Photo of the Week: Pink Begonias Blooming in Mid-November

Nestled among the fallen maple and oak leaves, pink begonia flowers stand out against its deep green waxy leaves.

If someone had asked me earlier this season what flowers would be blooming in my garden in mid-November—after several deep freezes and snow/rain showers this month in southeast Michigan—I would have confidently replied with mums and Calendula.

And they are indeed blooming today in my garden.

Bright orange Calendula flowers and deep red mum blooms add a touch of color on this gray, overcast day.

But I never would have guessed what other flowers would be blooming. Continue reading Photo of the Week: Pink Begonias Blooming in Mid-November

Photo of the Week: Purple Dragon Hybrid Aster

Dragon Hybrid Aster

Imagine a mound of violet-blue flowers with orange-yellow centers that blooms continuously from early September through November, often retaining their blooms after the first light snow. That’s why I enjoy the purple Dragon Hybrid Aster. The low-mounding perennial, less than two feet tall, provides stunning intense color in the fall that contrasts with the Kelvin… Continue reading Photo of the Week: Purple Dragon Hybrid Aster

Photo of the Week: Sunflowers in Bloom

bright yellow sunflower in bloom, pink brick wall in the background.

For years, it’s been no surprise for us to find sunflower seedlings sprouting underneath our bird feeders.

The bird food in our feeders has a large proportion of black oil sunflower seed.

It’s a favorite food for birds, since it’s meatier and has a high oil content. Continue reading Photo of the Week: Sunflowers in Bloom