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Anise 'Woodland Red' ( Illicium floridanum ) A few weeks ago, I thought spring would never arrive, but now the change is astonishing. The nights are still cold (40s and sometimes even 30s) so planting tender annuals and vegetables is unwise although I have already succumbed, but covering and uncovering things gets old quickly. Someone made a wise comment last week and I must agree with them - "Don't plant anything tender until after May 1". Several plants are blooming like never before. One is the Anise shrub (above and below). I don't know if the recent tree pruning, which is allowing more sun into the woodland path, is affecting it or perhaps it is just age, but I've never seen so many blooms. Michael refers to this as "the stinky fish shrub" and I have to admit to smell of the flowers is quite unpleasant. It is so beautiful that I can overlook that. The old pink dogwood tree, which was already here, shades our woodland path and it too is prett
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Winter beauties

Greetings on this first day of winter! Today is stormy and wet after a rather mild day yesterday. I took a few photos in the garden. There is great beauty to behold in the winter garden if you just look for it. And even some flowers! 

Camellia "Mine No Yuki" (Snow on the Mountain) - Do you see the ladybug?
 
Camellia 'Debutante'







The camellias are expected but I was surprised to see this Creeping Bellflower
(Campanula rapunculoides) blooming. Very odd!
Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. UnknownDecember 22, 2011 at 1:22 PM

    Now that is much appreciated. Fantastic pics and wish I had even one bloom still here. Thank you for sharing!!

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  2. FairegardenDecember 22, 2011 at 2:44 PM

    Beautiful flowers and gorgeous captures, Phillip! I did see the little ladybug. The weather has been bizarre.

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  3. scottweberpdxDecember 22, 2011 at 2:52 PM

    What a great surprise...especially that Campanula!

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  4. LarryDecember 22, 2011 at 2:55 PM

    How I wish we could grow camelias... exquisite... Larry

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  5. AnonymousDecember 22, 2011 at 3:19 PM

    I need to go and check my camelias. I haven't walked around and checked thing out since knee surgery. I did go into the greenhouse to water the shrubs I bought on close out and the field mice are chewing the limbs off. I gave the something else to eat and put another one down a couple of days later as the first one was eaten. I need to get rid of them before spring. Two years ago they ate the seeds that I was starting out of the containers and I'm not having that occur again next spring.

    Have a Merry Christmas Phillip and Michael.

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  6. GailDecember 22, 2011 at 3:23 PM

    happy Christmas Phillip and Michael, I hope the season is filled with goodness for you both, gail PS pretty flowers.

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  7. Anne BoykinDecember 22, 2011 at 6:01 PM

    Happy Holidays! Thanks for your great gardening posts, always enjoy them. Anne

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  8. CarolDecember 23, 2011 at 9:52 AM

    Merry Christmas Phillip! Lovely to see your beautiful blooms! Sigh!
    Peace.
    Carol

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  9. LesDecember 23, 2011 at 7:15 PM

    Our Camellias are look good here also. I hope they don't all pop open too soon though. Merry Christmas to you both.

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  10. DavidDecember 23, 2011 at 8:05 PM

    Wishing you and Michael a "Very Merry Christmas" and a "Happy New Year".

    Cynthia & David

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  11. sweetbayDecember 23, 2011 at 9:04 PM

    Those Bellflowers are exquisite. Exquisite image of the pink camellia too. Just lovely.

    Merry Christmas!

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  12. ConnorDecember 24, 2011 at 7:11 AM

    So lucky! I would do anything to be able to grow Camellia here! When i lived in ATL we had so many. Nothing in Nashville winter blooms!
    Great photos as usual!

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  13. DDecember 24, 2011 at 11:11 AM

    Beautiful blossoms still! Merry Christmas to you and your family, Phillip. May 2012 be kind to us all and bring continued well-being.

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  14. Gardener on Sherlock StreetDecember 24, 2011 at 2:59 PM

    Flowers on the first day of winter. What a wonderful find!

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  15. Becca's DirtDecember 24, 2011 at 7:01 PM

    Merry Christmas Phillip.

    ReplyDelete

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