Autumn's end - gone to seed


As autumn winds down, the colorful flowers of my Austin garden turn in for a brief winter's slumber under a cozy brown blanket.

All the perennials and summer annuals have gone to seed.

salvia greggii
seedpods
Salvia greggii

zexmenia
seedheads
Zexmenia

blackfoot daisy
seedheads
Blackfoot daisy

damianita seedheads
Damianita

tithonia
seedheads
Tithonia

Gregg's mistflower
seedheads
Gregg’s mistflower

fall aster seedpods
Fall aster

As I wonder, "Where are the blooms for Bloom Day?", a fluttering movement leads my eye to a handful of blue plumbago flowers – and the Giant Swallowtail feeding on them.
Giant swallowtail on
plumbago

The butterfly leads me to another late bloomer – flame acanthus – before flying off.
Giant swallowtail on
flame acanthus

The only other blooms I could find were on the Pacific chrysanthemum,
Pacific
chrysanthemum

and the ‘Silver Arrow’ cactus.
'silver arrow' cactus

Happy fall, happy holidays, happy week before winter solstice!  What's blooming or gone to seed in your garden?   Fill me in - then visit May Dreams Gardens and share your end-of-fall tales with gardeners from all over the globe.


Words and photos © 2009-2012 Caroline Homer for "The Shovel-Ready Garden". Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Comments

  1. I'm so glad to see a post from you! I checked just yesterday but all was quiet. This is a strange fall, weather-wise and I just can't get a handle on it. My poor garden is paying the price.

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  2. Your seed pod pics are pretty and will provide food for the birds and

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  3. The plants in my garden are still trying to hang on to summer. We are still waiting for the first freeze! I've never seen the flame acanthus but yours certainly brightens up a winter day!

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  4. The giant swallowtail is gorgeous!

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