Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Hi Again, It's Me


As the temperatures get closer to overnight frosts in the Upstate of South Carolina, I thought I would share some of my fall blooms. Many are volunteers in the woods along the driveway. Others, as this Cyclamen are planted little jewels that pop up at a time where your eye looks for some color in the garden.

Cyclamen hederifolium

I let this little cutie reseed in various parts of the garden. If it isn't in a good spot, I have no qualms about 'weeding' it out. Who doesn't like a nice little yellow bloom?

Hypericum hypericoides

Another fall color in my garden is a bit of a mystery. I bought a flowering crab-apple a number of years ago, variety 'Golden Hornet'. Spring blooms- white with pink sepals- check. Green leaves- check. Yellow fruit- um, no. As this season has progressed the fruit is turning deeper and deeper red. I guess in the big scheme of life it doesn't really matter, I am glad it is producing fruit, just a little confusing.

Malus 'Golden Hornet'

Another volunteer in the woods is a tiny purple/lavender bloom. I have a thick stand of it near my well 'rock'. It is known as panicled-leaf tick-trefoil, its seeds stick to animals and people, they are the little triangular seeds- you've seen them. You probably had to pick them off your socks and pant legs.

Desmodium paniculatum var. paniculatum

Another planted beauty comes from my friend Julie Adolf, of Garden Delights. A white toad lily with a kiss of lavender on the tips of its petals and a yellow spot in the throat. Fall bloomers are so nice to have in the garden, sadly the bunnies also love them.

Tricyrtis latifolia

Putting on a good show this year is my black leafed Crape Myrtle. It took a few years for it to really shine. The beautiful dark leaves and this pure red bloom are a nice combination.


Black Diamond Crimson Red

A few fun native blooms popping up in the fall include this Sida, said to be edible (though I would not recommend anyone eating anything unless you know for sure what it is and it is safe). Some of my reading says this is a shrub, though in my yard it is a small woody forb.  A common name is Wire-weed. Doesn't sound appetizing does it?




More yellows in the fall include various Goldenrods and Goldenasters. The pollinators love these!





And finally, a repeat bloomer from early spring, the lovely "Lemon Pledge" fragranced bloom of the Magnolia. I love every stage of this bloom, from tight bud, ready to pop- to the seed pod of a spent bloom with its bright red seeds emerging from the pod. If you are in a zone that can handle Magnolias- plant one- you won't be sorry.

Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem'





©Copyright 2017 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.

14 comments:

  1. Yay, for blogging! Enjoy the fall weather to come.

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    1. Thanks Lisa, I do enjoy fall weather...better time to be in the garden.

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  2. Look at the color of that Crepe Myrtle! Wow! You have a lot of sweet woodland blooms still going strong. That is curious about the crabapple.

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    1. Yes Beth, the Black Diamond series Crape Myrtles are stunning. I love seeing all the woodland blooms that appear.

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  3. Nice collection of fall blooms!

    How long are your Hypericum hypericoides living? I love mine for the first year or two, but then they brown out badly and after a year or two, they die. Is that a species trait? I'd love to have these sweet little shrubs last longer.

    As far as southern magnolia goes - I almost think the seed pods are more spectacular than the blooms!

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    1. Thanks Cynthia! I will have to watch the Hypericum more closely. Not sure how long lasting they are.

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  4. I love the blooms of autumn! Your magnolia flower is stunning!

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    1. Thanks Laurin, I love this magnolia. She is a reliable bloomer.

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  5. Gorgeous blooms! I wish I had more fall blooms in my garden - that's something I have to work on.

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    1. Margaret, we have such a long growing season, it is necessary to see that I have early, mid and late blooming plants.

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  6. I like that Goldenrod. 'Golden Raindrops' is a crabapple with nice yellow fruit, though it's very tiny.

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    1. Thanks Jason. I am not unhappy with the red fruit, just curious.

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  7. Welcome back! You've got a lot of fun fall blooms in your garden. That hypericum reseeds all over my garden too. Some got nice size this year. I love that solidago!

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    1. Thanks Karin, yes, I do have some great fall native blooms...thank you Mother Nature.

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