Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and In a Vase on Monday

Wow, it's the middle of January already and, while we know it's winter and freezing weather could return at any time, it's felt a bit like spring lately.  The winter fragrances of Lonicera fragrantissima and Sarcococca have been enhancing my comings and goings for the last few sunny and still days.  Chatting with another patron at a nursery on Sunday we both decided that it would be just fine if we've already seen the worst of winter.

Here's most of what's blooming in my zone 8 western Washington garden this month:

Mahonia × media ‘Charity’

The first hellebores of the season.

Some Saxifrage or other.

Pansies 

Arbutus unedo  is covered with blooms.

Not a very good picture of a not very visually impressive flower.  However, the far-wafting fragrance, drought  and deep shade-tolerance and evergreen presence of Sarcocca earn it many places in my garden

Jasminum nudiflorum

 

Meanwhile, int the greenhouse, Pinguicula 'pirouette' continues to bloom.

The Schlumbergeras are just starting.

Back outside, one cyclamen bloom.

Viburnum × bodnantense ‘Dawn’

Still only buds on Tetrapanax but they don't look totally dead.  Hope springs eternal.

Garrya elliptica 

Lonicera fragrantissima

 There are a few roses here and there.

Hamamelis × intermedia 'Diane'

Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus' is one of a few dried blooms in the garden and the sole player in today's vase. 

Joining the vase are mementos of seasons past:  Oak leaves from a late summer walk in the park which have somehow retained their green color all this time, an orange pod from Physalis alkekengi (Chinese Lantern,)  cones that have been sitting around and some sort of metal walnuts from an after-Christmas sale.  Not technically from the garden, they're reminiscent of those from the tree across the alley that the squirrels plant all over my garden.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day is hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens on the fifteenth of every month.

In a Vase on Monday is hosted by Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.

Click on the links; join the fun!