A place for members to share photos of their gardens and seasonal blooms, fruit, leaves, veggies, etc.

What's blooming, fruiting, or just looking lovely in your Southeastern garden?

Given how warm and dry we are, nothing is looking that spectacular here. The leaves on the trees aren't really turning colors yet; they are just getting droopy.

Considering that most of our gardens are facing either frosts or droughts, what do you think about including seasonal decoration photos in the thread for November and December?

Also, if anyone wants to post garden photos taken in November and December from previous years, just mention that it is an older photo. Including the year would be great if you have it. I think we could all use some cheerful photos after looking at our crispy brown gardens.

anyone else seeing smoke from those mountain fires?
http://www.macon.com/news/loca...


Super moon


tibouchina


Shy cardinal hiding in the yuapon

We're seeing and smelling the smoke in the northwestern part of SC. We did get .2 inches of drizzle a couple days ago. That is the first rain in almost a month. All around us, and into NC mountains and northeast GA are in extreme drought and under a no burn ban.

It didn't smell as smokey this morning, so hopefully they got some of the fires out. I have my hose-pipe ready if the far heads this way.

My few straggly blooms are the same as previous months. I'm seeing a minor flush of buds on a Gardenia, looking forward to that.

Can't say how impressed I am with the Dianthus that I got almost a year ago that has been blooming constantly since then.

Had a drizzle of rain yesterday evening, not enough to get the ground wet under trees or turn the grass green but so glad to have any!

Here in midstate SC, we're experiencing a haze from the wildfires in North Carolina. We're under a health alert: Code Red (everyone will be affected health wise; sensitive persons even more so--they are advised to stay indoor). At least we can't smell the smoke.

I stepped out into the yard briefly yesterday to give DH a message, and saw good old faithful Gaillardia Aristata blooming. But, I did not have a camera/Ipad/or phone with me to take a photo. Maybe I'll venture out today (with a mask on) and get one or two.

Stone is your tibouchina planted in the ground? I tried a potted one kept under a shade tree earlier in the year, but it did not make it. I love the blooms. Wasn't that moon awesome?

Deebie said:
Stone is your tibouchina planted in the ground? I tried a potted one kept under a shade tree earlier in the year, but it did not make it.

I planted cuttings in the ground a number of years ago... still have two going. I think it's a Tibouchina urvilleana

There are a number of different tibouchina, but I doubt that any of them would be happy with pot culture.

On the bright side, if you try planting it again... it might survive the winter at your house, same as it does here. Supposed to be hardy USDA Zones 8 - 12.

Under a tree might be enough shelter in a cold year. Otherwise, consider a south facing wall.
Mine are just planted out in the garden.... The one flowering was completely covered in smilax briars when I "found" it this spring.... They root easily from stem cuttings... so if you know somebody... Maybe you can avoid the expense of purchase.


Cardinal hiding behind a water iris...


Cat drinking out of the goldfish pond....

At my house... it's real difficult to take pics of the birds.... cats follow me, and when I stop to aim... they rush ahead and chase the birds away...


Here's a brown thrasher... or maybe that should be thresher...

The drought means that there is always birds visiting the goldfish.... Sadly, I only get pics of the common ones.
The hard part is remembering to pack the camera.... and not getting frustrated with the cats.

There is a large field behind me and the power company sprayed it to kill all the small trees, then the owner sprayed it to kill all the brush and weeds. So with the drought there stood dry dead brush, trees, and weeds waiting to start a huge blaze. My neighbor took his huge tractor and bush hog and mowed it all down yesterday. That certainly was a relief to know all that stuff is now at least on ground level and will be getting damp at least from the moisture in the early mornings. Not seeing much smoke around here, yet.

frit & sulphur (still got butterflies!)






New bird pics!
Help with id?

Seedfork said:There is a large field behind me and the power company sprayed it to kill all the small trees, then the owner sprayed it to kill all the brush and weeds.

Yuck! How much warning did they give you? Why would the property holder think that dead plants were superior to live ones? Crazy!

The power company gave me no warning, the neighbor did come over and talk with me about it and told me he would be very careful not to spray my plants and would do it on a calm morning. I did appreciate that!
I don't think it was a question of green plants being superior or inferior to dead ones, but I think the dead dried vegetation was just much easier to mow with the bush hog. The green vegetation tends to want to wrap around and clog up the machinery. Plus too, I think there was a safety factor. With all the green vegetation, the operator of a tractor or large piece of equipment is not able to see the holes and washes in the fields that could cause a tractor to turn over.

The temp was right at 80 degrees when I walked out just now. I have lost track of how long it has been since it rained. Still there are a few blooms scattered around the yard, even had a daylily bloom for the first time today.

thanksgiving morning!

tomato


mullien


Sassafras (autumn colour)


Yeah, I see you too!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

There is currently a 60% chance of rain predicted for next week. Fingers crossed!
Now, that would be something to be truly thankful for this holiday!

Deer in the weeds....


Bad sports, not willing to participate in a camera shoot....


I was actually going to collect some seeds from the chenopodium before the rain... but the birds are always in the weeds... Don't want them to starve... Those seeds probably wouldn't be very good in the pancakes anyway...

I tried walking into the other brushy areas of the property, and very little wildlife activity...


Gulf fritillary

Gulf fritillary imitating a leaf...


Hoover fly with tibouchina


Clouded Sulphur Butterfly Visiting hot lips salvia.


Citrus flowers


I usually don't even take pics of the cannas unless there's a hummingbird... so... enjoy the blooms, I've already had a coupla light frosts... the flwrs won't last...

I'm so jealous . . .a couple of light frosts? When I returned home yesterday, I find that we are mostly toast here, as of this past weekend.:thumbsdown: Well, at least I can see the perennial weeds and get rid of them. Also, we're supposed to get at least an inch of rain starting today. I need to get busy outdoors, as I have some potted plants that I need to get in the ground.

BTW Stone, I love seeing your nature photos and enjoy browsing your website. I'm learning to better ID butterflies, birds, etc., and develop a deeper appreciation of nature. Sorry, the deer wouldn't cooperate and the butterflies are trying to hide from the camera. Please continue . . .

Cardinal eating chenopodium seeds


4 inches!


Lemon tree (not my yard)


Dropped fruit

I haven't taken any pics but since it rained, I'm seeing some Camellia blooms around the area and a lot of roadside wild mustard.

I actually have flowers on a first time blooming ginger. The inflorescence is brown from previous freezes. Also I smelled my tea olives on the breeze, heavenly!

Found an animal trail that led from the brush under the garden fence... placed a trap in the path, caught cat food...


Enjoy the maters, killing freeze tonight, and low 20s tomorrow night. sux.

Awww, Bugs is cute! Did he ask you, "What's up, Doc?"