It's Almost Over

Can you believe 2018 is almost over? The years just seem to fly by, don't they? We had some 28-30ish degree nights a week or so ago but now we're back to normal. In fact, just now, as I write this, I saw a honeybee outside. Nature is so resilient. 

So here's what's blooming:

The first blossom on this Camellia. Isn't is gorgeous?

Camellia sasanqua 'Shishi-Gashira'

I have this Rhodochiton under cover and it's still got a few blooms. I hope to overwinter it.

Rhodochiton astrosa 'Purple Bells'

There are still a few flowers on this Mimulus. It looks cute with the variegated Ficus, doesn't it? Both are in pots.

Mimulus x aurantiacus 'Cherry' and Ficus pumila 'Variegata'

This fragrant pelargonium is still blooming too. 

Pelargonium 'Filbert'

 More blossoms and buds on the Correa!

Correa 'Dusky Bells'

And this one too:

Correa 'Ivory Bells'

A few, rather tattered flowers on my Abutilon:

Abutilon cv.

In the front of the house by my main door, I have a large container with year round interest. The Viburnum tinus is so happy.

Viburnum tinus pink buds!

Viburnum tinus pink buds turning white before they open to white flowers.

Viburnum tinus

Speaking of Viburnum, 'Pink Dawn' is also happily doing its winter thing:

Viburnum bodnantense 'Pink Dawn'

The few common Primula that I have are all starting to bloom. This one has been in the ground for several years. Not my favorite color but hey, this time of year, all flowers are welcome.

Primula japonica

I was pleased as punch to see the first blossoms on my Chimonanthus. Check out all those buds! The fragrance is UH MAZE ING!

Chimonanthus praecox

Still more blooms on this Clematis:

Clematis cirrhosa 'Freckles'

 And this Clematis is just finishing with a few more blossoms opening:

Clematis florida 'Sieboldi'

Still blooming is this Lewisia with more buds popping up:

Lewisia cotyledon 'Elise'

Nandina--such a common plant during the summer but look how it shines in the winter!

Nandina domestica 'Moyer's Red'

The dwarf Nandina planted by my patio pond, even without the berries is equally vibrant this time of year.

Nandina domestica 'Wood's Dwarf'

The Sarcococca isn't quite there yet but it's still early. Come January it will be alive with blossoms.

Sarcococca ruscifolia

And also full of promise are the Daphne: 

Daphne odora 'Marianni'

And the green-leaf Daphne is even closer to blooming:

Daphne odora

 She's going to be beautiful!

Daphne odora

Here are some wide shots of my garden. Be warned, it looks pretty sad these days. I'm behind on mulching and I don't cut back most of my perennials until spring.

The patio pond

Don't you love the "winter interest" here? Not so much. The banana-leaf monster is here again!

But I will focus on the green. Here are a few leafy lovelies:

Windmill Palm grows much slower in a pot. This ones been here for ten years.

Windmill Palm -- Trachycarpus fortunei

Umbrella Pine -- Sciadopitys verticillata with a variegated Boxwood

And finally, here is a little hardy cactus I bought a few years ago from plant lady Trina Studebaker.

It's getting bigger. I am hoping it will flower someday. But for now I'm just glad I've been able to keep it alive.  

Opuntia

I hope there are bits of joy in your garden too!

Breaking Dormancy

This year it seems as if plants are hesitant to do much more than break dormancy. I blame it on the cool nights. Last night the temperature was down to 33 again and the same is predicted for tonight. There is life but plants are waking up with a yawn and a stretch and a touch to the snooze alarm.

Here are some photos. Check out the vibrant, cherry-red Rhubarb leaves! Each of the three photos were taken a few days apart.

Ornamental Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum var. tanguticum)

Ornamental Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum var. tanguticum)

Ornamental Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum var. tanguticum)

Earlier, I thought my 'Morello Cherry' Lupine was dead. Then I saw leaves. It's alive!

Lupinus polyphyllus 'Morello Cherry'

I love this fuzzy-leaved dwarf willow.

Salix nakamurana var. yezoalpina

Salix nakamurana var. yezoalpina

My Podphyllums are opening and looking fabulous. Apparently they like cooler weather.

Podophyllum pleianthum

Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty'

Last fall I crafted a "fern table" with mostly objects and plants I had on hand. You can read about it here. Well, it survived the winter and doesn't look too worse for the wear.

Fern table now

Fern table last fall

Interestingly, the red Sempervivums on the right of this container were not always so. Some of them change color with the cooler temps.

Sempervivums now.

Sempervivums last fall

Here are some wide shots of the garden, such as it is.

Bergenia in flower

I took out the Boxwood at the left, bottom of the photo.

The patio area

I love these Saxifrages. (Saxifraga x urbium 'Aureopunctata')

This is my still-dormant Butterfly Weed (Asclepias speciosa) area.

Here it is from the other side. My son got me the rusty bed frame. Nice, huh?

I've still got a bunch of river rock to distribute. So many projects.

More projects.

Clematis macropetala 'Markham's Pink' getting ready to pop.

The HUGE Camellia bush in the front yard by the neighbor's property.

Pretty spring color.

More pretty spring color, flowering current -- Ribes sanguineum 'Pulsborough Scarlet'

Ribes sanguineum 'Pulsborough Scarlet'

Ribes sanguineum 'Pulsborough Scarlet'

Ribes sanguineum 'Pulsborough Scarlet'

Muscari madness

The grass widow (Olsynium douglasii) is almost finished blooming and producing seeds.

While the native Shooting Star (Dodecatheon sp) is coming up.

I'm a little worried about this new Clematis I purchased from Joy Creek Nursery last summer. I'm still waiting with crossed fingers that it will show some signs of life.

Clematis montana 'Marjorie'

Finally, do you ever plant something and wonder what the heck it is? I apparently planted this guy last fall and now I'm completely perplexed as to its identity. Any ideas? 

Mystery plant! Do you know what I am?

Thank you for visiting!