Welcome to Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day for October 2016.
Here in my USDA Hardiness Zone 6a garden in central Indiana, we’ve been enjoying a mild fall with moderate temperatures. Though our usual first frost date is around October 10th, we’ve yet to see even a hint of frost, so the garden grows on.
Up first, is a dahlia named ‘Tutti Frutti’. I planted this out rather late in the spring. And by late I mean early June. I’m told those who grow dahlias regularly will often pot them up in April indoors to give them a head start and then plant them out as soon as it is frost-free.
I guess I wanted more of a challenge. Though I am showing just one bloom the plant has a dozen blooms on it right now. Thank you to blogging friends Leslie and Cindy for sending me the dahlia tuber last spring. I believe they grew the same variety in their gardens in California and Texas, so I’ll be watching for their bloom day posts to see if they have any ‘Tutti Frutti’ blooms to share.
Moving along through the garden, the usual fall flowers are blooming, but fading. These include asters, mums, goldenrods, hardy begonias, toad lilies, and colchicums.
I snapped a picture of this toad lily while gingerly stepping through the garden border where the autumn crocuses should be blooming.
I hope to see the autumn crocuses in the next few days. I don’t know what’s keeping them. It could be it just isn’t cold enough or perhaps the squirrels ate the corms? I sure hope not!
One flower I am excited to see starting to open up is the Camillia ‘Snow Flurry”.
This isn’t the best picture, but you get the idea. There were five flower buds on this camellia, which is barely hanging on in the Garden of Southern Follies and Delights. I’m letting this one bud open and bloom but pinched off all the others. This camellia is far too young and fragile to be involved in flowering and bees and reproduction! It needs to put its energy into become a stronger plant so it can survive another winter here in zone 6a.
What else is blooming? Well, the zinnias are still going strong in the Vegetable Garden Cathedral.
I’ve started working on cleaning up the vegetable garden and almost ripped these the other day out but since they are still blooming, I decided to let them go awhile longer. Truthfully, they will probably be the last plant standing in the veg garden later this fall.
I know there are lots of bloom day posts to read, so I’ll keep this short and conclude with a picture of the fading asters.
They bring a lot of color to the garden at this time of year and attract all kinds of pollinators who know that in spite of the lack of frost, the days are still getting shorter and soon enough we will all be left with just memories of this growing season.
What’s blooming in your garden? Join in for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day and show us. It’s easy to participate. Just post on your blog about what ever is blooming in your garden on the 15th of the month, then come back here and leave a comment telling us what you have and a link in Mr. Linky to make it easier for us to find you.
And repeat after me, as many have…
“We can have flowers nearly every month of the year.” ~ Elizabeth Lawrence
Your autumn garden blooms are lovely Carol and I especially love the beautiful Dahlias. I say every year that I am going to plant them…so maybe next year! The signs of fall seem to be coming earlier here on Long Island this year, I think partially due to the lack of rain we had all summer and the sudden drop in temperatures into the 60's by day and 50's at night. Happy Bloom Day and thanks for hosting as always.
That's a lovely dahlia and I'm excited for you that your camellia made it through the winter and you've allowed one bloom to stay for you to enjoy! Camellias are such beautiful things and sometimes we forget how lucky we are here in zone 8 that they're hardy and grow into huge shrubs. Thank you again for being such a gracious host.
Your dahlia is beautiful, I usually start mine off indoors so that they are a decent size by the time to plant them out. Love the colour of your aster, such a super blue!
Hi Carol – autumn is late to arrive on this side of the pond too. I've been surprised to see how green everything is still looking as I've driven around the country over the past week or so.
Today I'm exploring how long is worth the wait for a bloom to appear for the first time. Seven years…?
Happy Blooms Day everyone!
What a vibrant dahlia! A fabulous addition to the autumn garden. Happy Bloom Day Carol.
Aren't squirrels the bane of all of us? I'm another out-of-zone camilla grower (one, called April Rose) and, now, after reading your post, I realize that the squirrels (we are positive it was squirrels) that ate its buds this spring actually did us a favor. Hope both of ours survive the coming winter. And, loved your dahlia. Thank you once again for continuing this meme!
I hate squirrels. I used to think that my Rivers birch was just a delicate tree and that was why I always found branches on the ground. While watching the birds outside the other day, I noticed the squirrels up in the tree just ripping apart the branches. Did I say I hate squirrels? Thanks again for hosting.
Nothing nicer than a late fall. That Camelia is amazing.
The Toad Lily is so delicate!
Squirrels are busy here, too. Your beautiful Dahlia and those Asters would make a stunning combo. I never look forward to frost, still a ways off, but welcome cool weather. Thank you for again hosting Bloom Day.
Beautiful blooms!!
Beautiful Carol! And your Tutti Frutti is looking wonderful…mine has had its day in the sun and is in decline. I don't think there will be any more blooms this year.
I hope your Camellia continues to surprise you. I've yet to see any blooms on mine but the plants have produced a mass of buds, which is surprised as they're still on a low water diet. Thanks, as always, for hosting GBBD, Carol!
'Tutti Frutti' is a cutie! Sending warm thoughts to your Camellia for survival and future growth.
love dahlias! My butterfly bush is still going strong.
Beautiful!
I love toad lilies. They have such an interesting structure.
Yet again, thank you for making me go out and take a good look at the garden on the 14th of the month. Thank you for keeping up this tradition for so many years.
Beautiful Dahlia…so cheerful. I'll have to look for that one.
Thanks for hosting – glad you have had dahlia success too
I do love asters this time of year. I'm so impressed by how hardy they are and how wonderful they are for the bee's. Happy October!
You remind me that I also have some Autumn Crocus that has not returned – they were NOT cheap bulbs either! Hope they are just underground gathering strength and not in squirrel bellies!
PS Good seeing you at GWA Atlanta!
For what it's worth, my autumn crocus don't emerge until late October or even November. I have had them blooming in December, even.
All your bloomers are lovely, but the toad lily and asters really caught my eye. Thanks for hosting!!
Happy Bloom Day from your northern neighbor! I love your dahlia. They are such beautiful flowers. I wish I had the patience to lift them every winter and replant them every spring. Thank you as always for sharing your lovely garden with us.
Carol, Frost was unusually late in my Maine garden, too, and finally came last night. Even so, most of my flowers survived it. I'm amazed to have so much in bloom in mid-October. Are those New York asters you have growing (or maybe New England aster 'Purple Dome')? Thanks again for hosting this monthly garden party. -Jean
I have decided that I, too, need some toad lilies. Happy Bloom Day!
We just had our first frost this week! This time of year I'm loving all the leaves as much as flowers. Happy Bloom Day to you!
Dahlias are such fun. So many colors, sizes and they are fairly easy to grow. Asters are about my favorite fall flowers. There are so many colors of them anymore. Happy GBBD.
That is one gorgeous dahlia! My zinnias are still growing strong, too, and other than a few stems that Sophie managed to dig out–grr–while searching for voles, they will remain in my garden, too, until the frost brings them to an end. I certainly don't post as often as I used to, but I always like to participate in Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. It's the only way I can keep a good record of what's blooming when–thanks for keeping me on track, Carol!
I love Dahlia flowers so much, love your pictures. Yu say you wanted more of a challenge than starting them indoors? What exactly did you do? This sort of information is always useful to have (I get loads of questions from people who are having problems growing plants in certain areas/times) so am always on the look out for new tis 🙂
Your garden color is still pretty for autumn. Mine is just starting their spring blooms.
A lovely October 🙂 Your asters look wonderful!
Hello Carol, Your garden is wonderful. The photo of the purple Dahlia is gorgeous ! Have a wonderful day.
Els
I'm a little late to the party, but don't count me out!