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The Garden Awakens

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

December bouquet

Another extremely mild weekend with temperatures in the 70s. A change is on the way though with rain coming tomorrow and much colder winter-like temperatures. We need the rain. It has been very dry lately.

I noticed there were lots of roses and camellias blooming right now and picked some yesterday.

In the bouquet are roses "Mrs. B.R. Cant", "Knockout" and "Mrs. Dudley Cross". The camellias are "Pink Icicle" and "Debutante".

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. That is a beautiful bouquet. Enjoy them. I agree with you on the need of rain. We are below freezing today. Cold front rolled through this morning. Have a nice week.

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  2. What a sight for these color starved eyes. Beautiful. It is warmer than usual here but not as warm as your area. We need rain too. Good luck.

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  3. I'd happily give you some of our rain! Beautiful boquet from a magical time in your garden - roses and camellias blooming atthe same time. Sweet.

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  4. What a treat - roses in December! They are beautiful.

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  5. Gorgeous! Roses and camellias are my two favorites, and it's so wonderful when they bloom together! I hope you get some much-needed rain.

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  6. Just beautiufl Phillip! I'm getting a Debutante. I don't know where it's going, but I'm getting one. LOL My neighbor has two huge ones!

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  7. Zowie! I was hoping there'd be roses and camellias when I came to visit. How did your grocery shopping trip go btw. I saw you were excited about the new store on FB.~~Dee

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  8. Hi Phillip, what a beautiful bouquet! I think it is so wonderful that you are able to pick a bouquet like this from your garden at this time of the year. It beats the store bought florist bouquets any time. My favorite blooms from this little plonk are the Mrs. B. R. Cant rose and the Debutante Camellia. Thanks for sharing!
    Christina

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  9. Those are delicious roses! We've had very cold weather there's nothing left blooming.

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  10. I'm using up the last of my tomatoes I picked before the killing freeze. It'll be officially winter when my last one is gone.

    The camellia and roses have been a beautiful sight around the Shoals this year.

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  11. How wonderful it must be to still have roses in bloom. Although we are having a mild December, we've had a few hard frosts, so no roses for me. But there are still pansies around, so I can't complain. I wish camellias bloomed up here!

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