The days are now getting noticeably shorter as it has been over a month since the summer solstice. Many plants bloom in response to the shorter days.
This summer has been remarkably different from last summer with more moisture and cooler temperatures. I have noticed a number of plants blooming this year that haven’t bloomed in the past couple of years. Russian Sage for example, survives the drought periods but only blooms well with a reasonable amount of rain. Russian Sage is exceptionally adaptable as we had Russian Sages in Ohio. Not many plants do well in both Ohio and Central Texas.
My Madrensis, also called Forsythia Sage, has survived the droughts but it has not bloomed for years. They are called Forsythia Sage because they have bright yellow flowers like the Forsythia flowers that bloom and grow up North. As with most sages, the deer do not bother it. It is a Mexican native plant that has adapted to Central Texas, especially when we get average rainfall. It is the last plant to bloom in the fall.
Mexican Firebush is a Mexican native that has bloomed in my yard every summer since 2002. The deer will nibble on it when it is young but after a few years they leave it alone. Mexican Firebush should be caged and watered carefully the first year or two after planting. It is tropical, so it is best planted against a West facing wall and mulched in the winter. I would wait until fall to put in any new plants into the garden. The bright red/orange flowers will be worth the wait and effort.
One negative aspect of our rains is the increase in mosquitoes. Please empty the water from all containers that contain squiggly mosquito larvae. I was horrified to find some larvae in a saucer hidden under a plant last week. If you are collecting rainwater in an open container the mosquito dunks are effective and safe.
