'Tis the Season

One of the benefits of getting older is how quickly time seems to fly by. Here it is, the week of Christmas, 2015 already! This means January is right round the corner and spring is in the not too distant future. Anyone who knows me is aware that in my world, July is the most wonderful time of the year, not December. But, because I understand and continue my efforts to embrace the live-in-the-moment concept, here are a few December moments in my garden. 

Melianthus major, typically with a glaucus-blue look is totally green next to Eucalyptus nicholli.
Go figure.

And speaking of green, the moss growing on this leaky birdbath looks painted on but it's for real.

And speaking of "painted on" um, yeah. Fatsia japonica 'Spider's Web.'

This creeping Rosemary plant was an impulse-purchase last summer.
And skirted with the little yellow Sedum, in a vintage chicken feeder, it works! 

Lookie, a little blue blosssom!

Check out the color variability on this Hypericum androsaemum 'Glacier' 

This is the "After" photo, revealing the Semps after being liberated from a mushy
blanket of Star Magnolia foliage.

And here is the "Before" photo of this trough-ful of Sedums and Semps
waiting to breathe again.

In winter, it's the small things.

Sedum makinoi 'Ogon' looks fantastic (so far) this winter.

My hope is that growing Ice Plant (Delosperma 'Jewel of Desert Rose Quartz')
in a container will improve its chances of surviving our wet winters.

Here is a wheel barrow full of succulents. The black thing in the center is an old shoe
one of my daughters found for me.

This succulent container gets to live under the patio roof.

I love how Bergenia leaves blush in response to the chill in the air.
(A lot like us, right?)

For reasons that elude me, Golden Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium aureum)
pops up all over my garden. Very odd since I don't remember ever planting it.

Lamium peeking out from under the mess.

Parahebe perfoliata foliage always makes me smile.

Cyclamen hederifolium

And more Cyclamen

The first blossoms on my Wintersweet (Chimonathus praecox) are popping open.
Ooh the fragrance!
Unfortunately all my attempts at capturing it came out blurry so...

Here is a photo of last year's flowers to give you an idea of what's in store.

On Saturday, between episodes of pelting rain, I was able to get my patio pond cleaned out. Here is a glimpse at one of the Japanese Maple leaf piles waiting for a trip to the compost.

Zip the cat navigates his way around the mess

Now, when I look out the dining room, I see this. So much better. 

Scenes like this help me endure the dreariness of winter.

Finally, in the spirit of the season, I have two photos, taken when my daughter Beth and I

entered a thrift store a few days ago. 

For years, I've had a fascination with vintage pedal cars. When I saw this

reproduction, I had to get a photo.

Seconds later, this toddler ran over to it and knew exactly what to do.

His excitement for this shiny toy was so delightful to watch.

When I showed this photo to my daughters they told me that because I didn't get permission from the parents
to publish it, I needed to obscure the child's face or risk going to jail
for a minimum of twenty years to life.
What killjoys! 

Wishing you a safe, warm and joyful holiday.

Love to you all!

My New Favorite Summer Bulb!

All of you seasoned gardeners who are familiar with Ixia, I ask your indulgence. You newbies or seasoned diggers-in-the-dirt who are not familiar with Ixia, it's to you that I address this bit of excitement. Actually, I'm addressing anyone who'll listen. :)

Back in February when I was in the thick of flower-starvation, I ordered bulbs. My intention was to have nice little clumps of hardy species gladiolus popping up randomly throughout my borders. Well, here it is, the middle of June and those glads, although diligently planted and tended to, are a no-show. Maybe later? Who knows? 

But I was also enamored of these pretty things called Ixia. Lured by the photo on the Bulbs Direct website, I went ahead and purchased two, twenty-bulb packages of this one called 'Mabel.' When they arrived, I planted the little buggers, then forgot all about them. 

From Bulbs Direct

Within a month, little green pointy things were popping up and getting taller. Then buds... then blossoms! Here's what they look like in my garden. 

A few weeks after planting Ixia 'Mabel', I found a box of mixed colored Ixia at the Dollar Store so I grabbed them. Here is the only one that is blooming so far. 

Yellow, Dollar Store Ixia

So, now that I've seen Ixia flowers with my own eyes, I'm wondering where they've been all my life. I'm completely sold. If the reluctant hardy glads make an appearance, I'll let you know. 

Clematis! 

Clematis 'Multi-Blue'

Clematis texensis 'Pagoda'

Clematis integrifolia 'Andante' 

Clematis integrifolia 'Aljonushka' 

New to me this year: Clematis 'Haizawa'

Clematis texensis 'Princess Diana'

And my favorite: Clematis viticella 'Confetti'

Other bloomers: 

Diascia integrimmus

Buds on my Butterfly Weed (Asclepias speciosa). 

Campanula punctata 'Pink Octopus'

Campanula punctata 'Pink Bells'
My sister gave me a start of this plant last year.
Wouldn't it be fun if both Campanulas interbred and created a new, unique plant?

It happened with Monkey Flower.
 Mimulus lewisii x cardinalis 

About the only Salvia that I can successfully winter-over in my winter-wet garden...
Salvia verticillata 'Purple Rain'

I know I post too many photos of Alstroemeria 'Tri-Color' but I love it.

Borage--for the bees! (Borago officinalis) 

Parahebe perfoliata in bloom

Phlox paniculata 'Red Magic'
Maybe the "magic" is in the fact that it's purple, not red.

Sweet Peas, blooming from plants purchased in April.

Potentilla fruticosa 'Pink Beauty'

Pleiboblastis sp. (Dwarf Bamboo) ... purchased during the fall plant sales, has made a
complete recovery.

What to grow where nothing grows...

Lamium 'Anne Greenaway' love it!

The Banana (Musa basjoo) is happy

Look who has been visiting the garden for the past several days:

I think she's got a thing for these Mock Orange flowers.
(Philadelphus 'Belle Etoile')

Zip with one of his pots of kitty-pot! 

A few days ago, while I had my camera handy we had a cool fly-over--seven helicopters, in perfect formation. I wasn't sure if my photos would turn out but they did!  

And finally, there is a song sparrow that has made its nest in the neighbor's bramble. In the evenings, s/he likes to sit right here and sing. It's adorable.

Isn't life grand?