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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day December 2015

Can Christmas be only ten days away?  How is it that we have three hundred sixty-four days a year to prepare and we (or maybe it's just I) crams everything into the three weeks before the day?  Every year I vow to start thinking of gifts and making things in January and February before the gardening season gets going and have everything ready for the next Christmas.  However, it never works that way.  Maybe it's best to be really busy now when the days are so short; the nights so long.  Takes one's mind off of the lack of light.  I digress.  It's the fifteenth of the month when Carol at May Dreams Gardens hosts Garden Bloggers' Bloom day where garden bloggers from around the globe share what's blooming in their gardens in the middle of each month.  Go here for Carol's post and links to the other participating bloggers' offerings.

Here's what's happening in my garden on this, the shortest GBBD of the year.  Soon the days will begin to lengthen again!

Grevillea victoriae
The first few blooms of  Lonicera fragrantissima have opened and are sharing their incredible fragrance.  It proves difficult for me to photograph well but with an asset like that scent, who cares what it looks like!

Helleborus argutifolius 'Pacific Frost'

Viburnum × bodnantense ‘Dawn’ has been blooming since November and will continue for months to come.  Another highly fragrant plant, this delights on calm days, especially if the temperature is a little warmer.

Not blooming yet but the closest it's ever come in my garden is Tetrapanax papyrifer 'Steroidal Giant.'  All I want for Christmas is...

Rosemary

Mahonia × media ‘Charity’

Laughing at temperatures in the mid 20's,  the abutilons continue to bloom.


Less-than-perfect primroses are providing lunch for the slugs.

'Marjie' rose, a Swanson's Nursery exclusive has bloomed all summer and fall and shows no sign of stopping.  The small pink fragrant flowers are becoming a favorite.  For more on this special rose look here.

Aging hydrangeas are quite lovely!

So they're not blooms but they are sweet and blue.  Dichroa febrifuga.

Meanwhile, inside the greenhouse - 

Abutilon 'Red Tiger'

Abutilon something or other.

Not blooms but the Jerusalem Cherry plant that came home last Christmas has been blooming and producing fruit since I brought it home.  Such a sweet, fast growing, and easy plant.

Grocery store gardenia, also from last year is back in bloom.

In the greenhouse, the pelargonium bloom all winter. 

Schlumbergera last longer in the greenhouse.  Those in the people house have already dropped all of their flowers.

A new one this year.  It's labeled but I forgot it's name. 


Brugmansia will spit out a bloom or two through the winter if they survive the *$*#%@)  spider mites!

Only 95 days until spring.  For  a beautiful countdown, click here.  The Northwest Flower and Garden Show, the beginning of the new garden season for me, is only two months away!  Hooray!

15 comments:

  1. You have quite a lot blooming. I couldn't find anything outside, and only a couple inside the greenhouse. I forgot about the Brugs that are still blooming in the garage in total darkness. I cut my Abutilon 'Red Tiger' back because it was too tall and floppy and lanky to bring into the greenhouse. It's still alive, but not putting out any flowers.

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  2. Doesn't feel like December. Drag that Brug outside, give it a shower and wash off the spider mites.

    Between now and Spring, we have to get through February.

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  3. Two months until the NWFG Show, hurrah! I had to laugh at Jean's "give it a shower"...so true. Sit it outside for 15 minutes and bam! Washed clean (assuming you've been getting rain like we have).

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  4. This Abutilon 'Red Tiger'is wonderful Peter. Happy GBBD!

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  5. Blooms in December--nice! I brought some Fuchsias inside this year and they're still blooming, but not enough for a bloom-day post. Love your Abutilons! Such a unique plant.

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  6. It's good to have a greenhouse to get us through. I should make better use of mine. Roll on the solstice. As soon as the days start to lengthen I feel a whole load happier.

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  7. Peter, all the lovely flowers still in bloom; what a sight for my sore eyes. I really needed this lift today. (And you are definitely not alone with Christmas preparations, I am in denial of how little time is left too.

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  8. Helleborus blooming now...good for you. Wondering if I have room for a small green house. Oh heck right now I'm trying to figure out how to keep the dogs out of my beds. Enjoy the season.

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  9. I can take the countdown to spring but must close my ears to the part about Christmas. I did do some gift buying in January but then sloth and thoughts of gardening took over my brain.

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  10. I hope Santa gives you flowers on your Tetrapanax before that mean old Jack Frost starts working overtime. As for Christmas, I have never, ever been as behind with my preparations as I am this year - the garden demanded all my free time and attention but now all the flashing lights have finally brought the realization that I need to get cracking!

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  11. I usually do a photo hunt for what's blooming on January 1. Looks like I might have a few things, but not like this!

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  12. It may be a shorter list than usual, but what treasures some of those plants are! The Grevillea victoriae is so elegant, and the following four are great favorites of mine which I wish people planted more around here.

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  13. Oh your abutilons are lovely, when I eventually get a greenhouse they will be top of my list to get – along with a brugmansia or two. Lovely story about the Marjie rose, beautiful rose. Happy GBBD!

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  14. With your greenhouse/garage you have so many wonderful flowers to add to all the ones in your garden, you have so many! Love the blue berries on your Dichroa, they are so unusual and your abutilons are fantastic!

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  15. I really like the Dichroa and the Jerusalem Cherry. Is that fruit edible?

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.