Dahlias from the garden

I thought I should start out this month’s GBBD post with the Dahlias that have been so glorious for us this year.  Mostly they come from Swan Island and they have never been so large and productive as this year.  I think part of the credit goes to son Josh for rigging up the watering system.  They look wonderful in the house.

Dahlias brought inside

We have also gotten wonderful production from the Bishop of Llandaff which stay outside in the wintertime.

Dahlia ‘Bishop of Llandaff’

I’ve noticed that the bees and monarchs are very fond of the Bishop.

We are also harvesting the first of the fall camellias.

Camellia x ‘Survivor’

In the yard the Cyclamen hederifolium are nearly done flowering but the leaves remain with their lovely patterns.

Cyclamen hederifolium leaves

In the front yard we have a lovely Aconitum specimen that stands out at this time of year.

Aconitum carmichaelii (Arendisii)

In the backyard are a couple of fall crocus that delightful in detail.

Crocus speciosus ‘Conqueror’

Also the backyard we have a nice patch of toad lillies that are sharing their flowers.

Toad lily (Trycyrtis hirta) in the garden

And there is even one flowering in the woods at this point.

Toad lily (Trycyrtis hirta) in the woods

As we exit the backyard the Cestrum at the gate continues its flowering.

Cestrum ‘Orange Peel’

I should probably share a picture of the whole plant to give some idea of how remarkable it is that this plant dies back to the ground each winter.

Cestrum ‘Orange Peel’ whole bush

Right next to it are many Black and Blue Sage flowers which were said to be marginally hardy in our area but which continue to spread every year.

Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’

Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’

The greenhouse has also been sharing flowers with the house this month.

Zephyranthes fosteri

This is one of the nicest of the rain lillies.

I also found a nice Nerine in Flower this week.

Nerine Zinkowski hybrid

I will close with one of very nicest developing shrubs on the property.  This is the Temple of Bloom that we got from Nurseries Caroliniana a couple of years ago.

Hepticodium miconioides ‘Temple of Bloom’

When it’s white flowers are done in the fall it ends up with beautiful red bracts that are like flowers as well.

Hepticodium leaf bracts