Yesterday, I left work on time which is fairly unusual for me. It was delightful to be home to enjoy one of the few evenings left before we turn our clocks back and most of us will be driving home in the dark. Heading out to take some pictures in the neighborhood, I got caught up in my parking strips which haven't had much attention this year. Someone has been spending what time he has on the greenhouse project. Anyway, here's some of what I saw in the hood.
The Arbutus unedo by our front door is blooming profusely again this year. There is little fruit though.
Yucca gloriosa 'Variegata' doesn't seem to know what season it is. I certainly don't mind the nice bloom stalk!
Salvia 'Hot Lips' has been blooming all summer to the delight of the hummingbirds.
I don't remember the name of this Arctostaphylos that was grown by Xera Plants and came to live in my garden about 6 years ago. It's new growth has this great color which makes the plant look like it's blooming again. I'd love to find another!
Garrya elliptica catkins promise a nice show this winter!
Nice orange rose hips.
A favorite of mine is Euonymus europeaus 'Red Ace' that came from Steamboat Island Nursery when they were still in existence. My car was so full of plants that there was no room left for this so they delivered it the next time they were bringing plants to area nurseries.
Yes it's a weed, but I always leave a few lunaria annua. The flowers bloom at a nice time of year and the seed pod formation is interesting.
They're about the size of coffee beans! Take no notice of the super glue on my fingers.
Tetrapanax is hoping to bloom before the first heavy frost. It's always a race to see which will happen first.
Mahonia 'Soft Caress' is blooming. There'll be some mahonia o other blooming through most of the fall and winter and even one for spring.
Crazy and fragrant Viburnum bodnantense 'Dawn' begins blooming now and will continue as the leaves drop through the winter and into earliest spring.
Bird-planted cotoneaster is heavy with berries.
Rosemary is blooming. Just snipped some sprigs for a hearty vegetable soup.
Finally made it across the street to investigate the trees in someone else's parking strip. They're full of moss, ferns and...mushrooms!
liquidambar styraciflua (Sweet Gum) showing some nice color.
Some nice color looking up our street.
What's happening in you garden this autumn?
Nice Peter -- lots going on outside your gareenhouse still. I need to plant more things that produce fall berries I think.
ReplyDeleteThe fall berries are fun to discover in the garden, ornamental, and some persist for most of the winter.
DeleteThere is still so much going on out in our gardens, isn't there? Once the rains come back I have a tendency to start ignoring the garden, but then I find things like my Tropaeolum blooming when I finally take a close look. I love that Euonymous with the orange and pink berries, and the Arctostaphylos is cool too. If you find more than one, buy one for me! My Arbutus unedo is covered with flowers too. I saw a bumblebee the other day trying to get inside one of those tiny flowers, it was kind of comical.
ReplyDeleteI'm like you when it comes to ignoring the garden once the wet season starts. I'm thinking that since some of the plants in the greenhouse will want to be watered fairly often, that will draw me outside a bit more. It would be nice to skip the holidays this year and glide right into March!
DeleteLovely! I realized as I was walking Lila yesterday evening there are only a couple of walks with light left, then it will be done by flashlight, ugh. I do not like the darkness.
ReplyDeleteSo have your tetrapanax ever beat the frost? Mine look a little ahead of the game, as in if we have a late frost then just maybe...
I think that one year they beat the frost and the blooms were nothing to write home about.
DeleteHi Peter, My Arbutus rarely produces berries either, despite the many bees and other pollinators loving on the flowers. Very odd. Your blooming Yucca cracks me up. It's sure pretty. I love the new foliage on the Arcto. ... I'm starting to see buds on my Viburnum too and I'm thinking I really need to get a bunch of Mahonias. I could use more winter bloomers. Great post as always.
ReplyDeleteWhat up with Arbutuses not producing lots of berries? The bright red color is so pretty with the evergreen leaves! Winter bloomers keep us sane until spring! Thanks, Grace.
DeleteHello there Mr. TOG aka Peter ? LOL
ReplyDeleteYou have so many interesting plants it is awesome (I feel very pedestrian now ? haha)
You are right about the Sweet Gum, beautiful colours ... and the "weed" ? they fascinate me with those seed pods .. I love those shots of the trees with the shrooms,moss and ferns .. gorgeous! I use my rosemary so frequently they never have a chance to flower out ..nice to see some tiny flowers like that ! My cotoneatser berries went so quickly this year with the birds chowing down on them .. it was a twig when I bought it years ago and now a nice upright column shrub. We look at our plants like growing kids eh ?
Yes .. the darkness will soon envelope us ... I mind the mornings the most .. oh well, we can plan like mad for next season !
Joy : )
We really should be able to hibernate for the winter and come back out when the weather and light are more hospitable!
DeleteI have lots of those bird-planted cotoneasters scattered about. Do you happen to know their full name? You made the best of the lingering light with this post. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteI knew the name of that cotoneaster once and will find it again! Glad you enjoyed the walk.
DeleteI planted Soft caress last year, but have no flowers. Maybe there is too much shade so I'll move it. I did take notice of the super glue and would like to know what it's from. Could you start peonies from seeds?
ReplyDeleteMy soft caress only gets part sun but didn't start blooming until I'd had it for about three years. The other day, a small ceramic square with brugmansias painted in the glaze fell of the kitchen wall and broke in several places. Fortunately, it was mounted on a cork back which kept everything together so the break lines are barely visible. Anyway, in gluing this, I didn't see the glue coming out of the container and squeezed a bit more than necessary. Of course, my first impulse is always to wipe away excess with my fingers. I bet you could start peonies from those seeds!
DeleteAh, yes, sadly we are entering the dark time. I have a bit of trouble with that, but the holidays help. You captured so many lovelies in your neighborhood, including some beautiful blooms! I especially enjoyed the moss, ferns, and mushrooms. And the stunning fall foliage at the end!
ReplyDeleteOh well, we're only two months from the days starting to get longer again.
DeleteI have never had rosemary bloom. Ever. Your euonymous is incredible. It's a boring green blob here. It's only redeeming quality is that it won't die and the birds like it. I have a similar salvia still blooming, too. I love a plant oblivious to the weather. :o)
ReplyDeleteIt must be your climate as rosemary blooms here at odd times though the year. I bet that if you plant another euonymus of the opposite sex, they'll be much more interesting!
DeleteBeautiful shots Peter, love that street view and the brilliant Autumn foliage. How I love liquid ambers, they grow too big though.
ReplyDeleteLiquid ambers are gorgeous but I don't have space for one. Luckily these are planted down the street from our house so we get to enjoy them without giving up space in the garden.
DeleteI like the pink tones in those yucca flowers. Must be from blooming in the cooler weather of Autumn. Absolutely adore Garrya elliptica. Love those long silvery tassels. Wow! Those peony seeds are enormous! I didn't think they were that big until I saw the second picture with your hand! Holy cow! I like the orange berries on that cotoneaster. I've never seen anything but red berries on those.
ReplyDeleteThe pink tones in the yucca flowers was a surprise and I'll bet you're right about the cooler weather being the cause. The size of the peony seeds was a surprise to me too!
DeleteI'm glad you had a chance to enjoy the beauty of your garden during daylight, Peter. I love that Euonymus and so wish I could grow it here.
ReplyDeleteOur frost-less fall is like a second spring. The plants are enjoying the cooler temperatures, flowers are making return visits, and we can actually work outside without keeling over in the heat.
We haven't yet had frost but it will come sometime in the next couple of months. We can work in our gardens nearly year round without worry about excessive heat. Glad you're enjoying your second spring!
DeleteJust lovely..all the colors, berries and flowers!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Laurin!
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