It's the 15th of the month, and time for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. It's also Wordless Wednesday, and I welcome readers of both features to today's post.
Like much of the Northeast, we've had unseasonably mild weather. Yesterday and Monday it was sunny and near 50. I think Nature has swapped our weather for someone else's and we are going to pay dearly for this soon. Saturday, our high was 60, although it came with high winds - the remnants of the horrific storms that hit Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Illinois on Friday night. My heart goes out to all those who suffered loss of homes, injuries, or worse.
Despite all that, it is still December in my zone 5b Southern Tier of New York, and outdoor flowers are almost nonexistent.
I found a couple of violas blooming in a basket I've kept outdoors. It's gotten down to 24 F (-4 C) so these, fortunately, are hardy. I also have buds on my early blooming Lenten Rose, buried under leaves.
Indoors, an amaryllis bulb I purchased already forced is getting ready to bloom.
Some impatiens I took a cutting of from my outdoor garden in late October is potted and blooming.
I bought this Calandiva (a relative of the kalanchoe) at a nursery open house the end of November.
Another of my Thanksgiving cactii. I think I overwatered this one. It's several years old and is ailing but it gave its all producing this one bloom. This photo is from last week; I just wanted to show it to you.
Speaking of kalanchoe, my two kalanchoe, after having been on strike the last couple of years, have decided to bloom. They are still in bud. These plants are several years old. I took cuttings this year and replanted in new soil.
I am one of those soft hearted people who can't let plants just die. These poinsettias are from last Christmas. I had them outdoors in a large pot, and we brought them in before frost. They don't seem to be that happy (losing a lot of leaves from the bottom) but they are trying to color up. You can't see the tiny, tiny flowers trying to corm in the center of the reddish brachts.
And that's just about does it for December.
Thanking Carol at May Dreams Gardens for hosting Garden Bloggers Bloom Day each 15th of the month.
Also joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday
...it nice that you can still find blooms.
ReplyDeleteOh, I needed this pretty today, thank you!
ReplyDeleteCarol C
I can't wait to see that amaryllis bloom
ReplyDeleteLove all of these. Already have some, now I need the others.
ReplyDeleteLove all the blooms and flowers. I never could keep a poinsettia alive. I tried every single year too. My sister thought I could do it so she brought me one every Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Wordless Wednesday. ♥
Nice photos and lovely colours too very pretty :-)
ReplyDeleteHave a bloomingtastic week 👍
Such lovely December blooms.
ReplyDeleteThese winter blooms are so precious, aren't they? I think I appreciate them even more because they're rare.
ReplyDeleteBlooms in December. Is there anything more encouraging?!
ReplyDeleteI love your photos with flowers. I would like to have more space at home for them. I have a lot in the balcony, but I still do not know where to put them inside!
ReplyDeleteHappy WW and a fine week!
Only you would manage to find beautiful flowers in December!
ReplyDeleteThose are lovely flowers. I can never keep poinsettias alive.
ReplyDeleteLove the Cacti! I have Amaryllis and paperwhites blooming right now in my kitchen. Keeps the winter blues at bay!
ReplyDeleteOur Christmas Cactus is blooming like crazee! I'll post a photo tomorrow! Cheers!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Love the Thanksgiving Cacti
ReplyDeleteI just bought an amaryllis bulb, too, hoping for blooms in January.
Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!
Nice you keep the poinsettias! And what a wonderful touch you have keeping them alive past January. I don't bother with them, too cold for outside, and I don't want them indoors. I have to stop myself over-watering my houseplants!
ReplyDeletePretty good collection for December.
ReplyDelete