Late Bloomers

As I was leaving the cottage the other day - and I was actually leaving: I was in my car - I glimpsed some vibrant pink things in an otherwise green and dormant bed.   Lycoris something-or-other had decided, at last, to bloom.  It is now November, and we are in Nova Scotia!  I had to go back today to get photos; buds still not open.

I just planted these bulbs in the spring, and the leaves, like mini-amaryllis, did not seem to flourish.  But here are the blooms, tempting fate.  Tempting frost, that is. I picked one stalk, along with the yellow rose (below) to put inside, in a vase of water.

This little bit of 'Toad Lily,' Tricyrtis, is also finally in bloom. This was a tiny bit of a thing when I bought it at a garden club plant sale.  I look forward to seeing how large this plant gets.

     The last of the Asters is hanging on amid the wet weather.  The cold days are still ahead.  This week is starting to feel like the end of autumn.  Down to freezing is forecast, and daytime highs will be maybe 8 above freezing.  

And this last shot is one of a few clusters coming out just now on a scraggly Japanese Spirea.  I'm so glad all these plants extend the season as long as possible, of their own accord.  No help from me!

     It is time to shut off the water at the Cottage for the season.  But some flowers will still bloom.  Thanks be for the Johnny-Jump-Ups and their tough friends.

Slash and Save the Banana

Ensete ventricousm maurelii

A few light frosts have hit the Abyssinian Banana.  Before more damage was done, it had to be hacked, dug, potted, and  brought in.  Below you see it just a couple months ago, before it overtook the Shoo-fly plants around it.

Thought I might as well attack all the damaged leaves.  I decided to leave parts of the best ones on.  I guess I will not attempt to keep it dormant; I'll find a spot for it where it can keep growing a bit through the winter.  I expect it's greatest threat will be the usual spider mites.   And my underwatering.

It spent a few days in the greenhouse, but the temp tonight is likely to be just above freezing.  In other words, a heavy frost.

So I just brought it into the basement for the night.  I think I'll take it to work next, and find a quiet spot for it in front of a big window.  And, I commit myself to watering it every week.  Yes.  I promise.  

Fall is the new Spring

Colchicum

Plants like 'Fall Crocus' keep the Cottage blooming.  In fact, it has been more colourful out there for the past few wet weeks than it was much of the dry summer.  No surprise there.  Some of the plants are those that finally show off, in this season...

Burning Bush, Euonymus alatus

White Snakeroot, Eupatorium rugosum 'chocolate'

Aster, Symphyotrichum ____

Some of the species are still blooming.  The Rudbeckia, for instance, got the old flowers cut off a few weeks ago, and perhaps this encouraged a whole new crop of flower buds.

Rudbeckia nitida

Actaea racemosa, Black Snakeroot

Some of the foliage is having spring now.  Not just the luxurious grass in the lawn I can't keep ahead of... the Italian Arum, invisible in August, is sending up its leaves now, which will withstand the cold Nova Scotia winter.  And a new Pieris is covered in flower buds, as if it is going to bloom soon.  I assume it waits for spring.

Arum italicum, Italian Arum

Pieris _______

Then there is the scattering of out-of-season blossoms that randomly appear.  Look for them and you will find them.

Dianthus, Pinks

Aurinia saxatilis, Basket of Gold

Kniphofia, Red Hot Poker

My hope is these will all thrive for a few more weeks.  Out at the Cottage we seem to get frost later than we do inland.  This morning (October 13) we have patchy frost at home.  I assume there is none at the cottage this morning. 

     May your frost come late to your garden this year!