Blooms, Sort of

The outdoor blooms are finished, but there is still some color in the yard.  I had a holiday gathering after work today, (Tuesday), and there wasn't much light left when I got home, but I went right out to take photos for Garden Blogger's Bloom Day, hosted by Carol, of May Dreams Gardens.

The temps have finally gotten cold enough to take down the snapdragons.  I am sad.

There are a few strawflowers on dried up plants.

I imagine these rue buds won't be opening up.

The autumn joy sedum has some new color under the seed heads.

The iris is not going to open after all.

The gomphrenas still have color on their dry stems as well.

The beauty berries are not blooms, but they are still looking pretty.

I'm thinking folks have included seed heads for bloom day before.  Since there aren't live flowers, I'm enjoying having the seed heads around.

These are New England Asters.

The coneflowers are being eaten by birds, but are still looking good.

Rattlesnake master:

Love lies bleeding:

Saw toothed mountain mint:

I can't remember what kind of grass this is.

It was getting dark, and I got sidetracked taking photos of the next door neighbor kids with the lighted Christmas animals in their yard.  This was the best photo of the Virginia mountain mint.

Inside, out of the cold, I have a few blooms.  I got this holiday cactus, 'Caribbean Dance' in bud a few weeks ago, and it is doing well.

I had thought the next one, 'Dark Marie' wasn't going to make it because I had let it dry out too many times, but after a couple waterings, it is blooming, too.  It looks pretty similar to the new one.  Now, I need to get both of them into larger pots with some good potting soil, so it will be easier to keep them from drying out. Naomi, my pink blooming one is finished blooming for now, but it may bloom again toward spring, like it did last year.

I am looking forward to seeing what kinds of blooms others have this cold December.