Chilly Austin Bloom Day
Bloom Day pickings in my garden are pretty slim on this chilly, gray day with a north wind. But even after a couple of early hard freezes, dependable ‘Radrazz’ Knock Out rose is still hanging onto a few blossoms.
Another warm day might convince ‘Radrazz’ to open this solitary bud. But we’re expecting near-freezing temps again tonight.
The abutilons, like me, enjoy cooler weather. Her pretty leaves greener than ever, ‘Marilyn’s Choice’ abutilon is loaded with papery red buds.
A solitary bloom on the Dahlberg daisy thumbs its sunny nose at the weather.
Poor ‘Diamond Frost’ euphorbia got zapped by the last hard freeze, and most of it is mush. But a few flowers huddled up next to the mangave’s stock tank were protected and continue to hang on.
My newish Aloe striata came through the freezes OK with no protection, and now a bloom stalk is developing. I’ll have to protect that from future freezes, I expect.
The ‘Adagio’ miscanthus grasses are also in bloom, and the leaves are turning copper and golden yellow.
‘Adagio’ inflorescence
And again. I just love these seedheads.
To see what’s blooming on this date in other gardens around the world, visit May Dreams Gardens.
And don’t forget about Foliage Follow-Up tomorrow! If Bloom Day is a bust in your garden, don’t despair. Follow up with a post about beautiful foliage, bark, berries, or other non-flowering interest in your garden, and come back here tomorrow to leave a link so others can find your post.
All material © 2006-2009 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Well, the rose *looks* warm. It’s cold here too. Brrr!
Guess I’ll be setting this bloomday out since I can’t get out to even see if there is anything blooming. I suspect it would a have been futile anyway. Good news about your aloe, and a lovely picture too!
So sorry about the broken leg, Loree! At least you’re not missing good outdoor weather, right? —Pam
My Abutilon has black mushy leaves along with every other perennial in my yard, Pam. I must have gotten a bit colder than you? Your photos are gorgeous, as always.
Interesting. Mine is in a fairly protected location, but I thought it was pretty winter hardy. What variety do you have, Robin? —Pam
I love seeing photos of Roses blooming. The Abuliton bud is really cute, it reminds me of an elf’s hat. I did manage to find something in bloom outside, but it’s the very last and I think it’ll be gone by tomorrow.
It is so good to still see roses in bloom.Cannot beat the knockouts on performance.The grasses look so lovely.
My Knock Out was begging to be on GBBD, but I told it the other plants, roses in particular, would be jealous. It blooms for all but maybe 4 GBBDs.
Mine hogs the spotlight too, Les. But without it I wouldn’t have had much to show for Bloom Day this month. —Pam
Happy bloom day! Can’t wait to see that Aloe in bloom, I hope you’ll come through the various frosts all right.
Not considering myself a rose person, I find myself pleasantly surprised the more I learn about some of these hardier varieties. The Knock Out is aptly named! Love your grasses, too.
Knock Outs are practically foolproof, Iris, although there are plenty of other tough, xeric, disease-resistant roses too. You should try one; they look great with agaves. —Pam
Beautiful shots of your miscanthus inflorescenses, those aren’t easy to capture! And I think I’ve heard about Knockout roses in more blog posts than any other…must investigate! Thanks for finding us some treasures in your garden, beautiful pictures as always!
Yes, do investigate the Knock Outs, Laura. They are sooo easy, asking only for lots of sun. No scent to speak of though. —Pam
You have more blloms than I do. I forget about the grass on the side of the house I don’t get to often. I need to show that some time as the clump is getting fairly big now. I can do some foliage shots. I forgot you were doing that. I actually put a couple of them on my bloom post. Maybe next month.
Hello Pam,
There is still so much interest in your garden. I love the texture that the grass provides and the color of your rose is unusual – I love it!
I enjoyed seeing your blooms. I don’t think I’ve heard of the red one that starts with an a. I don’t think I’ve come across your foliage meme, but my outdoor plants are all snow covered. I’ll have to come see your foliage.
Hi, Sue. Cold-climate gardeners shouldn’t feel left out of the Foliage Follow-Up meme. Broaden your search to include the bark of trees, fir or pine cones, seedheads—anything of interest that’s part of a plant! Snow-laden branches are particularly beautiful to us snow-free gardeners. I’d love to see what you can find. —Pam
Nice photos, that Agave is really something! Love the photo of the Abutilon too!
Beautiful mix. The grasses are my favorites. Some plants really reward a viewer who takes the time to look at them closely, and these are definitely in that category.
I think your ‘Marilyn’s Choice’ abutilon is very striking. I must be a little further north than you, because everything that blooms in my garden has been knocked back. I can find foliage, but no blooms.
I had to really search to find a few blooms in my garden too, Jenny. We don’t usually get a hard freeze that early, do we? —Pam