November 2010 Archives

A couple of years ago, I planted a tray of blue ageratum in a shady spot outside my living room window.

They're supposed to be annuals so every time they pop up, usually blooming late summer into fall, they startle and delight me.

This year, they were one of the last flowers blooming along with tall l tickseed wildflowers, and a blue one at a time when there's little blue still in the garden.

Since we've moved from zone 5 to zone 6 in mid-Missouri, maybe that explains why Ageratum, usually annuals, are now perennials?

Ageratum plants are about 2 feet tall, leaves resembling catnip leaves.

Ageratum flowers last a long time in cut bouquets, assuming a cat doesn't mistake the leaves. (I have a far sighted cat)

Here they are after snow, sleet and temps hit single digits over Thanksgiving 2010 weekend.

Ageratums are a surprising garden perennial in Missouri, and much appreciated!

Charlotte

Gardening to Distraction on a MO Hill

I wasn't sure whether this beautiful lime-colored bird was injured or not but it's not every day I find a bird sitting on the ground outside my front door - and not moving when I come close.

After watching it for a few minutes, I picked it up and put it in my empty birdbath, filled with leaves. I thought that would be a safer spot than sitting on the ground.

Once the sun hit the bird bath, the bird started to move.

As I approached the bird bath, the bird flew away.

I'm guessed, incorrectly, this was a female painted bunting. Mike Doyen identified it as a orange crested warbler.