One of These Flowers Doesn't Belong!
Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 5:00AM All of the following flowers are blooming in my garden now. Can you guess which one doesn't belong?
First is Lychnis coronaria, also called rose campion. It was a passalong plant from a fellow garden blogger, Eve of Sunny Side Up. It has neon pink flowers and fuzzy silver leaves. Passalong plants are special, because they always remind me of friends who gave them to me.
Next is Asclepias tuberosa, also called butterfly weed. It has been slow to establish, but it looks good this year. I am hoping it will live up to its common name!
This lavender version of crepe myrtle was suppose to be miniature, growing to three feet. Ha! It is about six feet and would be much larger if I didn't keep it pruned. I love its pastel blossoms.
Bees love caryopteris! This soft, mounding shrub is also known as blue mist spirea.
Another shrub with lovely flowers is butterfly rose, Rosa mutabilis. The flowers change colors as they mature from rose to peach to crimson. 
This purple verbena was growing on the property when we moved here in 1985 and has bloomed every year since. It's a classic!
Another classic planted by the original owner of my house is the common day lily. Did you know the flower pods are edible? They are delicious raw or stir fried in olive oil.
Gardenia 'August Beauty' has a wonderful smell and will bloom for two to three months.
Calibrachoa 'Apricot Punch' is also called superbell. The flowers look like miniature petunias. This annual will bloom non-stop till hard frost.
Buddleia, or butterfly bush, has just begun to bloom. Butterflies really do love this plant.
And finally, here is a a brightly colored chrysanthemum.
Which one doesn't belong? The chrysanthemum! It was in full bloom when it was given to me last November. It is supposed to be a fall bloomer. What provoked it to start blooming now, I do not know, but it doesn't seem to mind the hot temperatures we are experiencing this week. I plan to cut it back after the blooms fade. Hopefully it will bloom again when cool weather and football season arrives. Or could I hope there is a new variety that blooms all summer and into fall?
One of the fun (and sometimes not-fun!) aspects of gardening is the unpredictability of plants. We may think we have it all planned, but in the end the plants have the final say.
summerr flowers in summer flowers
Reader Comments (22)
I really liked your post theme. I was reading along thinking is it for native plants, is it a butterfly plant, is it a plant for fragrance, which one is missing the boat... then I get to the one blooming out of season. Fun to play along.
That is a pleasant surprise. I was going to say that if it doesn't belong in your garden, then it belongs in mine. It's beautiful. Oh well...
I have had chrysanthemums that bloomed in the spring, and again in the fall. I have some other varieties that are blooming now, too. Enjoy!
Plants are maddeningly unpredictable. Just when I plan my whole scheme around certain plants at certain times they go all crazy or disappear or just won't cooperate. Your photos are so pretty, and they all look like they do belong!
Hi Deb,
I actually thought when I saw the 'mum how odd it was to be flowering now! :D
Beautiful photos, I do love the Campion, I've sown seeds here numerous times and haven't yet been lucky enough to have any grow :(
Also, very surprised to see the Buddleja in bloom now, we're a way off with ours yet and it probably won't bloom until July.
I have some blooming now too! I guess the temps must be fall-like.
I was going to say the crape myrtle and caryopteris because they both bloom in the fall here--fun post.
What an array on blooms, Deb - your garden must be buzzing. My chrysanths started flowering in April which had me foxed. Have cut them back with a Chelsea chop even though they were still flowering and wondering if they will ever forgive me.
Some bloggers grow Melianthus in a pot. And take it in for winter.
I have a little mum that looks better this year than ever. Not blooming yet but budding out! So glad your Campion is in bloom. The show they put out early, to me, out weighs the work to tidy them up later on. Speaking of that........hahaha!
Fabulous post, lots of pretties. Summer has arrived. My MIL used to grow a chrysanthemum we called a 'summer mum.' I had not thought of them in years.
So very true, plants really do march to beat of their own drum! We've had problem in the orchard for two years now. Our 'pollinator' plum always blooms after the plum that needs pollinating for some strange reason. How fun to have such an early blooming chrysanthemum though, and such a snappy color too!
I've seen mums bloom early before, but this is very early it seems! I love your lavender Crepe Myrtle.
I didn't even think of the odd one. I'm fixated over the lilies. What do they taste like? I can't seem to get mine to flower so I don't think I'll ever find out myself. :(
I was going to guess the caryopteris since mine doesn't bloom till late summer until I saw the chrysanthemum. Everything looks great! We have a lot of the same plants.
Deb - fun post and great way to showcase what's blooming!
I just planted a Butterfly Bush and am so excited to have it grow, flower and bring in the butterflies. Your comment about "plants having the final say" made me smile. All I can say is "Amen, to that"! (Hopefully I listen careful enough to my plants to figure out just where they like best...) -Shyrlene
Hello, everyone! It seems that every time I tour my garden, there are surprises. I appreciate all of your comments, and I always enjoy visiting your blogs to see what is happening in your own gardens. Born, you asked about the taste of day lily pods. To me they taste like mildly sweetened squash. Very tasty!
I have a mum that blooms spring and fall, as well. I let it bloom, then cut it back by early July, and it always repeats bloom in the fall. We have had an unusually cooler and wetter spring than normal, though, too, which has some plants confused about the season :-) Never a dull moment in gardening, that's for sure :-)
Gorgeous blooms as always Debs! I totally agree about the unpredictability of plants, always a source of wonder :)
I've been told to pinch mums until July 4th and them allow them to grow. That way they will bloom full and survive the winter better.
Hi Deb, you certainly got me thinking especially as here in Europe caryopteris flowers at the end of summer and into autumn so I thought I'd worked it out! Just enjoy, I say, Christina
Hi Deb, What a pretty assortments of flowers are in bloom in your garden. The chrysanthemum is a surprise. I guess it couldn't wait to join the party.