“Signs of Fall”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana
Even though our weather is still warm and the last few days, hot, there are still signs that fall isn’t too far off. Certain plants that bloom only when the days get shorter are starting to show their colors. I noticed just this past weekend that the wine sage (Salvia van houttei) has started blooming. This plant has my favorite red color – a deep burgundy red. I always make sure that I have a pot of this salvia to overwinter since it can be difficult to find, and I am always afraid it will not make it through a bad freeze since it is marginal for winter in my garden.
Another autumn bloomer that is starting to flower is Mexican Bush Sage. While the flowers are small now, in just a few weeks, the plant should be covered with spikes of purple. Last year I had two big bushes, and I liked them so well, I put in three more in the garden.
The last plant I noticed that has started growing since fall is approaching is the calla lilies. They die down in the heat of summer, and start growing in mid-September.
I can’t wait for other fall plants start sending out their flowers.
Always Growing 
fairegarden said,
September 24, 2009 at 4:15 am
Oh I love the wine sage, we have one on the daylily hill that is offering that exceptional color of red. Sorry to hear it is barely hardy for you, that means there is no chance for mine to survive. The Mexican sage is blooming too, I need more of those, the hummingbirds are all over it, again they may not be hardy here but worth growing anyway. Callas? Great! 🙂
Frances
Sarada said,
September 24, 2009 at 8:58 am
I love Fall, your post reminds me to repot some of my herbs and overwinter them soon for next year.
bangchik said,
September 24, 2009 at 10:14 am
Interesting, how certain plants rush with blooms as days are getting shorter! ~bangchik
muhammad khabbab said,
September 25, 2009 at 1:43 am
Sage looking great. Calla lilies are annual here, we grow them from bulbs/tubers mainly but those which are planted near ponds act as perennial.
Jackie said,
September 25, 2009 at 9:32 am
I don’t have many fall perenials except for some Montauck daisies. You are inspiring me to plant some for next year.
PS – Thank you for such a kind comment you posted on my blog regarding my father-in-laws passing. It was so very sweet of you.
Jean said,
September 25, 2009 at 9:33 am
I had that burgundy salvia last year and LOVED it. Unfortunately it didn’t come back from the winter. So this year I planted Salvia leucantha in the hopes it would make it (it used to make it through my Austin winters). It’s really starting to bloom now!
Annie in Austin said,
September 26, 2009 at 7:59 pm
The Salvia leucantha here is stretching out bloom heads, too. Pam at the Microbial Laboratory blog grows that Salvia van houtei in South Carolina. It’s gorgeous but the odds are it wouldn’t make it here in Central Texas…too bad, because it’s a lovely color.
Since we’ve had some rain lately maybe my calla lilies are sending up leaves too, Jan…thanks for the reminder.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose