Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from my Alabama Backyard to yours.  Trick or treating has been rained out for the past two years here but there is no danger of that today.  I find myself wishing for a washout, but I can hold off my wish for another day so the children in our neighborhood can dress up, play outside after dark, and collects lots of candy.

Wishful thinking

Back in September, I discovered that my satsuma tree was blooming out of season.  The pollinators did a good job, considering that it wasn't even close to the correct season for orange blossoms.  We now have three small oranges trying hard to grow before winter arrives.  They are about the size of marbles.  Technically, mandarins can withstand temperatures as low as freezing but I'm not sure they will actually keep growing then.  The tree is in a large container so I'll be dragging it into the garage any time the temperature threatens to drop. 

It is all right to imagine oranges in February . . .

Doing the best we can

The drought in central Alabama continues.  It means that most of my gardens are going dormant much sooner than normal.  Most of my plants are tough, southern perennials so I know that they will survive this dry spell, but strolling through my backyard is rather depressing these days.

However, there are two plants in my backyard that are refusing to let the drought conditions hold them down.  The New England asters are blooming with abandon, although the blooms are a little smaller than when they are receive normal rainfall. 

The flamboyant naked ladies came up right on schedule regardless of the fact that they haven't been watered in over a month.  The stalks are a little shorter and like the asters, the bloom are a little smaller than normal. 

I'm proud of my little flowers that just keep on doing the best they can with what they have.

When everything seems dead

It is official--we are experiencing a drought.  A map of central Alabama shows that my backyard seems to be one of the areas suffering the severest lack of rainfall.  Of course, I didn't need an official proclamation or a map to tell me that my backyard is a dried up mess. 

Most of my plants are very hardy perennials so even though my gardens look miserable at the moment, spring (and rain) will come and they will grow green once again. 

I do water my perennial containers, however.  They are mainly tropicals that will come into the house or the cold frame for the winter. 

One of my bromelids bloomed this week.  Seeing its bright red flower stalk was like a drink of cool water in a desert.  I never know when the bromelids will bloom; God knew that I needed to smile during these dry, dusty days.