Bloom Day, September 15, 2009

Here it is again; bloom day.  Bloom day is the day of the month where bloggers from around the world photograph what’s blooming in their yards and post it online for the rest of the world to see.  Many thanks to Carole at May Dreams Gardens (http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/) for coming up with this idea.  It’s a real blast.

The main thing on my mind on this bloom day is rain.  We finally got some of it here in Central Texas.  When you’ve had a summer like we’ve had here, the sight of storm clouds and rain can give you an indescribable feeling of euphoria.  Even after the rain was gone the sight of clouds – big, fat, heavy-looking storm clouds is something to marvel at.  Along with the rain came the much-welcomed cooler temperatures.  We missed the record of days over 100 degrees by one day (we had 68 days over 100 so far this year).  Some people may think it’s a shame to have come that close to the record and not have broken it.  I call those people idiots.

Enough with my rambling.  Off to the photos.

Hibiscus coccineus

This is the Texas Star Hibiscus a.k.a. Swamp Mallow.  It’s doing great in a pot (although the limbs keep breaking off of the main trunk) but my friend, Cheryl isn’t having very good luck with it in the ground.  I think it’s the lack of rain this summer.

Portulaca 'Giant Jewel'

Next up is the giant jewel portulaca which has been faithfully blooming all summer with no notice as to whether it gets any water or not.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Red Hot'

I have several of these tropical hibiscus that have been thumbing their noses at the intense Texas heat.

Leucophyllum laevigatum

Check out the blooms on the Cenizo a.k.a. Barometer Bush.  They were all covered in purple flowers and buzzing bees the day after it started raining.

Dalechampia dioscoreifolia

The unusual flower of the bow-tie vine peeking out.  This little vine has been growing at an amazing rate since I put it in the ground a few weeks ago.  I’ll definitely keep him around.

Zinnia 'Profusion Orange'

Blooming their little zinnia hearts out!

Jatropha integerrima

The Peregrina has been blooming very well all summer long.

Thunbergia alata

The Black-Eyed Susan vine has really kicked into overdrive recently.

Senna alata

The Candle Tree is really starting to push up the blooms.  This is it’s season to shine.  I planted a couple of these last year and this year they came up EVERYWHERE.  If you choose to put these in your yard be sure that you have plenty of room as they do spread and reseed freely (which is fine with me).

Passiflora incarnata

How about this Purple Passion Flower?  I just love this vine.  It was already taking over a corner of my back yard when I bought my house.  My next door neighbor said she planted it several years ago in her yard and decided she didn’t like it and yanked it out.  She’s been fighting it ever since.  I welcome it in my yard.  It climbs up the nasty Hackberry Trees that sprout up in the area between mine and my neighbor’s fence.

Lantana horrida

Texas Lantana

Duranta erecta

The Sky Flower has been blooming all summer but has really started putting on a show the past couple of weeks.

Tibouchina candolleana

The Princess Flower sat in the shade of my big pecan tree and didn’t bloom all summer.  I moved it into more sun a few weeks ago and it’s gone mad with flowers.

Musella lasiocarpa

This has to be one of the longest-lasting blooms I’ve ever seen.  It’s bloomed for about 3 months now and still going strong.

Tecoma 'Sunrise'

The Texas Yellow Bells have been blooming all summer long.

Galphimia gracilis

If you find that Thryallis grows in your temperature zone, plant it.  You’ll have these gorgeous and fragrant yellow flowers from spring til frost.

Salvia farinacea 'Blue Bedder'

The Mealycup Sage putting on a show of color.

Melampodium leucanthum

Blackfoot daisy.

Asclepias curassavica

Asclepias curassavica

The Mexican Milkweed is popping up all over the yard.

Orthosiphon aristatus

Love the Cat’s Whiskers.

Euphorbia milii

Flowers and thorns of the Siamese Lucky Plant.

The shocking red of the Egyptian Star Flower.

Ruellia elegans

The non-invasive Thai Ruellia.

Plumeria rubra

Frangipani.

Ipomoea hederifolia

Scarlet Morning Glory

Ipomoea carnea

The Morning Glory Bush which has grown to over 10 feet tall in one season and covered in blooms.

Pavonia braziliensis

Brazilian Rock Rose

Hibiscus calyphyllus

I think that this Lemon Rose Mallow looks a lot like an Okra flower.

Senna corymbosa

The Texas Flowery Senna trees are starting to pop.

So far no-one has been able to identify this flower.  This plant was about 3″ tall when I bought it this spring.  If I’d have known it would grow into a 4′ x 4′ shrub that is constantly in bloom, I’d have bought a few more.  The flowers open up in the morning and close in the afternoon.  The honeybees love em.

Nerium Oleander

The Oleander next to the Hawaiian Ti Plant and the Frangipani.

Salvia leucantha

Mexican Bush Sage.

Callicarpa americana

I know it’s not a bloom, but isn’t this American Beautyberry something?

I’ve gone blank on the name of this jasmine, but mainly I just wanted to post this to show off my Alphonse Carr Bamboo.  It’s really looking great right now and this area looks so tropical with the bananas too.

Well folks, that’s it.  There are a few other things blooming in the yard, but I think you get the idea.  Good gardening to everyone and I look forward to seeing you all again in October.