Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - November 2015

Camellia X 'Snow Flurry'

Welcome to Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day for November 2015.

Here in my USDA Hardiness Zone 6a garden in central Indiana, the blooms outside are scarce but like anything scarce, they are greatly valued.

First, there are camellias, sort of.

The best blooms on the only camellia to bloom so far, Camellia X 'Snow Flurry', a cross between C. oleifera 'Plain Jane' X C. 'Frost Princess', opened up a few weeks ago, when we had a bit of a warm spell.

One of those blooms has not yet fully dropped its petals, so it gets to make its debut for bloom day, even though it is a few petals shy of what it once was.

I have two other camellias, and I hold out hope that at least one of them will bloom before the winter truly sets in.

Camellia japonica 'April Remembered'

This one is Camellia japonica 'April Remembered'.

I check its buds every few days because if it blooms, I don't want to miss it. Maybe I should check every day?

This has been one of the prettiest falls we've had in many years. The trees were brilliantly colored and quite spectacular as were the autumn crocus, Crocus speciosus.

Crocus speciosus, spent bloom

These crocuses are definitely well past their prime but seeing them bloom, nestled against newly fallen leaves, was one of the prettiest sights in my garden that I can remember.  I will order and plant more autumn crocus late next summer.

As we go on to see what else is blooming, don't trip over the little viola that sowed itself in between two patio pavers.

Viola, self-sown

Maybe I should sow more viola seeds in the patio?  Or not, as I think they would do nothing if I actually planted them there, much like a child turns down a parent's suggestion. Let it be their idea.

I checked on the Christmas Roses, Hellebores niger.

Helleborus niger 'Potters' Wheel'

There are some nice fat buds, but no blooms yet.

They will be blooming soon, I hope, and give me a reason to go outside occasionally to see how the garden is during the cold months.

I'll have reasons to stay indoors, too.  I have amaryllis to pot up, along with a new Scilla to force into bloom and for the third year in a row, I've ordered Lily of the Valley pips to pot up and bloom in January.

But before I head inside for good this season, I need to spend a productive day or two in the garden, preparing it, and me, for the winter ahead.

What's blooming in your garden on this 15th day of November? We'd love for you to participate in Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and show us. It's easy to participate. Just post on your blog about the blooms in your garden, then leave a comment here to tell us what you have waiting for us and put the link to your bloom day post on the Mr. Linky widget.

Then repeat after me, "We can have flowers nearly every month of the year." ~ Elizabeth Lawrence