Garden Bloggers Bloom Day – October 2013

By Patientgardener @patientgardener

Impatiens omeiana

We are have definitely felt that Autumn is upon us the last week or so although today the sun has shone and made people regret donning their warmer clothes so soon.  The floral display in the garden is decreasing but sometimes I think it is the flowers that appear at this time of year or in Spring that are so much more interesting or maybe its a case that we appreciate them more.

I wasn’t  going to include Impatiens omeiana until I saw it on the Outlaw Gardeners GBBD day post.  I have a large clump of this plant and grow it really for its lovely foliage but at this time of the year it produces the flowers you can see above.  I did comment on Outlaw Gardeners post that I felt the flowers were a little disappointing but goodness look at them close up, they are quite gorgeous although for some reason I keep thinking of smoked kippers!

Saxifraga fortunei

Another unexpected flower is that of Saxifraga fortunei.  Again I grow this plant for its glossy Heuchera like foliage but at this time of the year it sports a cloud of these small white flowers. Which really are quite pretty. As I am beginning to get the hang of my son’s camera I am beginning to get better close-ups of flowers and I am really seem far more detail.  Look at those fab pink dots on the end of the stamens.

Salvia involucrata boutin

The Salvia involucrata boutin has been a showstopper for months.  It has received a ridiculous size and has sent out endless flower heads which seem to extend as the first flowerlets fall off (sorry if I have used the wrong terms there, its late).

Delphinium

I am surprised to have a few Delphinium in flower although the stems are much shorter than you get in early summer and the weather hasn’t been that kind, blowing the flower heads over at an angle but look at the iridescent blue isn’t it wonderful, jewel like I think.

An unknown Geranium which I spotted flowering in the shadow of the weeds I need to sort out on the back  slope.  It really is quite pretty so I must look after it better next year.

Aster umbellatus

I do like the Aster umbellatus, it has such an airy feel about it.  The flower stems are much shorter this year due to its move but it seems to have done quite well despite me.

I think this is Aster St Michaels.  I definitely have an aster by this name and the flowers look similar to a photograph from a previous year but I suspect I will have to ask Helen Picton to identify them properly for me at some point.

Those are my floral highlights this month.  For more GBBD posts visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens.