I'll be having my first real taste of winter over the next few days with temps getting down to freezing or near freezing for a few days in a row. I took a few photos a week or so ago when we were expecting our first frost and then some more the other day. Here's some of the blooms I have left... Azalea - 11/11/13 ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Cigar Plant 11/11/13 ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Fire Spike 11/11/13 ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Mexican Heather 11/11/13 ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Rooster Comb ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Soap Aloe 11/11/13 ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Tagetes Lemonii - finally blooming 11/21/13 ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Mexican Mint Marigold 11/11/13 ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) White Butterfly Ginger 11/21/13 ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Sleepy Hibiscus 11/21/13 ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) And finally... my brother bought this chair at a fundraising event for breast cancer awareness a couple of years ago. It came with some plants that have long since died. So this year I decided to keep with the awareness colors and put in a Pink Impatien. Breast Cancer Awareness Chair and Inpatiens ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )
Will your plans survive outside when the frost strikes? I'm asking because most of your lovelies are either annuals or house plants here. We've got azaleas outside, but they're very hardy big bushes. Which reminds me I need to find an azalea for the Christmas table decor.
Cheryl, it's so dreary here today, just love looking at all of your beautiful plants! We have nurseries sell the mexican heather but it's not reliably hardy. Wish it was, it's one of my favorites. I've never heard of the white butterfly ginger. It's gorgeous! Looks like we're right on the edge of it's hardiness zone so I think it ought to behave itself and not spread too much? I've got a shady path I'm making. Do you think it will do ok in the shade?
Droopy... the Azalea is a miniature and seems to bloom right about now and in the spring. It stays green all year. The Cigar Plant will die back after a good freeze, but comes back with a vengeance in the spring. Same with the Fire Spike, Butterfly Ginger and Sleepy Hibiscus. Not sure about the Mexican Heather. It says it's an annual, but I've seen them act like perennials here. It's kinda tucked in from the north wind. So I guess I'll find out if it can take our winters. The Rooster Comb is an annual that reseeds easily. Even though the Soap Aloe can get damaged by a hard freeze, it does not kill it. Or at least not yet. The Tagetes and Mint Marigold are new to me... Native Perennials. Fingers crossed that they return next year. The Inpatien is an annual. I'm just letting it live out it's life on the front porch.
Annie... mine gets sun for about the first half of the day. Although it's spreading... it's not too bad... not like a Canna. I did put some along the driveway that gets mostly shade and it's alive, but not thriving and hasn't bloomed. I think maybe because it doesn't get much water. They like it moist. So, honestly, I don't know if it will thrive in total shade. But maybe if it gets enough water?
Thanks Cheryl. This path I'm working on graduates from mostly shade to part sun the further it goes, so I'll be sure and put it where there's more sun. And maybe one near the porch....I saw where it smells really good!
Mine doesn't look so great in the summer... brown edges. And I really contemplated about putting it right there by the front steps. But when it is in bloom... ohhhhhh.... the fragrance is soooo heavenly! Sorta like a gardenia, but "sweeter". If you don't have any luck finding some there in the spring, check back with me, I can always dig up a clump and send it over.
Your blooms are gorgeous Cherylad! I'm already counting down the days until spring - 116 days if anyone is wondering! I wish I could grow Ginger here, those blooms are gorgeous!
Barb... glad you enjoyed the pics. Netty... after this week of winter temps... I'll join in the spring countdown too! Annie... I can't recall if I've seen them for sale here or not. I got these from my aunt who got them from her aunt many decades ago (who lived in Opelousas, LA). So this ain't some whimpy strain!
Thank you Sjoerd. With our weather forecast for the next few days, I'm pretty sure this will be it. :'( Annie... I totally agree about hand-me-down plants. I'd bet half of my plants came from family or friends. Not only are they free... but they come with some history and stories.
Same here, Cheryl. I don't think there's a day that goes by when I'm in the garden, that I don't think of a story behind one plant or another. Probably one of the reasons I miss them so much during the winter!
