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The 2024 Garden Year

January 19, 2024 January Our year started with snow, ice and frigid temperatures in mid-January. Our temperatures stayed below freezing for almost a week. I think it was the most consistent cold that we've experienced since moving here. Fortunately, it was a dry snow so there wasn't too much damage. Once again, we almost lost the azara and I'm afraid there would have been some breakage if I had not kept knocking the ice off. February 14, 2024 February In past years, it seems that inclement weather seems to hit around Michael's birthday in mid-February. After the January snow and ice, this month was actually quite tame. Nothing exciting to report - mostly birdwatching . Early flowers like hellebores, cyclamen and crocus begin to bloom in mid month. March 3, 2024 March I got into a walking routine which I'm happy to report I am continuing this year. You get to the point where you feel guilty if you miss a day. I do miss days occasionally but I'm learning that ...
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Gardener's Bloom Day for December

I almost didn't make Bloom Day today. Today's weather is a typical example of winter weather here in the South. It started out cloudy and almost warm (in the upper 50s). By the time I ran several errands and got home it was close to noon. I noted that the overcast skies would be perfect for photos so grabbed the camera and headed outside. After about 40 minutes, I noticed that the skies were looking ominous. All of a sudden, a big gust of wind came up and before I knew it, raindrops were falling. We've had a cold rainfall all afternoon and the temperatures keep falling. There is even a possibility for snow flurries overnight. How exciting!

The only blooms I could find today were roses and camellias. I did note some interesting foliage so I'll include them as well.

Camellia 'Mine-no-yuki' (aka 'Snow on the Mountain') -



A promising bud on the shrub rose 'Erfurt' -



A cluster of roses on 'Weeping China Doll' -



More pink roses, this time 'Lyric' -



And now, the foliage. This is the yucca 'Golden Sword' (complete with weeds underneath):



Here's a wonderful plant that every gardener should have. It is called Italian Arum. Some claim it is invasive but I've never had that problem. The foliage, which appears in the winter, is very striking. In spring, white flowers appear and are followed by bright orange berries. It then goes dormant during the summer.



Miscanthus -



The leaves of the Kerria are now bright yellow -



Notice the color of this maple - bright orange and yellow leaves and some are black. I've never noticed this variation before.



I thought the leaves of the hydrangea "Amethyst" were especially beautiful -



And here is another view with some Siberian Iris foliage -



Crytomeria Japonica (Japanese Cedar) -



And finally, my lichen and leaf covered bench. It looks kind of lonely doesn't it?

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  1. Carol MichelDecember 15, 2007 at 5:42 PM

    Those roses and camellia look wonderful for December. Snow flurries, you say? I hope that does mean the end of the roses!

    That Italian arum is also interesting. I love variegated foliage.

    Carol, May Dreams Gardens

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  2. AnonymousDecember 15, 2007 at 5:55 PM

    Pam @ Digging says:

    Your Weeping China Doll is my fave, and your fall/winter foliage looks beautiful too. You're right about winter in the South---warm one minute and a Blue Norther the next.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lisa at GreenbowDecember 15, 2007 at 6:01 PM

    Camellias look like old fashioned roses to me. I don't see them often since they don't grow here.

    Your Arum has varigated leaves. My arum has solid green leaves. I wonder if yours is a different variety than mine or is this a soil issue?

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  4. KC MO Garden GuyDecember 16, 2007 at 4:00 AM

    Phillip, It would be hard to find anything in my garden blooming right now. Everything has a cover of snow then ice and now another layer of snow. You garden looks wonderful. Not sure the Italian Arum would grow here but I really like it and the Japanese Ceder looks great! Thanks for sharing!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Phillip OliverDecember 16, 2007 at 7:01 AM

    Carol and Pam, I don't think snow would mean the end of the roses. It will have to get really cold to do them in.

    Lisa, not sure about the arum but I think it is the variety and not the soil.

    KC, thanks. Actually, I think the arum is quite hardy. I'll check and see. If you'd like some, I can send you some next spring.

    ReplyDelete
  6. RandyDecember 16, 2007 at 2:28 PM

    Phillip, the photos are wonderful! Flurries eh? We are way over due for a good snow in Alabama. We haven't seen any accumulation in years down here. Love the fall leaves... my kerria dropped it's leaves sometime ago, but I noticed today it's blooming again.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousDecember 17, 2007 at 9:16 AM

    Thanks so much for sharing your garden, Phillip. Your rose photos--especially the one of 'Lyric'--are exquisite! And the weathered bench is just lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  8. UnknownDecember 18, 2007 at 7:26 PM

    Great photos of the roses and I love the color in the foliage. Thanks for putting these up. Enjoyed the post.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousDecember 19, 2007 at 4:34 AM

    Hi Phillip:

    Love your photos. Italian arum looks like a winner! The bench is beckoning. A cup of grog and a camera is all it will take!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Frances,December 22, 2007 at 3:31 AM

    A little late to comment but did enjoy your pix. We'll see what January brings. I have that arum. One year I planted the mature berries it produced and have one little leaf to show for it. Not invasive here in southeast TN.

    ReplyDelete
  11. lisaDecember 28, 2007 at 2:17 PM

    THIS is what I love so much about blogging-I get to see gardeners with living, blooming plants when mine are fast asleep!

    ReplyDelete

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