Monday, December 16, 2019

December's Bloomday (are there any flowers out there?)

Yesterday was Garden Blogger's Bloomday, hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. I'm late, but I still must play along, and so I went in search of flowers in my garden...

The Fatsia japonica is right next to our driveway. Even if you didn't hear the bzzzzz of the bees you'd know it was in bloom because of all the white bits it drops to the ground.

Walking up the sidewalk the next flowers you see are on the "everblooming" rosemary. It's a beast...but it smells so good!

Turning to the left, these aren't blooms of course...but the berries and the magenta sticks are very colorful! (Mahonia gracilipes)

Curving around the NW corner of our house and walking up the neighbor's driveway we come to the winter-blooming superstar, Mahonia x media 'Charity'.

Close-up...

Ah the Tetrapanax papyrifer dance. Will they or won't they? Will the buds open before a freeze snaps their life and makes them limp? I honestly can't believe they're still looking so good. We shall see. This is the tallest, largest, clump at the NE corner of the front garden. There are a few in the back garden that look similar.

The first of my three Arctostaphylos to bloom, A. x ‘Austin Griffiths’...

A second photo, because I couldn't decide which one I liked better.

Before we go around to the back garden we must pay our respects to the Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Nanjing Gold'. Its fat buds hold the promise of things to come—that's a Fatsia japonica leaf they're resting on.

Entering the back garden Abutilon Nuabyell momentarily distracts us from...

The buds of Helleborus x ballardiae Pink Frost.

Blurry, but I'm in cataloguing mode so I'll use it anyway, Edgeworthia chrysantha ‘Akebono’. This plant hangs onto it's leaves long after my other edgeworthia has dopped them.

Grevillea miqueliana is just getting started on the season.

The award for most powerful fragrance this bloomday goes to... Eribotrya japonica, the loquat.

Once again Passiflora 'Amethyst Jewel' comes close to blooming on Bloomday, but just misses the mark.

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Rochester' (witch-hazel) is doing that "I refuse to drop my leaves" thing.

Silly plant.

Just a couple more, Mahonia x media 'Marvel'.

And Alstroemeria 'Indian Summer', blooming pale blooms in the greenhouse. Happy last Bloomday of the year and here's to the new gardening year just around the corner...

Weather Diary, Dec 15: Hi 44, Low 37/ Precip 0

All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

29 comments:

  1. Well, you have more than me! I did see some swelling buds in my garden though, so I am starting to look forward to the new gardening year.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The color of the late blooms on Alstromeria 'Indian Summer' are interesting. I envy you the passionflower and the witch hazel. And I really need to find a place to put a loquat.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Due to lack of sunlight I think. I wonder if it (the Alstromeria 'Indian Summer') would be doing the same thing in the ground vs. in a container in the "greenhouse"?

      Delete
  3. Lots still happening in your garden. Am especially taken with the Mahonia blooms. I had a couple of Loquats in pots that I had started from seed but sadly I lost them this summer. Must try again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh no! That would be heartbreaking. Good luck on round two.

      Delete
  4. I'd almost consider moving in order to grow that Mahonia!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm looking forward excitedly to the shortest day of the year, only because immediately after the days will be getting longer. My excitement prompts the Home Owner to reminds me that winter hadn't officially start, but I pay him no mind: after all, Hellebore is budding up already and I'm celebrating along with mother nature. The Arctostaphylos shots are delightful and cheery thanks to the lovely garden background and the rusty witch-hazel leafs make for a richer composition than the bare branches alone.
    Did Tetrapanax papyrifer ever beat the frost and bloomed?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I read something the other day about how December really is winter here in the PNW, no matter what the calendar says. So you're right! Nope, my Tetrapanax have never bloomed. I have seen a couple of others around town that have come very close though and in fact were in the early stages.

      Delete
  6. Oh, the Mahonia...lust for sure. I bought that same Hamamelis from Gossler and it has dropped its leaves - curious. I expected it to hold on to them. Also, is the loquat totally hardy for us? Interested people want to know.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My hamamelis has dropped its leaves in previous years. Plants are so strange! And yep...the loquat is totally hardy. Those interested people should plant one ASAP.

      Delete
  7. Oddly, it's clear that it's definitely been colder here than at your garden. My Tetrapanax's flower attempts have gone limp, and my Fatsia's flowers are gone - frozen off, or just done already, I'm not sure. That Mahonia 'Marvel' is superb!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It had to be the wind that kept things stirred up around here. Usually I'm a cold spot.

      Delete
  8. The neighbor's Loquat that pushes through my back fence is blooming too, some 1,000 miles south of yours.

    'Austin Griffiths' flowers are so delicately beautiful. My little baby seems to have its first couple of clusters developing--hope they open.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Do you (or your neighbor) get fruit on their loquat? Good luck with your Austin!

      Delete
  9. So nice to see that even in 'winter' you have things flowering in your garden. For us here, more snow/ice/rain tomorrow, sigh. I did see the sun briefly today, however. Small rewards, but still gotta take what we can. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Even a little sun goes a long way in the winter.

      Delete
  10. Got to try that dark-leaved loquat! And Manzanitas grow in Texas. Why don't I give 'Austin Griffiths' a shot? Sad that this is your last bloom day for the year but already anticipating first bloom day in 2020!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wonder what the garden will look like on January's bloomday! Fun to think about.

      Delete
  11. Dang, I love that Loquat. Just realized the other day they flowered like that. Duh! Now I want one even more. That's some leaden sky above the Tetrapanax! Appreciating the sun that just broke through the clouds today. Too bad I can't go out and play...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wished I'd gotten a shot of the Tetrapanax with sun and blue sky. Ah well. Truth in advertising!

      Delete
  12. Hail to the mahonias! You have so many of them!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Lucky you! Of course there are no blooms here (although I should check the indoor plants). I second what Gerhard said, and the Manzanitas are beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really don't know how you do it Beth. Winter is hard enough for me here.

      Delete
  14. Awesome post thank you. Happy winter.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Witch hazels are often uncooperative that way, aren't they? Like the Fatsia, and surprised to read your bees are still out and about.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment. Comment moderation is on (because you know: spam), I will approve and post your comment as soon as possible!