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!

I'm So Excited!

I really am. I love this time of year. Yesterday the weather was perfect for puttering. I spent the entire afternoon moving existing plants around to make room for new plants waiting on my patio, all the while discovering new growth popping up here and there while listening to the birds twittering. Pure bliss!

Today it's raining. Perfect for watering everything in.

And now,  a few photos.

I bought this wildflower, Grass Widow, last year. I planted it in a pot and look at it now! I'm so pleased.

Olsynium douglasii or Grass Widow

Generally I'm not a fan of yellow flowers but these early Cowslips (Primula) make me happy.

Primula veris

The fragrance wafting from the Star Magnolia blossoms was really pleasant.

Blurry photo of Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star' blossom and buds.

My very first spring-blooming Clematis is almost ready.

Clematis macropetala 'Markam's Pink' buds!

A volunteer lungwort, Pulmonaria 'Reginald Kaye'

The first tiny red flower bud on Ribes speciosa. I am so excited!

More bulbs to plant. Thank you Costco!

Helleborus foetidus bloom with Nandina foliage color echo.

I never noticed the unique yellow coloring on this red-barked Cornus. Pretty cool, isn't it?

Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire'

I hope spring is happening in your neck of the woods. Any surprises to report?

A Bunch of Random Photos

We had a stretch of nice weather--two or three days I think--and now we're back to rain. The sunshine and warmth were as good for the garden as they were for the gardener. Plants everywhere are saying, "Hello, world!"

Here is a random sampling.

I bought this native Penstemon at a Master Gardener sale last year. This is the first time it's flowered and I am so impressed. I expected this plant to be persnickety but it settled right in. 

Penstemon rupicola

Penstemon rupicola

Penstemon rupicola

The pathway

I've got to get rid of those silly concrete blocks and plant something beefy and leafy here. Any suggestions?

I was worried about my Rodgersias not coming back but that was just me worrying. Now it's the Cannas. And the Dahlias...

Rodgersia sp.

The Saxifragas are abloom and looking all frothy and romantic.

Saxifraga x geum 'Dentata'

More random rock garden plants. The little Iris-looking leaves are Candy Lilies (x Pardananda 'Sangria'). I allowed the mother plant to go to seed and now I've got lots of them! 

Armeria maritima rubifolia is just starting to bloom.

Lychnis viscaria is a reliable, no fuss, evergreen, spring-bloomer. 

Lychnis viscaria

Euphorbia griffithii 'Fireglow'

Euphorbia 'Fireglow' and Geum 'Flames of Passion'

My first rose:

Rosa mutabilis

My first large-flowered Clematis:

Clematis 'Asao'

My first Fuchsia. This variety (I can't remember the name) has really tiny flowers. Not as tiny as F. 'Isis' but close. If you compare the blossom with the leaves, it will give you an idea of how small and cute it is.

Fuchsia sp.

Fuchsia sp.

My Lewisia decided to bloom this year.

Lewisia cotyledon

And my variegated honeysuckle is abloom.

Variegated Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum 'Harlequin')

This is a newbie this year. It's called a hardy Dwarf Snapdragon, (Chaenorrhinum origanifolium 'Summer Skies'). I am hoping they're right about the (winter) hardy part.  

Chaenorrhinum origanifolium 'Summer Skies'

I planted it in this metal box, for now.

In one of my woodland borders, the Primula sieboldii 'Late Snow' is starting to get elbowed by its neighbors.

Primula sieboldii 'Late Snow'

Spiraea x vanhouttei 'Pink Ice'

I always think of my gardening friend Nancy when the Montia are blooming. Don't you love pass-along plants?

Montia parvifloria var. flagellaris

Montia parvifloria var. flagellaris

Persicaria 'Purple Majesty' is looking very majestic this year.

Weigela florida 'Variegata'

This Cuphea jumped into my cart the other day. I love the blossom colors.

Cuphea Vienco 'Red Purple'

Cuphea Vienco 'Red Purple'

The tag says it's  Zone 8 so I'm going to try and winter it over in my newly constructed heated plant  winter-over area. 

Geranium 'Orion' is about to bloom.

 After three years and several moves, I finally found the right place for my ornamental rhubarb. Don't you just love the burgundy undersides of these leaves?

Ornamental Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum var. tanguiticum)

 The rain has been good for this Impatiens.

Impatiens omeiana 'Silver Pink'

Also the Podophyllum...

Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty'

The new leaves on this maple are fabulous.

Acer pseudoplatanus 'Esk Sunset'

And these new leaves aren't too shabby either.

Hart's Tongue Fern or Asplenium scolopendrium 

Thanks to extremely good drainage, my pink-flowering California Fuchsia survived the winter! It's not huge, but it's alive!

Zauschneria or Epilobium canum 

Finally, this little guy must have slept through the lesson on camouflage. He's so adorable, all tucked in to Britt-Marie Crawford's burgundy leaves. 

Thanks for visiting my little world.