I Have A Bloom Day

Let's face it. This is what my world pretty much looks like right now. What are the chances I will find anything blooming in the wild cultivated garden at this time of year after an early freak snow and several rounds of freezing?



Even the big box mums are past their prime. I have been instructed to plant them. Maybe they will come back and maybe they won't. I lean towards the won't side thinking all the hardiness and durability of these florist type mums has been bred out of them. It won't kill me to dig a hole and plant them though.



Low and behold, there is a Blue Wood Aster, Symphyotrichum cordifolium still in bloom. It even has a little pollinator foraging for nectar.



My, here is another flower. These Viola cornuta, Johnny Jump-up have been appearing in random pots and random places. I know Bulbarella has made several attempts to introduce them here. It seems more have arrived as hitch hikers since so many gifts have been transported to the mountain top from Fairegarden, Tennessee.



Now this was a surprise. A group of mums was purchased on a visit to the arboretum and planted in the sunny utility meadow last spring by the resident gardeners. They all grew tall and leggy and flopped over when it was time to bloom. I thought they were as done as my own Sheffie Mum. There was a late red arrival.

There is a nice assortment of blooms in this batch. I don't know if they are not getting enough sun or if they are just taller by nature. The floppage is a definite minus. Full sun is a relative term in the forest. Maybe come spring if they show up I will move a few sprigs towards the roadside vegetable garden.



The Mediterranean Pink Heath, Erica x darleyensis is looking good after the year of the monsoon, neglected as it was and half buried in a big clump of grass. The blooms are not much to speak of, but hey it is the November 15th Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. I officially have a Bloom Day. I think Carol our curator of blooms would be proud.

I do like the heath's texture and form and think it will make a good low mounding evergreen component of the hillside tapestry to come. I have seen some of them in gardens that looked pretty ratty and was having second thoughts on this plant choice. If it stays this short, unlike the taller woodier versions I saw, it can stay.



That is pretty much my bloom day. I was expecting to have some Witch Hazel, but it is already bloomed out.

Vibrant color and striking form will have to be sought out in other ways in the months to come. A basement patio is really taking shape for the rubberneckers passing by. I am now thoroughly exposed. Exposed enough that a compliment was given on my perfect dry stack stone walls. If she only knew how much I would be willing to knock down the first wall and rebuild it.



The spotlets and I had a very nice stroll in search of blooms on a sunny and rather warm November day. It feels like ages since I have had a proper stroll. Shorter days, manic cabin construction and many days of leaf raking and cleanup in clients gardens hasn't left much time for a good stroll.



When the last bloom is finally gone I can always rely on the sky for some natural drama.



Way up here it is hard to miss it.