What's still flowering out there ?

Floribunda 'Joi de Vivre'

Although we are into mid-November, there have only been a couple of frosts so far. The last one has killed off some, but not all of the dahlias and the last of the bedding.

The roses are behaving in very different ways - some are still blooming as freely as they did in June, while others are leafless and flowerless, well into winter-mode ! 'Joi de Vivre' (Floribunda) still thinks it's summer, whilst Charles de Mills and Rosa Mundi are sleeping deeply. The English roses are still flowering sporadically and 'Geoff Hamilton' has about five fat buds just about to open. Climber 'White Cloud' has the odd bloom, as has the shrub rose 'Buff Beauty'.

'Buff Beauty'

climber 'White Cloud'

All bedding is dead and brown now, although some of the Cosmos has kept going right up to the wire. There are occasional ragged Petunia or Geranium flowers in some of the pots.

One of the best performers in the garden this season has been Foxglove 'Illumination', a perennial, which started very slowly, but has gone from strength to strength, as it bulked up, flowering continuously.

Foxglove Illumination

The hardy fuschias are  untouched by the weather and are covered in flowers. I have grown lots from cuttings which are dotted around the garden, and all are doing well.

My winter Jasmine has just kick started into flower, and it is positioned by the back door, so that I can enjoy it every time I go out.

Winter Jasmine

Annual Marigolds are still blooming, not as profusely as in summer, but still enough to give a welcome flash of citrus across the borders.

This year I have bought in winter bedding which is mainly Violas. They are so lovely, and I wrote about them in more detail in my post But ... you're beautiful !

The one below is my favourite, the very dainty 'Viola Primrose Picotee'.

There are other odd lone flowers, forlornly waving in the breeze, looking like guests at a party who have overstayed their welcome. The Lychnis below will be the last one until next year.

Now, Autumn colour does very little for me, and if I'm honest gives me little pleasure. However, I have to admit that Acer Palmatum below is a beautiful rich red, for a fleeting moment.

I am linking this post to 'Garden Blogger's Bloom Day' on 'May Dreams Gardens' where you can see what's happening in lots of other blogger's gardens.