Welcome to Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day for December 2010.
Winter has arrived here at May Dreams Gardens in USDA Hardiness Zone 5, bringing sub freezing temperatures and four or so inches of snow, so far.
I took one look outside at the cold snow covering the garden, felt that wintry blast of wind on my face, and quickly decided to just take a picture standing at the back door. I never even ventured outside to see if there was a bloom somewhere under all that snow.
Then I bravely stepped outside in front and took a picture of the Rosa ‘Radsunny’ Knock Out® Roses, which I’ve featured in my bloom day posts for several months in a row.
That’s enough outside! Brrrr!
Inside in my sun room, I found some blooms, including those on the ever-blooming Crown of Thorns, Euphorbia splendens var. milii.
Of course it's blooming. It's always blooming. I’ve noted before that it is sort of an emergency bloom day flower, one I can count on for a bloom nearly every day of the year.
Another flower blooming is a new African Violet, Saintpaulia ‘Neverfloris’ that I picked up from Optimara at the Garden Writer’s Association symposium in September.
We’ll call this a bloom even though they describe it as “hundreds of tiny buds which will NEVER flower”. They are marketing this more for florists to use in foliage arrangements, but I like it because it is green and unusual.
One final bloom for December… the traditional Christmas poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima, with un-traditional pink mottled bracts.
It was a gift and I’ll enjoy it for as long as it provides me with color, a nice contrast to the white winter wonderland outside my window.
How is your garden blooming this month? Are you snow covered or still enjoying outdoor blooms?
Whatever your circumstances and however your garden looks during these December days, I hope you’ll join us for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day this month.
All are welcome!
It's easy to participate. Just post on your blog about what is blooming in your garden on the 15th of the month and then leave a link in the ‘Mr. Linky’ widget below, plus a comment to give us a hint as to what we might find in your garden in December.
“We can have flowers nearly every month of the year.” – Elizabeth Lawrence
Winter has arrived here at May Dreams Gardens in USDA Hardiness Zone 5, bringing sub freezing temperatures and four or so inches of snow, so far.
I took one look outside at the cold snow covering the garden, felt that wintry blast of wind on my face, and quickly decided to just take a picture standing at the back door. I never even ventured outside to see if there was a bloom somewhere under all that snow.
Then I bravely stepped outside in front and took a picture of the Rosa ‘Radsunny’ Knock Out® Roses, which I’ve featured in my bloom day posts for several months in a row.
That’s enough outside! Brrrr!
Inside in my sun room, I found some blooms, including those on the ever-blooming Crown of Thorns, Euphorbia splendens var. milii.
Of course it's blooming. It's always blooming. I’ve noted before that it is sort of an emergency bloom day flower, one I can count on for a bloom nearly every day of the year.
Another flower blooming is a new African Violet, Saintpaulia ‘Neverfloris’ that I picked up from Optimara at the Garden Writer’s Association symposium in September.
We’ll call this a bloom even though they describe it as “hundreds of tiny buds which will NEVER flower”. They are marketing this more for florists to use in foliage arrangements, but I like it because it is green and unusual.
One final bloom for December… the traditional Christmas poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima, with un-traditional pink mottled bracts.
It was a gift and I’ll enjoy it for as long as it provides me with color, a nice contrast to the white winter wonderland outside my window.
How is your garden blooming this month? Are you snow covered or still enjoying outdoor blooms?
Whatever your circumstances and however your garden looks during these December days, I hope you’ll join us for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day this month.
All are welcome!
It's easy to participate. Just post on your blog about what is blooming in your garden on the 15th of the month and then leave a link in the ‘Mr. Linky’ widget below, plus a comment to give us a hint as to what we might find in your garden in December.
“We can have flowers nearly every month of the year.” – Elizabeth Lawrence
Comments
Beautiful Euphorbia ... and what a fabulous Saintpaulia! That's a new one for me! The Poinsettia is so pretty in pink ... great blooms.
http://gardenwalkgardentalk.com/2010/12/15/gbbd-december-magazine/
Yvonne
It's been interesting to see how quickly some plants have recovered from their winter chill this month.
Happy Blooms Day everyone and Seasons Greetings to all :)
Frances
I have a rather modest offering this time. A number of plants neatly fit halfway between Bloom Days and I also found myself running out of time/sunlight/good weather to take photos.
Thank you for hosting this wintry event. I hope you have the merriest Christmas and a prosperous new year.
David/ Tropical Texana/ Houston
What an unusual AV - I've never seen or heard of that one before. Love the crown of thorns!
Happy Bloom Day, and thank you for hosting!
That's an interesting African violet. You have more blooming inside than I do.
I was only willing to stand on the porch to take photos this weekend, but was able to go around and take some for bloom day yesterday. There were no living blooms, but some color and some seed heads.
Have a great Christmas!
I love the idea of you standing at the back door to take your pictures! I think that much snow would be too much challenge... for my poorly circulated toes.
Neverfloris is a bit of a bummer of a name!
Here in Malaysia where the sun is so hot, it is indeed a lovely change to see snow on the plants.
Rosie
Happy Bloom day!
The Crown of thorns is really pretty, I was at a nursery yesterday and they had a fairly large one growing in their atrium. At the time I couldn't remember what it was, but now your post has reminded me.
Stay warm!
Thank you so much for hosting this monthly event. I look forward to checking out everyone else's December garden. Happy Holidays! Pamela x
I need to get one of those crown of thorns. All I really have blooming right now are poinsettias, but I dearly love them and if some of these make it to spring I'll plant them outside. They make amazing shrubs during the summer.
Thanks for hosting GBBD, Carol.
I have nearly nothing blooming here in Portland, even though our temps are more moderate. I resorted to almost-blooms and indoor-blooms for most of my post!
The rest of the CobraHead team is buried under the snow in Wisconsin, but I have only had a couple of light frosts in my Austin garden.
Love your poinsettia and your snow pictures. Wish we would get a little snow this year.
My Bloom Day post is up now, too.
Jan
Always Growing
I think we've successfully killed off everything in our garden. And tonight's ice/rain/whatever they're calling for now will finish whatever we've missed!
I love your frosty pink Poinsettia. What a lovely gift. The African Violet is amazing with those spidery little 'blooms'.
I must get a Crown of Thorns. A plant that's always blooming is something to treasure!
Believe it or not I actually have a plant blooming beautifully outside in the snow and frigid temps, even after more than a foot of snow last week!!!
Happy December Bloom Day, Carol, and thanks for hosting.
This is just one of many with more just down the road a bit. Even showier when there are several in a row.
Very picturesque, and no sign of real snow.
We've had repeated light freezes in Austin, but there were still lots of flowers to photograph for December GBBD - from Camellias to Lions Tail.
Happy GBBD!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
http://getbusygardening.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-whats-bloomin.html
~Amy