Still Blooming: Garden Bloggers Bloom Day November 2009

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I was going to blather on about how this November was milder than last, but when I checked, I discovered that’s what I said last November, too! It was more typically cold in November 2007; however, the larches had more needles left at that time than they do this year. Not sure why that is.

Thanksgiving Cactus

One bloom=one bloom more than last year! ©2009 Purdyville

One bloom=one bloom more than last year! ©2009 Purdyville

The only new bloom is from my Thanksgiving cactus (above), which decided to grace me with a blossom this year. Ever since we insulated the upstairs, I’ve had trouble getting my two zygocactus to bloom, because my bedroom is no longer cool enough to initiate bloom. As an experiment, I kept the Christmas cactus outside as long as I dared, but left the Thanksgiving cactus in the kitchen. So far, it has one bloom. It will be interesting to see if the Christmas cactus has more than last year.

Creeping Veronica

I didn’t mention my ‘Waterperry’ veronica blooming last November, and I can’t remember if it did. The flowers are quite small, so perhaps I didn’t think it worth mentioning.

The tiny flowers of Waterperry veronica are most welcome this time of year. some coral bell leaves provide some scale.

The tiny flowers of Waterperry veronica are most welcome this time of year. The coral bell leaves above give you an idea of how tiny those blossoms are. ©2009 Purdyville

It is thriving in a stone wall, and the bronzy leaves have turned maroon in many places. It’s quite attractive in three seasons, and would probably look nice throughout a milder winter.

Colchicums in November

These past few weeks I’ve been thinking to myself that I can’t ever remember colchicums blooming into November, and then when I checked last year’s bloom day post I discovered I said the same thing last year! Such memory lapses demonstrate the usefulness of keeping garden records, whether you have a special book or depend on Garden Bloggers Bloom Day posts to record your garden data.

These double white colchicums are in even better shape than last year.

These double white colchicums are in even better shape than last year. ©2009 Purdyville

From the kitchen door they look like someone left a couple of snowballs on the other side of the yard.

Lunar Glow Bergenia

Lunar Glow bergenia puts on quite a fall show.

Lunar Glow bergenia puts on quite a fall show. ©2009 Purdyville

I received ‘Lunar Glow’ bergenia as a trial plant from Terra Nova Nurseries in 2008. I had never grown bergenia before, and while I knew it was primarily a foliage plant, I wasn’t sure how good it would look after one of our winters. I have decided it is one of those totally reliable but humble plants that lets all the other plants have the spotlight during the growing season. But once those show-offs are all burnt to a crisp by a hard frost and invisible until next year, suddenly this bergenia pulls out all the stops and puts on a spectacular show. Who would have suspected this unassuming plant was wearing Joseph’s coat of many colors? It’s like Clark Kent stepping out of the phone booth as Superman.

Johnny-jump-ups in the Coral Bells

I can see this next combination from several windows. How considerate of those Johnny-jump-ups to seed themselves around the Dolce Blackcurrant heuchera, which I received as a trial plant from Proven Winners.

Both the Johnny-jump-ups and the heuchera seem to appreciate our mild fall weather.

Both the Johnny-jump-ups and the heuchera seem to appreciate our mild fall weather.

The heuchera’s foliage appears unfazed by the night temps in the low 20sF we’ve been having, and this is the kind of weather that the violas like best. They make a great couple! Johnny-jump-ups I could easily get used to these mild fall days.

Inspired by the words of Elizabeth Lawrence, “We can have flowers nearly every month of the year,” Carol of May Dreams Gardens started Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. On the 15th of every month, garden bloggers from all over the world publish what is currently blooming in their gardens, and leave a link in Mr. Linky and the comments of May Dreams Gardens.

About the Author

Kathy Purdy is a colchicum evangelist, converting unsuspecting gardeners into colchicophiles. She gardens in rural upstate NY, which used to be USDA Hardiness Zone 4 but is now Zone 5. Kathy’s been writing since 4th grade, gardening since high school, and blogging since 2002. Find her on Instagram as kopurdy.

Now, the digging and dividing of perennials, the general autumn cleanup and the planting of spring bulbs are all an act of faith. One carries on before the altar of delayed gratification, until the ground freezes and you can’t do any more other than refill the bird feeder and gaze through the window, waiting for the snow. . . . Meanwhile, it helps to think of yourself as a pear tree or a tulip. You will blossom spectacularly in the spring, but only after the required period of chilling.

~Adrian Higgins in The Washington Post, November 6, 2013

Comments on this entry are closed.

eliz November 22, 2009, 11:40 pm

Yes, the schlumbergera likes a dark chilly room, which I am able to provide in abundance. I never keep them in rooms where there is a fire or frequent lighting at night. My fuschia-pink ones are covered in buds, but I can see I need a pale one.

Les November 17, 2009, 1:20 pm

Those colchicums look like sea creatures. I hope you continue to enjoy your mild weather. We have yet to see a frost or freeze, last year’s happened on today’s date.

mss @ Zanthan Gardens November 17, 2009, 10:37 am

We are also having a mild November. The clear days have felt more like October and as we quickly get our fall planting in during these 70° days, it’s hard to believe that our first frost is only a couple of weeks away.

I’ve been thinking that the trees have been holding on to their leaves longer than normal but, like you, I see that I said exactly the same thing last year. This is why I love documenting what happens as it happens. I simply can’t trust my memory.

Love the Johnny Jump Ups. I so prefer them to the larger pansies. You’ve reminded me that I need to go plant some. They return in my garden only rarely.
.-= mss @ Zanthan Gardens´s last blog ..GBBD 200911: Nov 2009 =-.

Leslie November 17, 2009, 9:20 am

I also have a very confused hellebore in full flower now.
AS for cactus i I feed mine in the beginning of the growing season but by mid August start to ignore them outside on the southwest side of the housein full blazing sun. They get a reduced amount of water. They stay outside until the temps really drop, even light frost. They should have set buds by this point. I bring them in and put in the coolests room with bright sun. That is just the way the family has always done it and it seems to work here in Z5/6 CT.

Leslie November 17, 2009, 1:26 am

I think the veronica blooms are just lovely! I also have just one bloom on my Thanksgiving cactus although there are several more buds. I keep mine in an east facing window on the TV cabinet…it gets a fair amount of warmth. I’m curious what the best temperature is?
.-= Leslie´s last blog ..GBBD November 2009 =-.

kerri November 17, 2009, 1:09 am

I think my white cactus flower will look like yours when it opens up. I fed miy two plants all summer and the reddish pink one has lots of blooms. The white is still quite small (cuttings from a friend) but has several blooms.
The colchicums are gorgeous!
I planted bergenia in late summer and the leaves are looking really healthy and pretty, but still mostly green.
Thank heavens for these beautiful sunny, mild fall days. They’re such a treat after the cold and drear we had for much of the summer and early fall.
.-= kerri´s last blog ..Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – November ’09 =-.

Carol, May Dreams Gardens November 16, 2009, 11:29 pm

Yes, we could all get used to the mild days we’ve had so far in November. You’ve got some very nice blooms for upstate NY! I have a Thanksgiving cactus loaded with blooms, but I’m not sure what I did to cause it to bloom like that. It is in the sunroom, which is typically the warmest room in the house when the sun is shining.
.-= Carol, May Dreams Gardens´s last blog ..And Now… A Funny Hoe Story =-.

Country Gardener November 16, 2009, 10:56 pm

We have a gorgeous hellebore in bloom, with two flower stems on the go. I really should cut them to enjoy in a vase. Other than that, all I’ve seen in flower is are some pink lamiums. I agree: this mild November has been a real treat.
.-= Country Gardener´s last blog ..Chopping leaves beats raking them up =-.

Mr. McGregor's Daughter November 16, 2009, 10:20 pm

The Colchicums are stunning as usual, the white shows up so well against the fallen leaves. I’m glad you posted about the Bergenia. That’s one I’ve been admiring, and seeing that it does well for you encourages me that it might be okay in my garden too.
.-= Mr. McGregor’s Daughter´s last blog ..The Tough Keep Going: November Bloom Day =-.