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| Viburnum mistflower, Eupatorium viburnoides |
I was surprised this morning to see that it was already Garden Bloggers Bloom Day for December. Where does the time go?? So late this afternoon I went into the garden expecting only to find the plant above, viburnum mistflower, in bloom. But I also found a few more! Back to this plant - I love it because of its late blooms (normally in November but I think the early hard freezes delayed it a bit). It's about the only plant that I see the native pollinators on this time of year. It was swarming with them! It's lightly fragrant, woody and about 6 feet tall now, and, I think, hard to find. If you do find one, snap it up!
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| Midnight Glow pansy |
I'm not usually much of a pansy person. I think they're pretty and all, and I think they look great in containers, but they've never really done much for me when I see them in gardens. They get kind of lost sometimes. Or they're lined up like regimented soldiers. But much to my surprise I got over my aversion to petunias by planting the Wave variety, so I thought maybe there was hope for my pansy aversion. This is a very pretty pansy with big blooms, but I'm still reserving judgement on all pansies in the garden (mine at least) until spring. :-)
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| Blooming rosemary |
It's beginning to be that time of year again - time for the rosemary to bloom. Oh, I should have snapped a photo of the sweet olive, too! Such a heavenly scent, but only during the cooler months.
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| Burkwood viburnum, Viburnum x burkwoodii |
Okay, these are not blooms but they're colorful nonetheless. A few weeks ago the fall colors were brilliant around here (and elsewhere). This viburnum is about the only one left with much color. It's semi-deciduous and doesn't always put on such a pretty show in the fall/winter. Earlier in the year it was mangled by a large oak tree limb that fell on it. But it's seems to have survived just fine.
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| I need some help with this one - the name escapes me! I know some of you know what it's called so please let me know. HELP FOUND! It's pincushion flower, Scabiosa sp. Thanks everyone! |
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| Lizard Lips aloe blooms, indoors |
And now here is my teaser below.
Not a bloom either but it's exciting for me! This is the beginning of a timber and gravel set of steps from the raised beds down to the mini-deck and pergola. Stay tuned for more.
I know there are bound to be some more blooms around the world right now. To see them go to Carol's blog at May Dreams Garden!
This post was written by Jean McWeeney for my blog Dig, Grow, Compost, Blog. Copyright 2014. Please contact me for permission to copy, reproduce, scrape, etc.
Ah, to see flowers outdoors. How I hang onto GBBD during the winter months, until the day my first crocus blooms. I enjoyed all of your flowers. Alana (upstate New York).
ReplyDeleteI like your pansy 'Midnight Glow', it does glow! Your mystery plant is a Pincushion plant or Scabiosa- maybe 'Butterfly Blue'. Mine was toast way back in September or October. Hoping it comes back...there has been some subterranean activity.
ReplyDeleteYes, pincushion flower. If I don't write it down in my journal, my old brain forgets!
DeleteJanet, I found my original journal entry on scabiosa and it is indeed 'Butterfly Blue'. Good call.
DeleteLucky guess on my part! Whoooowhoo
DeleteIt's always a thrill to see flowers in the garden at this time of year. Narcissus, primrose and primula are brightening my days this month, much to my surprise. Like you I'm not a fan of pansies either but the French seem to love them if my neighbour's gardens are anything to go by.
ReplyDeleteIt's Pincushion flower (scabiosa). Enjoyed your blog!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sue!
DeleteI like the layout of your new garden!
ReplyDeleteGroetjes,
Hetty
you could try Viola cornuta instead of Pansies. The flowers are much smaller but they are perennial and will spread once established.
ReplyDeleteI also planted some Midnight Glow violas. I do tend to like violas more than pansies.
DeleteThe steps look great, can't wait to see it completed.
ReplyDeleteWho doesn't love new structure in the garden. look forward to seeing the finished product. That is a late Eupatorium. We have a similar fragrant one here but it is E. havanense. The bees certainly do love it. I found a seedling this year, in quite the wrong place but I shall attempt to remove it. I wonder how lizard lips got it's name!!
ReplyDeleteJenny, I bought the E. viburnoides at Barton Springs Nursery. In my research I've found most of the info from the Austin area. Makes me wonder. I'm not sure how lizard lips got its name. Looks pretty much like a regular Aloe vera but much smaller and the leaves are not as fat. Bought that one in Austin, too. :-)
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