In a week, the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere will come. I love the winter solstice because it means that the daylight will be increasing. Of course it means that winter has begun. Fortunately, spring comes early in this climate and there are some wonderful winter bloomers that keep us going through those months. One of my favorites is Lonicera fragrantissima or winter honeysuckle which has has started blooming a bit early this year. Oh that fragrance!
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Speaking of fragrance, Viburnum × bodnantense ‘Dawn’ smells divine and has been blooming since November.
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I haven't killed the new gardenia yet and here are the paperwhites that picked themselves up from being a bit floppy. Go figure.
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Lemon blooms. Does anyone know if these need to be pollinated with a paintbrush if they're growing inside?
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NOID Arctostaphylos
Speaking of fragrance, Viburnum × bodnantense ‘Dawn’ smells divine and has been blooming since November.
Yes, even through our freezes, Abutilon megapotamicum has continued blooming albeit a bit slower.
Mahonia × media ‘Charity’
Grevillea victoriae 'Murray Valley Queen'
In the house, the schlumbergeras (Christmas Cactus) continue to be covered with color and the new orchids are blooming while in the greenhouse there are more blooms:
Many echiverias are blooming.
I haven't killed the new gardenia yet and here are the paperwhites that picked themselves up from being a bit floppy. Go figure.
Lemon blooms. Does anyone know if these need to be pollinated with a paintbrush if they're growing inside?
Cyclamen persicum
Still going from summer are Impatiens 'Congo cockatoo,'
Brugmansias
And pelargonium.
On the fifteenth of each month, Carol at May Dreams Gardens hosts Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day to remind us that we can have flowers nearly every month of the year. To see what's blooming in gardens around the world this December, click over to Carol's blog. Thanks, Carol for once again hosting the blooming party and for being our favorite petal pusher.