Most of the flowers are fading but many of the grasses, like the gulf muhlygrass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) are spectacular at this time of year. Especially when the seedheads are backlit - like last afternoon when I saw these clumps of muhlygrass shimmering in a rosy glow of late afternoon sun. At this time of year the Gulf Coast humidity tends to condense into small droplets that slows the sunlight into a fuzzy glow.
Also called pink (or purple) muhlygrass, this stuff really lights up when a few sunbeams strike it and I can't think of many real flowers able to create such an impressive display. Actually this grass, a native of the southeastern USA, looks handsome regardless of season, is drought resistant and virtually immune to disease.
In the background the dogwoods (Cornus florida) lining my driveway have turned to matching shades of pinkish-red and orangey-yellow but on these November afternoons the light and haze tone the colors into soft pastels. (Click here to download a large version, 800x600 of this image).
The blue-leaved palm out in the yard is a Butia yatay palm from South America. They're very similar in appearance to the pindo palm (Butia capitata), a very cold-hardy species that is the most popular feather-leaved palm grown in Zone 8 climates. I bought my yatay palm as a seedling and it's been here for twelve years and is just beginning to form a trunk. Yes, it looks just like all of the thousands of pindos in the area but to me it looks just a little bit prettier and uniquely special but I can't figure out why.
Here in North Florida a beautiful weekend is forecast and I plan to spend it raking and mulching - I hope you have a fun weekend too!