Amistad' post-August transplant
I've never grown this variety before, and I'm impressed by both the color and the vigor. They're a little spindly from having been planted in partial shade - I was hoping they'd take after Salvia 'Black and Blue' in that regard, but not so much. I look forward to seeing how they do next year, with more sun.

Speaking of Salvia transplants, I have 6 Salvia 'Van Houetii' that I've moved at least 3 times since I planted them in the Spring. They really struggled to get established after the 2nd time, but this past weekend I was relieved to see a few blooms:
Salvia 'Van Houetti'
My last new Salvia to bloom is 'Puerto de la Zorra'. I have two shrubs with tons of blooms on the way, so this is just a preview of what's to come:
Salvia 'Puerto de la Zorra'
It isn't all Salvias...

I threw some more fertilizer at my Brugmansia 'Double White' just to see if the first time was a fluke, but sure enough it bloomed profusely again! They sure are weird looking, but I love that they're so compliant: you feed, I bloom.
Brugmansia 'Double White'
I saved the best for last, though. My Canna 'Flambe', which I bought solely for the foliage, is blooming too!
Canna 'Flambe' in bloom
I love the orange! They've spread and have gotten crazy-tall, some falling over. I'll post those pictures for Foliage Follow-Up!

Thanks so much to May Dreams Gardens for hosting this every month! It's such a treat to see everyone's gorgeous gardens!

10 comments:

  1. I love Salvia - especially 'Amistad'. I visited two gardens at the weekend and made a pledge to my friends to grow more of these plants. Actually, my words were "wouldn't it be fabulous to have the national collection of Salvia? You would never be bored! There is such variety." Perhaps I should just stick to adding 'Amistad' to my collection! The foliage on the Canna is exquisite. I know it's bloom day, but that foliage is as good as a bloom!

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    1. Thanks so much, Sarah! I'm pretty much in love with that Canna. It seems to be tolerating partial shade very well, too.

      As a fellow salvia fan I hope you've visited Robin's Salvias (http://www.robinssalvias.com/index.html). I've spent more time than I care to admit on it! :-) So many gorgeous varieties! I miss having Salvia Mexicana 'Limelight' in my garden and might have to remedy that in the Spring; I love the combo of chartreuse and electric purple!

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  2. Your passionflowers are lovely, and Amistad is looking good. I'm anxiously waiting on my Salvia 'Lady in Red' to bloom, it finally has some red petals emerging. I didn't know it would take so long. I would be so thrilled if my dark foliaged Canna would bloom, that is wonderful.

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    1. Thanks a bunch, Hannah! I planted 7 Salvia elegans 'Golden Delicious' in a mass, I'm loving the bright green foliage while I wait to see the true color of the red blooms!

      Sadly the deer keep eating my Canna 'Wyoming' blooms in the front, so it's nice to have this surprise orange bloom in the back where it's protected from the deer.

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  3. I enjoyed your post and I love your comment under your header photo Wendy! I don't even bother discussing gardens with my friends now. I learned long ago that when their eyes roll back in their heads they've heard enough about plants!

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    1. Ha, thanks Gillian! I was so thrilled to join up with other gardening bloggers in the Austin area recently!! Before that I would just blog for myself (and my mom), and pounce on strangers at parties if they even hinted at an interest in plants. I fear I came across as scary-fanatical, but in my revisionist memory I downgrade it to charmingly eccentric. ;-)

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  4. "All gardening all the time..." Love it! Unfortunately, this job thing that I have interferes with my all gardening all the time; keeps me in plants though so there are trade offs. Beautiful canna!

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    1. Agreed, the pesky job-thing is a drag. But like you say, it pays for my habit! I don't think I have it in me to create a Kickstarter campaign to get strangers to fund my gardening, but it does cross my mind.... :-)

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  5. You have a beautiful garden!

    Thanks for sharing this post and giving me the idea to also participate!

    I just started a new blog last week about gardening and crafting. You are always welcome visit if you want.

    Greetings, Sofie
    http://sofies-succulent-beads.blogspot.be/2015/09/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-september-2015.html

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    1. Thank you so much, Sofie, and I'm so glad you're participating: you get to take a virtual tour of so many gardens you'd never get to see otherwise! It's always inspiring!

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