That Gomphrena sounds like a great plant to have, since it is native and perennial too, what more could you ask for.
Fall Blooms & Color, Part 2
Is it the red gomphrena that is natve?
I have never seen it, but the one on these pictures appears to be red.
http://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=GOHA
Yes, it is. The one sold in nurseries is usually the cultivar 'Starwbwerry Fields".
Dwarf Bougainvillea 'Helen Johnson' is a prolific bloomer that is very seldom without colorful bracts all season. I love the fact that it does not have large, sharp, skin piercing thorns and does not require pruning. I recommend this plant for anyone wanting a bougainvillea that does not need to be controlled. Because its root system is small, it is great in a container, requires little water and is easily moved into shelter during freezes.due to its small size. Two thumbs up!!
Bracts of varying colors in their fall "vibrant mode" and small blooms beginning to open
I have seeds for the Gomphrena ~ strawberry fields but they turn out almost orangey in this soil. They are a taller leggier plant also.
Mine are a nice red. They have reseeded and I have little ones coming up. The cikd will shrely end their lives too soon. They are a bit uncontrolled looking. I think that maybe if they are planted close together that they will hold themselves up. I have had to stake mine.
They really standout especially in bright sunlight. The bracts glisten like jewels.
I gathered some seeds for next year and was hoping that I would be able to collect more before the first frost which may be right around the corner. I hope the plants come true to the mother plant.
I had the Strawberry Fields a few years ago and it reseeded on it's own. Could this be a cultivar?
I still have a few things blooming and am now brave enough to try and send some photos. I've been looking and learning from all of yours for a while now. I call this a Bush Morning Glory because that is what it looks like. Not sure what the real name is.
This is a trumpet vine I planted a couple of years ago and I did't keep the tag. I know it is not a Madam Galen.
Wow this is easy. I'll send some more...my favorite coleus this year.
And my other favorite--violas
I stuck a few cuttings from some of my coleus into the Rosemary Topiary and I thought it looked interesting
cyndyhood, really nice photosof your beautiful plants. Keep 'em coming!:o)
Absolutely! Very pretty photos of your blooms. They are easy to send aren't they? Glad you jumped in and joined us...
Thank you for your compliments. You are all so nice and supportive. I'll send the welcome cat from my front yard.
That is adorable, I love cats.
Looked like a real cat before I enlarged the picture. cute!
My Possum Haw Holly is really loaded this year! Looks so pretty against the blue sky with the sunlight shining on it. The birds and squirrels love it, too.
That does look great Stephanie, they are so pretty!!!
Pretty PossumHaw Holly ~ Stephanie. Most definitely looks like fall!
Love the cat statue... If it had pink and white stripes, it would look like the Cheshire cat. Pearl and I thought it was real too.
Great photo, stephanietx.
This is my Cranesbill Geranium just yesterday. If it makes it through the winter, I'm going to plant it in the ground next spring.
Love it and especially the Possum Haw! Do you get any sprouts from berries on your PH? I would love to have one next year if so.
I've never looked for any, Sheila! LOL There are seeds inside those berries so I could save some for you. Also, maybe in the spring, I can take some cuttings and see if they'd root. Of course, that's assuming I know what I'm doing! LOL I do have two out in the front of the house that need to be relocated..........
Keep me in mind Stephanie!
Pearl has a beautiful color and a wise face, podster. Thanks for posting her pic. My Franco's mother was named Pearl and I always thought that was such a great cat name. My "Chesire" cat has a matching baby that is hidden in all the foliage. She'll appear soon with the first frost.
The Possumhaw is gorgeous. Can't believe I don't have one of those here in my Trophy Club yard. Does it take two to have those berries? That cranesbill geranium is also wonderful. Does it usually overwinter here?
Pearl thanks you Cyndyhood ~ she has beautiful pale blue crossed eyes and is shy having her picture taken.
Not sure what these are but they are all thru the woods here and full of berries. Is it a wild Possumhaw?
Pod~looks like what I've got!
Sheila~when I spoke with my "yard guy" (aka DH) he said there are seedlings, but he usually mows over them. I do know that we have 2 close together on that side of the house. One does not produce berries and this one does. I think the other one has white flowers in the spring, IIRC. I'll keep my eyes open for seedlings for you.
Cyndi~I'm not sure if you have to have 2 or not. We have 2 close together and this is the only one that produces berries. I'm not sure if one is a male and one is female or what.
I'm not sure about the Cranesbill Geranium. I'm pretty sure it does survive the winters here if in the ground and it doesn't get too cold for too many days in a row. This one is in a pot. I'm suffering from old-timers disease and don't remember if it stayed outside last year or if I hauled it inside. I did move it to an area that got more sun this summer and it did so much better!
Here is a link about Possum Haw.
http://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ILDE
Only the females make berries, but you don't need to have both male and female trees, just be sure you get a female. The best way to be sure is to buy one when they are in berries, or to get a cutting from a known female tree.
4 of my angel trumpets are in bloom and 3 have bloom buds. They enjoy the cool weather. It may hit freezing Saturday night here. I hope they aren't "nipped in the bud". Below is a photo I took last night with no flash (just illuminated by the security light) of 3 blooms together with the moon peeking through the oak tree.
Another ...
Same one more fully open and at the inside ...
Not a great photo, but, here is a start for the fall flowers. Yellow and orange gazania, alyssum (white) and lobelia (dark blue)>
Looks like a great photo to me! :o) The blue of the lobelia really sets of the other bloom colors. What a nice combination of plants.
Stephanie and Cyndy, my alpine geraniums (erodium) survive in the ground. In fact they seem to thrive on the cooler weather. I can never remember for sure what's evergreen, but I believe those are.
Does anyone grow perennial lobelia? I have tried and tried and haven't had much luck, even with the native cardinal lobelia. Last spring I bought a sky blue one that I've never seen before. To my surprise, it did well even when it got hot, and bloomed all summer. Then it dried up in September and now it appears to be dead. I can't think why it would be pretty in July and then die in September. Just wondering if maybe it's just dormant.
Another of my bougainvillea that puts on a wonderful fall show when it has its most vibrantly colored bracts ... Bougainvillea glabra 'Sanderiana'. It is my most prolific bloomer. This plant has naturalized in Texas.
This message was edited Nov 20, 2008 2:43 AM
A closer view of the bracts and the bloom ...
