The Asteraceae

Posted: May 27, 2024 | Author: | Filed under: Gardening | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

The Asteraceae are daisy-like flowers. I found a great list of them in Encyclopedia Britannica. All the names were familiar except pussy-toes. I don’t know who created this name, but I find it funny. Here are the Asteraceae that are currently growing in my garden beds.

Blanket Flower

Black-eyed Susan

Calendula or Pot Marigold

Mexican Sunflower or Tithonia

Tickseed

Purple Coneflower or Echinacea purpurea.

Zinnia

End of Season Blooms

Posted: December 4, 2023 | Author: | Filed under: Gardening | Tags: , , , , | 20 Comments

There is still a nice selection of flowers blooming in the Automatic Garden. I always replant the Hyacinth Bean seeds to keep it going. The flowers seem to like cooler weather and bloom when the heat breaks. The pods are a stunning dark purple color.

The Butterfly Ginger seems to be blooming a bit late, but it is always welcome.

Forsythia Sage (Salvia madrensis) always blooms in the fall and has a great yellow color.

The Zinnias are on their second or third seeding. They are on the small side this time of year, but the butterflies are enjoying them.

The Automatic Garden Doing Its Job

Posted: September 25, 2023 | Author: | Filed under: Gardening | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

My last post was about the clean-up we had to do after a horrific windstorm. I did not mention my flower beds which were also subjected to 100-degree-plus temperatures and no rain. As soon as we arrived home, the city was put on water rationing, which meant we could only water twice a week. After finishing the major clean-up, I finally got brave enough to examine my beds and was pleased to see that the Automatic Garden was doing its job and continued to grow.

The first happy sign was a zinnia blooming that had actually reseeded and grown while I was gone.

The Bartram’s Oenothera grandiflora, although beat up from the lack of water was still making some sunny blooms to greet me in the morning.

I found a picture of William Bartram’s original painting of the Evening Primrose. I just took a quick snap with my phone.

Black and Blue Salvia usually doesn’t bloom this time of year, but this one decided to.

I have found that the lavender Salvia coccinea, which is more difficult to grow, seemed to enjoy the hot dry weather and was looking better than ever.

If I had been home the wild Morning Glory would not have taken over as much as it did. I am letting it grow for pollinators.

The biggest winner that took the drought and high temperatures is the Hummingbird Bush, Hamelia paten which has literally been humming with all kinds of pollinators and hummingbirds.

Little by little I have been cleaning up my beds, cutting back dead foliage, and tying up fallen plants.

What really warmed my heart was finding seedlings of salvia and zinnia coming up among the debris from the storm. The Automatic Garden is fulfilling its purpose.

Another Turn Around the Garden

Posted: November 29, 2021 | Author: | Filed under: Gardening | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

The Cigar Plant, Cuphea ignata, is coming along after being frozen to the ground. The enlargement shows a more colorful flower that is very attractive to pollinators.

Balsam Impatiens are such a great plant that continuously reseeds itself throughout the warm season. It will take a rest during our short winter.

The Zinnias have been happy in the “cooler” weather and keep blooming.

I have watched the seeds on this Hummingbird Bush, Hamelia paten, turn reddish, then swell into dark purple berries.

Camellia season has begun with the Sasanquas starting the show.