Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - November 2015

The grasses are turning yellow and I can't wait to see them against a blanket of snow. I fluffed up my mulch, trimmed my melting hostas, and was getting ready for a long winter's nap. September we had gorgeous purple in every part of the yard, and by October things were really starting to slow down. I didn't think it was going to be a very interesting Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day this month (the 15th of ever month).

But what's this? This fleabane next to my house, Erigeron speciosus 'Darkest of All' is still blooming.

Erigeron speciosus 'Darkest of All'

I noticed new buds just beginning to open on October 30th, and I figured when the first frost came they would wilt away. We've had several very frosty mornings here in central Indiana since then, and these flowers are still opening.

Photo taken on October 30, 2015

I wonder if it has to do with the fact that it's near the house which is warmer, or because this plant was new in the Spring and might be giving it a last 'hoorah' after establishing some roots.

I also wanted to give Little Henry an honorable mention (Itea virginica 'Sprich' Little Henry) for putting out nice fall color its first year. Although my expectations were high "If burning bush has good fall color then this plant is a wildfire!" - it was still able to produce a nice deep red in full sun and is holding its leaves longer than anything else in my yard.

Itea virginica 'Sprich' Little Henry

This should be the last of the blooms until Spring for me, but I think next month I'll highlight some of my winter interest items, like dried hydrangea flowers, red juvenile river birch bark, and golden Northwind switch grass.

Measuring New Growth: Darkest of All, Purple Dome, Wallowa Mountains

A few plants aren't growing much at all, and a few are really taking off! Let's check in on some plants with new growth and new changes.

Erigeron speciosus 'Darkest of All'

Remember when this one was a sidewinder plant? It's now sending up 5 brand new stalks from the base and leaving the old sidewinder stalk out to dry.

Let's see what else we have. This Aster novae-angliae 'Purple Dome' was super tiny when I got it, now it's turning into a small bush and is becoming much more dome shaped. 

Finally, check out my favorite little plant Arenaria 'Wallowa Mountains' Mossy Sandwort. It's not only expanded and rounded out its edges but it changed texture as well - the tiny longer leaves died off leaving little tight clusters of green. It looks like green coral.

Arenaria 'Wallowa Mountains' Mossy Sandwort

New Growth on 'After Eight' and 'Darkest of All'

My Lilium 'After Eight' has been blooming like crazy, but today I noticed something small at the base of one of the stalks. A weed perhaps? Perhaps. Or perhaps the growth of an entirely new stalk?

Lilium 'After Eight'

I noticed something similar on my Erigeron speciosus 'Darkest of All' - aside from the beautiful blooms on one sidewinder stem - something new at the base...

Erigeron speciosus 'Darkest of All' new growth at the base

Young Erigeron speciosus 'Darkest of All' Already Blooming

I ordered this Erigeron speciosus 'Darkest of All' from High Country Gardens and it arrived sturdy but bent over in the box - most of the other plants were much smaller and this one was taller so it looked like a question mark for a few days. Now a couple weeks later, it still hasn't stood up straight (maybe I should have staked it?) but it is thriving and now blooming.

It has sort of a weed look to it, I think it's called Fleabane and some types are considered weeds - this species, however, is an ornamental cultivar.

April 18, 2015 - Erigeron speciosus 'Darkest of All'

Fresh out of the box after 4 days of shipping, a little wilted but still fine

A few days later, now growing in an 'S' shape with the top turning toward the sky

Erigeron speciosus 'Darkest of All' flower buds forming in a cluster at the top of a long stem