Living here on the West Coast of British Columbia brings us mild but wet winters. It seems like it hasn’t stopped raining since the beginning of October. Today on the 15th day of the month garden bloggers all over the world link over at May Dreams Gardens and write about whats in bloom today in their gardens. I wasn’t sure what would be in bloom after our deluge of rain. I finally tried out the new camera in the garden and today’s photos are a result of its use. I have lots to learn with the new camera.
Dahlia ‘Mango Sunset’ is still going strong along the front walkway. Although all the other dahlias are packed away in boxes for the winter, I left this one to bloom a bit longer. It’s in a very protected area and I may leave it in the ground over the winter.
As I walked the garden I came across Geranium ‘Ann Folkard’ in the back garden. It’s a favourite of mine for its long bloom time and I love the way it clambers among shrubs nearby. It’s not mounding like most geraniums. It climbs and winds through nearby plants poking out her pretty purple flowers in unexpected places. Hardy geraniums are called hardy and for good reason. They are tough plants and drought resistant.
This garden wouldn’t be a West Coast garden without a few heathers and heaths in the garden. The narrow bluish-green leaves of this pink flowered heath contrast next to larger leaved plants nearby. I like to use heaths and heathers in arrangements for the holidays. In the spring I will have more plants as this one rooted quite easily from cuttings. When choosing heathers look for interesting foliage as well as flowers. When not in bloom it will still look beautiful.
Chrysanthemum ‘Connie Mayhew’ is still not fully open. With no sunshine I can hardly blame the flower for curling up tight to keep warm. The blooms are getting rained on almost everyday so they won’t last long.
I have a lot to learn about staking these beauties. It’s a good thing I have an old iron gate at the end of this raised bed for some support. Next year I will attempt to grow the old-fashioned Chrysanthemums in pots so they can come in the greenhouse in November. That way I will have blooms well into December.
Viburnum x bodnantense has returned a few weeks earlier than normal. It began to open its buds in October. This flowering shrub is hardy to zones 5-9 and flowers from November to February. Its fragrant pink flowers are welcome sight on dreary winter days. This shrub grows to about 10′ high and 8′ wide in our garden.
What’s growing in your garden this month?
