If it weren’t for Carol, over at May Dreams Gardens, I’m not sure I would be out there between cloudbursts looking for lingering signs of life. Lo and behold, a few hardy souls are still pumping out flowers
Like this sedum.
The blossoms on Persicaria ‘Purple Shield’ go unnoticed most of their long blooming season. Now their “last man standing” status casts them in a new light.
While ‘Percy’s Pride’ outperforms all of the other kniphs. It manages to look fresh even while the downpours have taken the starch out of most of the remaining flowers in the garden.
It pays to look elsewhere for the late season drama:
The smoke tree turns many shades of red, russet and bronze.
A close-up reveals the modulation in a single leaf (love that thin line of bright red edging on a maroon leaf)
Spent blossoms leave behind these bracts (anyone know the exact terminology for them?) on the Hepatacodium miconoides.
Plain old barberry has a brilliant final act, paired with the skeletons of globe thistles
The same barberry bursts with bright red berries (or are they drupes?).
As does the beautyberry.
Rosa ‘Dortmund’ produces a nice crop of hips. If they weren’t so pretty, I might try making jelly…perhaps when there are more of them.
Out along the front fence, where we are encouraging a mixed hedgerow, several of these unidentified shrubs have volunteered.
Nice leaf form and pretty berries make them more than welcome.
If you are frustrated by winter scarcity, links over on Carol’s site can take you to tropical climes, or anywhere anyone gardens.
Ricki, you have managed to find a lovely collection of flora in all its splendor this November! The berberis is wonderful – I miss the ones I left behind, but don’t have a great place for any now. I can’t believe your Percy’s Pride is still flowering: my knophofia are long gone. Does it do that every year? If so, I need one (or more!)
I also was glad of bloom day to take notice of some treasures in the garden I might not have seen otherwise!
I second Jane’s comment on your Percy’s Pride! Is this normal for you? Thanks for the November bloomday tour around chez vous!
I am jealous of the Kniphofia as well. I love it but it doesn’t like my garden at all. I have three separate plantings and none bloomed this year.
I believe your volunteer shrubs are some type of Cotoneaster. It will probably make a good hedgerow shrub~ for wildlife cover especially.
Yep…Percy is an intrepid performer, all right. these are especially satisfying because they are new divisions taken from the parent plant in early spring. Dappled shade in a berm: those are the only tips i can think of.
Thanks, little wing, for the plant id.
These are great photos, Ricki. I like how you put “the downpour taking the starch out…” Very good word play. I agree with the others that Kniphofia is quite a looker. Cotoneaster dammeri. And yes, bracts is correct…not that I’m any thing remotely resembeling an expert. LOL
Grace: we do seem to share a love of playing with words. thanks for the plant id. i think it was loree who told me to direct all plant questions your way. i am not so far away from pronouncing it cotton Easter, but i’m learning.
You have quite a lot of garden loveliness still happening. I’ll join in on the Kniphofia awe. I just picked up my first last weekend, a green flowering variety. You’re making me think I did the right thing, if it’s going to be such a hardworking plant.
Megan: ooh…green flowers…I like the sound of that. Where did you find it?