Pondering Plans for Next Year

Despite the definite change in weather, the garden is still doing quite well. We haven't had a frost yet so even plants like dahlia and fuchsia are putting out blooms. 

Not only that but as I putter and visualize next year's garden, I can hear frogs croaking back and forth to each other at random intervals. If the temperatures remain mild (in the 50s) I'll continue to be enchanted by them.

I was surprised to see buds forming all up and down my winter-blooming 'Freckles' Clematis.

Clematis cirrhosa var. purpurescens 'Freckles'

This made me curious so I checked another of my three winter blooming Clematis, C. urophylla. Sure enough! Buds.

Blurry buds on Clematis aff. urophylla

Still no buds on Clematis nepalensis but that's okay. The vine looks healthy and that's the important thing.

There are still several summer/fall blooming Clematis blossoms.

Clematis texensis 'Etoile Rose'

Given that it's the end of the season, I'm excusing the mildewed foliage.

Clematis texensis 'Princess Diana'

Clematis viticella 'Abundance' (red) and C. v. 'Polish Spirit'

My longest blooming Clematis is C. integrifolia 'Inspiration' pictured below. It started blooming in May and has not once been without at least one flower since then. I didn't cut it back so there are lots of seedheads too.

Clematis integrifolia 'Inspiration'

This NOID from Deborah Hardwick is still making me happy. Again, the foliage is icky but who cares?

Clematis NOID

Clematis viticella 'Rosalyn'

Clematis texensis 'Pagoda'

And check out all the fuchsias still blooming!

Fuchsia 'Celia Smedly' (I think)

Fuchsia lycioides

Fuchsia 'Exmoor Woods'

Fuchsia 'Baby Ann'

Fuchsia 'Delta's Angelique'

Fuchsia 'Tricolor'

Fuchsia 'Tricolor'

Fuchsia 'Beacon Rose'

Fuchsia NOID

Fuchsia 'Nettala'

Fuchsia 'Debron's Black Cherry'

Fuchsia 'Checkerboard'

Fuchsia 'Galfrey Lye'

And that wasn't even all the fuchsias but I think you get the idea. 

Check out these Crinum lilies that I bought in a bag from Costco last spring. They have proven to be troopers. There are still buds forming on some of the bulbs. 

Crinum x ‘Powellii’

Agastache 'Blue Boa'

Gardenia jasminoides 'Frostproof'

'Paris' Heuchera is another extremely long-blooming plant. This one has been in flower since February.

Heuchera 'Paris'

Rabdosia longituba

Rabdosia longituba

Chrysanthemum x rubellum 'Clara Curtis'

I really should cut some of these mums for a bouquet.

Chrysanthemum x rubellum 'Clara Curtis'

This Tinantia reseeds every year and blooms in that spot. The flowers are so cute.

Tinantia erecta

Now for some garden shots:

Persicaria 'Fat Domino'

Mukgenia nova 'Flame' next to Rhododendron 'Everred'

Artemisia 'Seafoam'

Leucothoe axilaris 'Curly Red'

I have three spots where I dug out plants that were too big or were otherwise needed moving. You can see the bare spots in the following three photos.

By the outer pond, I had a big Stipa gigantea. I gave it to Heather. In its place, I'm going to plant Nerium oleander.

In this open area, I had a Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace' that died. I'm going to plant my Chilopsis 'Burgundy'

And finally, here I had a huge Nandina and spreading Euphorbia. I'm not sure yet what is going to replace them.

Having a bit of bare soil keeps my design proclivities charged and ready. Ooh the possibilities! And not just for plants. Today I lugged home a huge piece of driftwood, aptly named Boris. I'm going to find a place for him in my garden. I'll post photos of "him" next time.

And there you have it. Thank you for visiting.

No Frost Yet

It's almost the middle of November and the thermometer has yet to descend to that place where old man winter ruins everything and makes me sad. The hummers are fighting over Fuchsia and Salvia nectar and I'm happy with the few remaining flowers scattered about my borders. No frost, but it's been raining cats and dogs, so working the soil is a muddy mess, evidenced by the yuck clinging to my garden shoes after digging and moving my Indigofera for hopefully the last time. 

My camera has never done a crystal clear job of capturing fuchsias. I should investigate the problem  but until then, my apologies for the the blurry photos   

Fuchsia 'Simon J. Rowell'

Fuchsia 'Debron's Black Cherry'

A potted Fuchsia 'Foolke' (I think.)

Fuchsia 'Mrs. John D. Fredricks' 

Fuchsia 'Golden Herald' not looking so golden these days

Fuchsia megellianica

Fuchsia magellianica 'Hawkshead'

Fuchsia 'Beacon Rose'

Fuchsia 'Rosea'

Rain-soaked blossoms of Fuchsia 'Burgundean'

NOID... This is my oldest hybrid Fuchsia, planted around 2000.
I didn't save the tag.

Fuchsia 'Flash' looking more purple than red here.

Fuchsia 'Tom Woods'

Fuchsia 'Steel & Stars' -- New this year from Dancing Oaks.
I hope it survives the winter.

I have two clematis that are still blooming. 

Clematis florida sieboldii, just opening

Clematis florida 'Alba Plena' just finishing.
Isn't the flower interesting?

And there's more:

Alstroemeria 'TriColor' -- the more creamy yellow plant

Alstroemeria 'TriColor' -- the more white and pink plant

Brachyscome 'Radiant Magenta'
I'm going to try to winter this over, protecting it from the coldest weather.

Salvia involucrata got huge and
took way too long to finally bloom but it's perty.

Salvia 'Amistad'

Salvia glabrescens 'Momobana'
This is a newbie from Dancing Oaks. Like S. involucrata, it's a late bloomer
but it's a compact thing, topping out at 2' x 2'. 

Rosa mutabilis is the working-est rose ever! 

Rosa 'Darlow's Enigma'

NOID ... a little miniature rose who, like me, refuses to give up on summer.

Penstemon 'Enor'

Solanum crispum 'Glasnevin'

Little Blue Star Creeper stars (Isotoma fluviatilis)

Coreopsis 'Mercury Rising'

Geranium 'Jolly Bee' rising above Nepeta foliage

Heuchera 'Paris' divisions blooming away

Daphne transylvanica 'Eternal Fragrance'

A close up of D. t. 'Eternal Fragrance'

Daphne transylvanica 'Summer Ice'

Choisya ternata is really looking nice

Another water-soaked goodie, pink flowered California poppy.
(Eschscholzia californica)

Another little cluster on my 'Ayesha' Hydrangea

Hydrangea 'Glowing Embers' living up to their name.

Campanula lactiflora

Sphaeralcea 'Dark Pink' from Xera Nursery is still blooming.

Asarina wislizensis 'Red Dragon'

This is the second blossom on my newbie
Camellia sasanqua 'Narumigata'

Potentilla 'Pink Beauty'

'Hall's Honeysuckle'
Lonicera japonica 'Hallania'

And now for some foliage...

Seedling Japanese Maple

My beautiful banana

Acer palmatum 'Seiryu'

Acer palmatum 'Seiryu'

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Ruby Slippers'

Hebe 'Pink Elephant' putting on new growth

And finally, a little gripe, if I might.

I hate moles!

 Thank you for indulging me once again.