Friday, December 15, 2017

December Bloomday, 2017

Here we are, the last Bloomday of the year. Even though this has been a very mild season here in Portland I find myself thinking of the things lost last winter — blooms I miss, and I'm sure the wildlife does too. But I can't complain too much, after all there are blooms in my garden in December, what more could a gardener ask for?

Abutilon Nuabyell hasn't missed a beat. Here it's being blown about and refusing to hold still for its photo. Yes it's been sunny, but the famous East Wind has been wicked.

Arctostaphylos x ‘Austin Griffiths' is on the verge of busting out.

Where as the orange flowering Bomarea sp. is hanging on despite a light frost.

As is the Cobaea scandens, aka Cup and Saucer Vine, which really should have turned to mush but must be protected by the fact it's growing up against the West facing side of the house. As much I love the foliage this one really is trying my patience since it didn't put out a single flower all season!

Edgeworthia chrysantha ‘Akebono’ — still hanging on to it's foliage and yes, only hinting at flowers to come. Still I celebrate.

Ditto for the Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Nanjing Gold' — although it's lost its foliage.

Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Nanjing Gold' with Fatsia japonica.

The Fatsia japonica blooms keep the pollinators very happy.

Fatsia japonica 'Variegata' (Camouflage)

In a corner of the back garden.

Eriobotrya japonica aka Loquat. So simple, so beautiful, so fragrant.

I love this plant for its large pleated leaves, the fact it blooms is a bonus.

Juniperus conferta 'Blue Pacific', of which I have many. Yet this — the newest addition to the garden — is the only one that's ever produced those little cones.

What's up with that?

Mahonia x media 'Charity'

Being simply stunning.

Really.

Persicaria microcephala ‘Red Dragon’ — freeze, what freeze?

The Rosemary NOID also couldn't care less about the temperatures, which I love.

All those blooms!

I'll wrap up this garden bloggers Bloomday post (hosted by Carol, don't you know) with a look at the ever hopeful Tetrapanax papyrifer. It tries so hard to bloom, but there's just no way it's happening this year. Although those buds look promising they still need a few weeks of warmth, which even the hopeful know is not going to happen here, mid-December.

Weather Diary, Dec 14: Hi 44, Low 32/ Precip 0

All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

31 comments:

  1. Beautiful blooms! The mahonia is really putting on a show, WOW!

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    1. Thanks Laurin, and yes...that plant continues to be a star!

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  2. Pretty blooms and beautiful foliage, too!
    Here in north Mississippi our forecast for today is a high of 47F and low tonight 27F
    Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!
    and
    Merry Christmas!

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  3. The orange flowering Bomarea looks cute and unexpected among the palm fronds, obviously somewhat protected from the elements. The Loquat picture surprised me. I don't remember seeing one in bloom before. The leafs and fruit are its more recognizable features. And you say the flowers are fragrant?

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    1. They are very fragrant, a very distinctive scent that I've grown to appreciate.

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  4. Your mahonia blows me away. What a stunning plant! I hope my two small mahonias ('Sweet Caress' and 'Cistus Silver') will one day look like that.

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    1. My oldest Mahonia 'Soft Caress' is finally really starting to shine...it took it's sweet time. The same for my 'Indianola Silver'...however I don't think either of these plants have the vigor to reach the size of the 'Charity'.

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  5. Seeing your wonderful Fatsias is solidifying my intent to invest in one of these plants once my lath house is in place. On the other hand, your Mahonia 'Charity' makes my specimen look all the sadder - I've no buds or blooms whatsoever and even the leaves don't seem to want to hang on. (And, before you say it, I know I shouldn't be complaining about a lack of flowers.)

    Happy Bloom Day!

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    1. You shouldn't! And there are people up here who would find your desire to include a Fatsia quite funny. Some call it the "apartment plant" due to it's commonality.

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  6. Dang - totally forgot it's Bloom Day. Must make amends.... pronto! Oh, to have a Loquat - those leaves are beautiful. Not familiar with the fragrance, but who cares... Flowers in December are noteworthy even without it.

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    1. Indeed, December flowers are always welcome, and the tree (really still more of a shrub size) is positively covered in them!

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  7. Normally I barely recognize most of your Bloom Day flowers. This month there's so little flowering, we actually have a few in common. Thank goodness for Mahonia x media 'Charity'!

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  8. Ah yes, the famous wicked wind of the east. Wouldn't it be fabulous if, just once, our tetrapanax got to bloom? Your Bomarea sp. is one tough customer!

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    1. OMG...from now on that's exactly what I'll be calling it! The "wicked wind of the east"...thank you Peter!

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  9. Very nice! Your Mahonia is a beauty...the bees must be happy. Here in Nashville a few nights in the 20s have insured that there are no blooms!

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    1. The bees do love it, and the hummingbirds too...although I rarely get to see either since the plant is on the north-side of our house along our neighbor's driveway.

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  10. The loquat is so attractive, as is the mahonia. Simply stunning!

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  11. Is that one Mahonia or several? OH MY GOSH, so cool.

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    1. Just one, that's done a lot of branching.

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  12. The loquat is a wonderful plant. I had a big one in my garden but had to remove it when my neighbor built a wall and didn't survive the transplant. I have a new one now but it's still small. Your Mahonia with yellow flowers is a real wonder, absolutely beautiful. Even without flowers the foliage looks splendid! I'm green with envy!

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    1. I'm so sorry about your Loquat, that's a sad story.

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  13. Perhaps a mild winter for you this year? Hoping. Perhaps some of the rain will be shoved south, far south. The Edgeworthias are so charming. Masses of loquat flowers on the neighbor's. I've espaliered all the growth on my side of the fence to hide their rotting wooden shack. Unexpected goodness.

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    1. That would be so wonderful, a mild winter would be welcome. And rain shoved south too! Although it's been so dry here the last few weeks the natives are starting to get restless.

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  14. Plucky little bomarea! I've been coaxing a fatshedera up my triangle palm, they're such irresistible supports, but unlike yours the trunk is so smooth it has to be tied. Hoping the mild weather continues!

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    1. The Tetrapanax trunk is so hairy it begs to be used for vines. This one was supporting 3 different plants over the summer. The Bomarea is the only one still standing. Neither of the Passiflora could take the cold.

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  15. The Fatsias and Mahonias just make me drool and not just because it's Dec.

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  16. You still have a lot of blooms and still lovely greens, as if it is not winter? Merry Christmas

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  17. I need Mahonia 'Charity' so so bad. Thank you for the reminder. And if you ever see me at an establishment that carries it, another nudge in its direction would be terrific.

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