Mandevilla Vine and Cannas Begin to Bloom

The Mandevilla vine is finally putting out a few of its luscious red velvety blooms.
Now that is more like what I had envisioned! I hope I can overwinter this in the basement. I would really like to have it again next year. Does anyone have any tips on how to do this?

Yesterday as I walked through the garden paths, I took this pic of the bud on Canna 'Black Knight'. I cannot remember just what color the flower is.

I rushed out today to see if it had opened. Not quite, but it looks like it will be a nice orange color.

One of the best reasons I know to plant cannas is that they do not even begin to bloom until August. That is about the time the perennials are winding down for the year. It gives me something new to look forward to in August and September.

I was so excited when I made my mid-afternoon walk around the deck and noticed this bloom---such a soft apricot color. I don't remember having this color.
It is Canna 'Wyoming'. I bought it from Breck's two years ago. I think this is the first year it has bloomed, which is why I don't remember the color.


My favorite canna has bloomed! Isn't this just the most happy-looking flower? It always makes me think of a clown.
I just love how the color is split between yellow and orange. Then to top it off it offers those lovely orange freckles. Every bloom is different. The one next to this is mostly dark orange with a spotted throat.
I purchased this one from a chain store and it was labeled 'Picasso'. The label is not correct. Picasso does not have the big splotchy orange color. I think this plant looks a lot like 'Cleopatra', but I cannot be certain what it is. I just know it is my current favorite!

This year I bought another one labeled 'Picasso'. The leaves are so different. They do not have the stripes. I also bought 'Lucifer'.
I planted these low-growing cannas (3 feet or less) together in the long containers on each side of the dark-leafed canna.
I hope they bloom this year!