Friday, December 15, 2017

Garden Blogger Bloom Day December 2017





Cold winter weather Central California style does not mean the end to blooms in the garden. On days when the midday temperatures can be in the 50s or 60s pollinators are hungry for a treat so gardeners need to include plants that scoff at the cold. 



Anisodontea 'Strybing Beauty' is definitely a plant that fills the bill. Although this will be cut back later in winter to help shape it for next summer it is currently providing pollinators a nice treat, seen here backed by ripening oranges that have begun to provide a treat for the gardener.


African blue basil, suggested to me by my friend Gail of Clay and Limestone,  has been a huge hit all summer and still has visitors everyday. It will not survive frost so at some point will be gone but we have gotten down to 34º and it is hanging in there. I wonder if I should put some frost cloth on it if we get close to freezing again; the succulent fountain behind it is already draped against those low temperatures. 


A few zinnias are left, ragged but blooming and I figure they can stay as part of the buffet until they get zapped.



Pelargoniums like the cooler weather and although they will be damaged if we really get a freeze these are under an arbor and fairly protected.


The first hellebore is blooming. Not showy but sweet.


Camellia sasanqua, of an unknown variety, has been blooming for the last month and has finally grown to a size that the blooms are visible from the house.  It has been, in my garden at least, quite slow growing.


These wax begonias have lived in this container for over 6 years and are real troopers. They will undoubtably die back at some point (they always do) but return in spring and provide a pop of color until we dip below 32º. This year...not yet.


I was given this iris some years ago and have always called it Patricia's Grandpa's Iris. I have recently become fairly convinced it is Eleanor Roosevelt. It is having its best year ever; having been divided and spread around the garden it has bloomed now for several months in different spots. It almost seems everblooming!

For more blooms visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens and follow all the links gardeners have posted there!