November 15, 2009
Bloom day: 11/15/09
I’m rather amazed that I’ve celebrated Bloom Day for weeks now. Gardeners in Central Texas took a beating this dry summer with 68 days over 100º. But in my east Austin garden, the team rallied when the rains finally came, with barely a player missing.
![Cosmos, chile pequin, purple sweet potato vine Cosmos, chile pequin, purple sweet potato vine](/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/cosmos-chile-pequin-web.jpg)
The cosmos/chile pequin/purple sweet potato vine team bounced back to join Carol’s May Dreams Bloom Day, a virtual tour of what’s up in gardens all over the world.
Last year, I divided a shrimp plant for the front bed, and planted a bamboo muhly at the end of that stretch. In their infant states, it took a lot of imagination to see this as a good thing. They’ve convinced me that it was.
![Shrimp plant with bamboo muhly Shrimp plant with bamboo muhly](/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/shrimp-plant-muhly-web.jpg)
This spring, when I moved a sickly Valentine rose into a pot on the patio’s sunny side, I owed it a chance. It wasn’t its fault that I’d taken a chance by plopping it where it got its minimum daily dose of sun. Valentine’s rebound, since week one, reminds me yet again: don’t think you can change a plant’s mind about what it wants.
![Valentine rose Valentine rose](/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/valentine-web.jpg)
New Dawn on the cat cove trellis, renewed after I cut it to nubs in February.
![New Dawn rose New Dawn rose](/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/rose-new-dawn-web.jpg)
The Fairy rose, undaunted by its grinding hot curbside in front.
![The Fairy rose The Fairy rose](/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/rose-the-fairy-web.jpg)
‘Country Girl’ mums in the den bed.
![Country Girl chrysanthemum Country Girl chrysanthemum](/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/mums-country-girl-wide-web.jpg)
And ‘Butterpat’.
![Butterpat chrysanthemum Butterpat chrysanthemum](/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/mum-butterpat-wide-web.jpg)
![Butterpat chrysanthemum Butterpat chrysanthemum](/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/mum-butterpat-half-open-web.jpg)
This is just a sample of what’s blooming after two tough years. I guess it’s why gardeners don’t ever give up.
Happy Bloom Day! Linda
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