Hues of a Dry November

Santa Cruz Mountains

Autumn rain nourishes the garden. But lack of autumn rain prolongs blossoming, as plants make more seeds. This coreopsis blooms nearly year round in fair weather.

The flashback calendula is ever in the process of becoming: unfolding, blossoming, fading after fertilization, then drying and releasing its seedpods for future generations. 

Daisy mums are strictly autumn bloomers. Beginning as white flowers in October, by November their blossoms turn pink, floppy, and enticing to hungry insects seeking shelter.

Cosmos love dry conditions and produce thousands of seeds during a single season, while providing homes for the odd caterpillar. Next year these self-seeding beauties will be back.

Delightfully fuzzy Mexican sage thrives in dry conditions. It’s the favorite of both bees and hummingbirds, despite a fragrance that’s slightly off-putting to most humans.

The classic garden rose ignores the cold as long as it’s mostly dry. These beauties can bloom long into December before becoming dormant rosehip-covered shrubs. 

Wild plums spring up everywhere in the Santa Cruz mountains. Every autumn they turn a different hue, depending upon the rain pattern. Dry weather gives us yellows.

This unknown tree is beautiful during all seasons of the year. Its lush summer flowers have become red berries, as its multicolor leaves paint an ode to autumn. Please comment below if you know its name. Thanks!