Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - October 2015

What happened to autumn? We were having a nice cool spell at this time last month, but, suddenly, over the last couple of weeks, summer has returned with temperatures in the 90s F. The only saving grace has been that the humidity has generally been low, so it hasn't felt quite as hot as August. Still, it's really not what we expect in October.

Even though the temperature hasn't indicated it, fall is here and plants are beginning to prepare themselves for winter. At least what passes for winter here in subtropical zone 9a. 

We still have a few things blooming, so let's get right to that.


If it's October, then the goldenrod must be blooming.

And the yellow-orange marigolds are hanging in there.

My chrysanthemums, on the other hand, have been slow to get started this year.

Blue daze (Evolvulus glomeratus) is at its best in autumn.

October also brings some late blooms from 'Darcy Bussell' rose.

And from my ancient 'Caldwell Pink' polyantha.

Blue plumbago continues to be my most reliable bloomer throughout all the summer and autumn until first frost.

Shrimp plant is beginning to bloom well.

Hamelia patens, aka "hummingbird bush" or "Mexican firebush," is covered in the little red blossoms that attract the hummers.

'Black and Blue' salvia.

Red kalanchoe blooms in a pot on the patio table. 

Texas sage ( Leucophyllum frutescus) normally blooms in response to rain, which we haven't had in a while, but this one is responding to receiving water from a sprinkler.

Pineapple sage.

Jatropha. (Again, those drops of water are from the sprinkler - no rain.)

Yellow cestrum.

The coral vine continues to be a bee buffet.

Firecracker fern is still blooming in its pot on the patio.

Anisacanthus wrightii, another hummingbird and butterfly magnet, is beginning to bloom. 

Justicia 'Orange Flame' is a very well-named plant.

As is firespike (Odontonema strictum).

The leaves are falling steadily now. Unfortunately, we don't get the blazing colors that our neighbors to the north get. Ours just tend to turn dull brown and drop off the tree. There are a few trees, several of them non-native, that do provide some fall color, but it is not typical of our trees. One more reason to envy those areas that have the actual four seasons rather than our two - summer and pre-summer.
Thank you for visiting my garden this month and thank you to Carol of May Dreams Gardens for hosting us. Happy Bloom Day!

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