A blooming full moon
Last night the moon was in full bloom in the October sky. It shone like a newly minted dime as it peeked over the treetops. But by the time I’d set up the tripod in the dark street, wispy gray clouds had tarnished it.
More clouds scudded across, the moon went purple, and then it was completely veiled. Soon after that, we received our second downpour in one day. Hooray for rain!
Aside from the blooming moon, I’ve only had time to get two images for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day today. They seem in keeping with the full-moon theme.
White plumbago (Plumbago auriculata ‘Alba’) shines like the moon under the live oaks in the back yard, particularly at twilight.
Blue mistflower (Conoclinium greggii ) is really a light purple, like the cloud-veiled moon pictured above.
Happy Bloom Day, everyone!
All material © 2006-2008 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
I like those nights when the moon lights the garden. You take such great pictures of the moon, too. Thanks for joining in for bloom day, from your new garden.
What a big, romantic moon it was. Thanks for hosting Bloom Day again, Carol. —Pam
Yes it was stunning. I wish I had a small ‘Moonlight garden’/ LOL Tyra
Me too, Tyra. —Pam
What wonderful moon shots Pam! I visited my mom this weekend, and woke up about 1:00 a.m. Sunday morning, thinking it was time to get up because the skies were so lit up by the moon. I went outside for a minute to look at the moon, and saw a little fox off in the distance behind Mom’s garden. He was running around in circles, doing a joyful little dance under the moon at the spot where Mom leaves meat scraps from dinner for them. It was quite a sight, and I’d have missed it if not for the full moon.
Congratulations on your first bloom day in your new home and garden! I can imagine how busy you must be, and I’m glad you had a moment to enjoy the full moon. So glad you got some much-needed rain. Looks like we’ll be getting wet here today too. Hooray!
What an amazing vision, Linda! Lucky the moon woke you up to see the dancing fox. —Pam
I’m loving this rain! Finally, enough to wet the ground beyond the mulch layer! Are these pictures from your new garden? Like you, I tried to get some pictures yesterday after seeing the forecast, but I happily put my camera away when I was taking pictures and the sky started sprinkling on me. If it means I’ll miss bloom day to accommodate the rain, I’ll happily do so! Thanks for your always awesome posts, Pam. I love that pic of the moon.
Yes, these pics are from the new garden. It’s wonderful to finally see some significant rain, isn’t it? —Pam
Pam, Stunning moon photos, but equally, impressive is the Mist Flower…that little guy looks like a Fourth of July Firework explosion in lilac. Have a wonderful day! gail
It does look like a firecracker going off. Ka-pow! —Pam
ps. How could I forget to mention your rain! Congrats! gail
Wonderful photos of the full moon. I love the way it makes the garden glow. Your Plumbago & Blue Mist blooms are lovely Pam. Happy GBBD!
Thanks, Racquel. It was interesting to look around and see what the former owners had planted that was blooming. —Pam
Ooh, the moon! It was still in the sky as I walked out in the dawn to do my bloom day post from a local coffee shop. So nice and fat and lovely.
It really was. Did it remind you of the moon in “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”? —Pam
Happy Bloom Day, dear.~~Dee
Same to you, Dee! —Pam
What a wonderful picture of the moon! I’ve never been able to get a good shot of it. Well done!
Thank you, Randy. With my point-and-shoot, I’ve found that using the Manual setting and a tripod makes all the difference. —Pam
A fantastic full moon – and love that Plumgago. Here in Southern California the blue form is most common – but after seeing yours, I’m going to seek out the white form.
Chloe
The blue plumbago is more common here too, Chloe. But at our new house, there’s no blue and just one white one. —Pam
I’m so happy that Austin finally got some rain. It’s long overdue!
Yes, it is. Does Katy need rain post-hurricane? —Pam
Beautiful picture. Can this be the same sky today? Austin will be celebrating the moon with the Japanese Moon Festival this Sunday at Zilker Park.
I went to the Moon Festival a couple of years ago. It was quite interesting and lovely to see the garden hung with Japanese lanterns. —Pam
Lovely theme – those blossoms do look like they’ve been kissed by moonlight. Beautiful photos.
Thank you, Barbara! —Pam
Hi Pam, your moon is dreamy and the white plumbago delicioso! I love the mistflower too, it is wild here, or should I say it is a native, and spreads happily.
Frances
It does the same here too, Frances. Keeping it on the dry side helps keep it under control. It’s really attracting the queen and monarch butterflies right now. —Pam
Driving home last night, I was paying more attention to the setting sun on one horizon and an enlarged rising moon on the opposite horizon. The air was clear and the sky was a riot of blues, whites, pinks, salmons and orange. Photos would not have done it justice. Fortunately I made it home safely despite the distractions.
Goodness, I might have had to pull over just to gaze at that sky. Sunsets like that are so fleeting, and so many people seem not even to notice. Bravo for Seeing. —Pam
You must have all your boxes unpacked if you had time to go out and take pictures of the moon and some flowers in your garden Pam. Great photos.
I’m making progress on the unpacking. But I had to make time for that gorgeous moon, Lisa. —Pam
Pam,
Wow. All I could do was talk about the moon in my post. You took some great photos. The moon is even brilliant again tonight. Can’t take my eyes off of it. We had not one cloud in the sky two nights in a row.
I adore white flowers. I’ve never grown the white plumbago. I’m curious how you think it compares to the blue. Whenever I see it around it never seems quite as full of blooms as the blue.
The blue mist is quite popular, too.
Meems @ Hoe&Shovel
I hardly ever run across the white plumbago, Meems, so I don’t really know how it compares to the blue. Maybe it isn’t used as much for the reason you noted. —Pam
Ooh, pretty. I love the moon theme — very nice. I love white flowers, but I almost never make room for them, so it’s fun to see them in other people’s gardens.
~Angela 🙂
I didn’t plant many white flowers in my old garden either, Angela. But I may make room for some in the new garden, which is much shadier. They’ll have more of an impact here, I think. —Pam
You took wonderful moon photos, Pam – so worth the trouble of setting up the tripod. The chance to capture the Hunter’s Moon only comes once a year.
It’s pretty cool that you left Gregg’s mistflower at your old house and found it waiting for you at the new one. My blue plumbago seems more vigorous than the white plumbago but the blue also gets more sun. I should buy another white one and put it where it will get more sun in the daytime and can glow at night, like yours. In addition to appreciating some of our native plants, maybe the previous owners were also people who liked to look at their garden in moonlight!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Gregg’s mistflower is everywhere, isn’t it? I think you’re right that the previous owners had an appreciation for native plants. I’m grateful for the Texas persimmons and the Mexican buckeye in particular. —Pam
Funny, I thought there might be a full moon – there were alot of cranky people around!!!! I love the Conodinum – I shall be checking it out to see if it is hardy here in the Uk and whether I can even acquire it.
Did you see anyone howling at the moon, Helen? I hope you can grow the mistflower on the other side of the pond. It’s wonderful for attracting butterflies. —Pam
I can’t believe you’ve had time to post anything. I know I wouldn’t have. I’ve never seen white Plumbago. It really shines. I’m sorry you’re dealing with caring for 2 properties. I know how hard that is. I did it by choice when I bought Squirrelhaven because I didn’t want to have to worry about the dogs when the house was being shown, so I didn’t put my house on the market until after I moved out. Here’s hoping for a quick turn around after the election.
Hear, hear! I hope so too, MMD. —Pam
Pam great moon images! I love white flowers glowing in the moonlight! Great Bloom Day images! A Canadian Bloom Day gal!
Thanks, Naturegirl. The moon is a constant source of beauty, no matter where we live, isn’t it? —Pam
Beautiful images of the moon. The mist flower is lovely – I’ve not seen that before.
Thanks, HM. The mistflower is commonplace around here, but it’s indispensable in the fall garden for attracting butterflies. —Pam
Beautiful moon photos. I am looking forward to watching as your new garden unfolds. Happy GBBD!! -Liisa
Thanks, Liisa. Same to you! —Pam
beautiful
I’m glad you enjoyed the pics, Rajeev. —Pam
Have never seen white plumbago before, Pam, but I’m liking it! I have a blue plumbago in a pot, but I have to keep it away from one of our cats who delights in eating it, and it hasn’t flowered this year. Here’s hoping I can get it through the winter uneaten and that next summer it will reward my patient protection.
The moon photos are awesome. Funny how we never, ever get tired of looking at her. I’m watching her waning gibbous self out my window even as I write this.
I now worry about deer, but you’re worrying about cats eating your plants, Jodi. That’s pretty funny. As for the moon, no, I never get tired of looking at her. And the full moon is a magnetic force too strong to resist. —Pam
I always enjoy those moonlit nights when the moon is full. Your moon pictures are wonderful, Pam.
I’m glad you found time, with your full schedule, to show us a couple of pretties. Both are beautiful.
Happy Bloom Day!
Thanks, Kerri. I’m glad you enjoyed the full moon in your own garden too. —Pam