I love a little Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) in the fall. The mix of Juba Bush (Iresine diffusa) and Muhly swaying in the ocean breeze gives me gardening goosebumps. Our very rainy September gave all the wildflowers a boost and the garden is enjoying a late season extravaganza with very happy pollinators cruising the flowers. As these things go we are having a very dry October and now I am hoping for rain!
The Muhly and Juba:
Muhly Grass is in pink in the background joined by off white Juba Bush. The word Juba is a dance move in the Caribbean that involves swaying hips. The Juba Bush is a native wildflower that appears and plants itself where happy. I have found it impossible to propagate, and am happy to find it when it decides to make an appearance. It is perennial and can grow 3 or 4 feet tall. I suppose birds are responsible for the Juba. Another gardening mystery to ponder. The Muhly has a similar modus operandi and I have some odd drifts in the garden.
Other flowers in the photo:
The deep blue flowers with coarse stems are Porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicaensis); the pale blue spikes with lavendar foliage are Vitex trifolia, some call this California Lilac. It is remarkably hardy. Darker purple foliage is Purple Queen (Transcandentia pallida) another great indestructible.
The lower level:
The lower levels in this vase are the wallflowers, the kind that don’t dance. Front and center is the last Purple Prince Zinnia of the season; viney pink flowers are from the Coral Love Vine (Antigonon leptopus); white spikes are Tropical Red Salvia (Salvia coccinea). The vase is a family heirloom made by the Ute Indian tribe.
I am hoping to dance a lot of weeds out of the garden this week. The rains provided nourishment for a tangle of Muscandines and Inch Plants. I am not sure we have ever had as much rain in late summer and was surprised by the volume of unwelcome growth in the garden. I have determined Muscandines are offensive!
Thanks to Cathy for hosting, visit her at ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com to visit other gardens via vase.
Happy Gardening!!
The Shrub Queen 
Wish I could send you some of our rain. We need your sun! I love the airiness of your vase. I can imagine it swaying in the breeze.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have a lovely range of plants, and it was interesting to read about the grasses. The pinks and purples are well matched in this arrangement too. Have a lovely week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLike
Just written a reply but forgot to log in so don’t suppose it will come up as me (Cathy)… can’t see it on your blog yet either…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you asked about the muscadine? It is a native grape that can be good or small, seedy and bitter – I have the latter. And it takes over. If only I knew how to make baskets! The inch plant is zebrina and can be used as a groundcover, I think it grew an inch a day for a while. I have a task ahead of me.
LikeLike
Yes, that was me – thanks for the explanantions and good luck with the eradication!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is a nice airy vase with quite the variety of flowers. I have never planted Muhly Grass, as I’ve been afraid of it spreading everywhere. I’ll enjoy your from afar.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, the Muhly spreads a bit but is not disastrous.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was eyeing pink muhly grass in a nursery just this past weekend. Unfortunately, while it was blooming beautifully on the nursery grounds, the nursery did not have any plants for sale 😦 That Antigonon vine appeals to me too. I just looked it up and it’s reportedly suitable to my climate and not necessarily greedy about water – why haven’t I ever seen it in garden centers?!
LikeLiked by 2 people
It seems Muhly has become very popular lately. The Antigonon vine is supposedly invasive here, I think it might be in a more conducive environment (moister) than my garden. It has taken years to become established.
LikeLike
Lovely exuberance! I wish I could grow muhly grass– it is so beautiful. I can just imagine it dancing with the juba!
The antigonon vine is pretty special, too, reminds me of a pretty necklace.
LikeLike
I’m drawn to the intensity of color of the vase and the Purple Queen (Transcandentia pallida). I think Purple Queen is same as Purple Heart? A cold winter did mine in some years ago. Muhly grass is wonderful.
LikeLike
Muscadines are offensive?! I want to grow them to see what all the fuss is about. I would also like to grow another native species of grape from Grapevine (near Tejon Pass), but that is another story. Transcandentia pallida looks sort of spooky. Is blue ginger popular there?
LikeLike
The Juba is lovely and I have an image of you swirling round the garden alongside your grasses swaying in the wind! 😉 Was all the rain you had in September then? How long is your normal length of time between wet spells? We had practically no rain for all of September and the first two weeks of October, but are finally getting a little. The oral Love Vine is so sweet. Are they really heart-shaped flowers? Gorgeous!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I will be swaying and bending and pulling and pruning! Florida has a dry season and a rainy season. Winter is the dry season.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, this one definitely brought a smile to my face. The vase, the tall grasses, the other elements–lovely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike
Beautiful. The photos are amazing!
https://openyourhearttogardening.blogspot.com/
LikeLiked by 1 person