11/12/08

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Plants at The Fort Worth Botanical Gardens 11/10/08

A. Confederate Rose Mallow (Hibiscus mutablis)

B. 'Flamingo Feather' Celosia

C. Nicotiana and 'Flamingo Feather' Celosia

D. Butterfly Ginger (Hedychium coronarium)

E. Canna 'Richard Wallace'

F. Pink Turks Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus)

11/12/08

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Roses at The Fort Worth Botanical Gardens 11/10/08

A. Phalaenopsis (Found Rose)

B. Blushing Knock-Out (2004)

C. Spice (Bermuda Mystery Rose)

D. Souvenir de la Malmaison (1843)

E. Watercolors (2008)

F. Hot Cocoa (2003)

G. La Marne (1915)

H. Julia Child (2006)

I. Martha's Vineyard (1995)

11/12/08

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More pictures of The Fort Worth Botanical Gardens 11/10/08

11/12/08

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Knock-Out, Blushing Knock-Out, Pink Knock-Out, and Rainbow Knock-Out Roses at The Fort Worth Botanical Gardens - November 10, 2008

11/06/08

Gomprhena globosa and Ageratum houstonianum

I have one bed that only contains pink, blue and lemon yellow. There are always at least two of the colors in bloom. Each year the pink Gomphrena and blue Ageratum re-seed assuring the color combination for another season. There is something happy, to me, about this colorful union.

11/04/08

Boquet #1

Dried Flower Boquet

This spring and summer I dried Limonium, Gomphrena, Larkspur, Yarrow, Salvia, and Stachys byzantina. I created this bouquet so that I could enjoy the fruits of my spring and summer labor throughout the winter. The bouquet hangs in my dining room with walls of many colors.

11/01/08

Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides)

Some of the most beautiful colors exist in the foliage of Coleus. Although the blooms on Coleus sometimes add to their beauty, the shapes and colors of the leaves are what make it exciting. I usually cut the blooms off to keep the plant going. I planted six different varieties, early last spring, in my hanging wall baskets on the wooden fence in my back yard. Along with these I planted other annuals that would compliment them. Most of the annuals are long gone but the Coleus has grown to be at least four times the size that they were when I planted them. I may need to take these beauties in the house, before we get a freeze!

10/28/08

Mandevilla (Dipladenia) 'Sun Parasol Crimson' and 'Sun Parasol White'

I usually grow Mandevilla vines every year. This year I came across these two and thought it would be nice to have them grow on the same arbor. Red and white have always been a great color combination. They have been the most floriferous varieties I've ever grown. I plan on overwintering them inside the house so I can have them again next year!

10/27/08

Mexican Mint Marigold ( Tagetes lucida)

This fall blooming plant has many virtues. Come September, it begins to pop with bright yellow flowers. If you let the flowers go to seed, you'll be able to enjoy more and more each year. It is also a culinary treat, as it has the flavor of tarragon and anise. The flowers are nice to add to salads, while the foliage is great to add to soups, sauces and my favorite egg salad sandwiches. Some say you can tell when a freeze is coming, by the blooms on Mexican Mint Marigold. If it is in full bloom, which mine almost is, it will be two weeks before a freeze. I guess we are going to have an early winter this year - we'll see!

10/27/08

Morning Glory 'Heavenly Blue' etc.

My Morning Glory 'Heavenly Blue' (Ipomoea tricolor) has just about turned my front garden arbor into a tent. At first, I wasn't happy with the color combination of the red of the Castor Bean plants (Ricinus communis) to the right of the arbor. The weather has cooled even more and deepened the shade of red, however, so I've come to like the combo. I like too, how the Pink Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris), to the left, echoes the ensemble.

10/27/08

October 2008

October in Texas is, in my opinion, the best garden month of the year. Annuals have matured and begin thriving during the cooler days. Fall blooming perennials like Asters and Chrysanthemums exhibit their exhilarating pallet of colors, and the roses begin their last flush of the year. The foliage of trees, shrubs and ornamental grasses also begin to turn all their autumn hues. It's a toss on which month, April or October, is my favorite. I guess in April, April is and In October, it's got to be October. The photos above are from my backyard garden. Stay tuned for the front!