Bloom Day - December 2015

December in coastal Southern California is generally a lot warmer than elsewhere in the US but this year despite the Northeast getting record enjoying record warm temperatures, we're experiencing a significant chill.  Nighttime temperatures have dipped into the upper 30sF (4C) and yesterday's daytime high was 57F (14C).  Despite the chilly conditions, there are quite a few plants with flowers this Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, although relatively few plants with masses of blooms.  There are a few exceptions:

Arbutus 'Marina' has blooms most of the year but seems to be particularly floriferous this time of year

Bauhinia x blakeana appears to be at its peak

A hedge of Camellia sasanqua (noID) runs along half one side of the house

All my Gomphrena decumbens 'Itsy Bitsy' are blooming but this one is practically exploding with tiny flowers

Pennisetum advena 'Rubrum' is a stalwart performer from late summer through winter here

While the Tagetes lemmonii I planted in full sun perished during the hot spells we got throughout the fall, this shrub planted in partial shade has proved to be strong bloomer

There are also a few genera that are producing flowers in spots throughout the garden, most notably:

The Gazania have returned with new blooms since the heat abated.  Gazania 'New Day Yellow' is on the far left.  The other photos show Gazania from the 'Flame' series.

The larger-flowered Grevillea are also blooming.  From left to right, they are G. 'Ned Kelly', G. 'Peaches & Cream', and G. Superb'.

I'm also pleased that my Thanksgiving cactus has bloomed at last:

I'm wondering if Schlumbergera truncata bloomed late this year due to the persistence of high temperatures here

And here are a few collages showing the bits and pieces in bloom here and there:

Pink flowers include, top row: Arctotis 'Pink Sugar', Argyranthemum frutescens 'Angelic Pink' and Correa pulchellum 'Pink Eyre'
Middle row: Eustoma grandiflora 'Echo Pink', Leptospermum scoparium 'Pink Pearl' and Leucadendron 'Blush'
Bottom row: Osteospermum, Pelargonium peltatum and Rosa 'California Dreamin'

Blue & purple blooms include, top row: Barleria obtusa, Duranta erecta 'Sapphire Showers' and Erigeron glaucus 'Wayne Roderick'
Middle row: Hypoestes aristata (on its last legs), Lavandula multifida and L. angustifolia 'SuperBlue'
Bottom row: Salvia chamaedryoides, S. c. 'Marine Blue' and Solanum xanti

White flowers incude, clockwise from the left: Leucanthemum x superbum, Argyranthemum frutescens 'Madeira White', Correa 'Ivory Bells', Lantana 'Lucky White' and Pelargonium 'Vectis Glitter'

Yellow flowers include, clockwise from upper left: Achillea 'Moonshine', Eustoma grandiflora 'Borealis Yellow', Gaillardia aristata 'Gallo Peach' and Leucadendron 'Pisa'

Orange flowers include, clockwise from upper left: Aloe 'Johnson's Hybrid', Nandina domestica berries, Papaver nudicaule, and Rosa 'Joseph's Coat'

That's my Bloom Day round-up.  Thanks as always to Carol at May Dreams Gardens, the esteemed host of Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.  Visit her site to find what's happening in her garden and other gardens around the world.


All material © 2012-2015 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

Bloom Day - December 2013

With much of the nation hunkered down under sheets of ice and snow, I can't whine about the limited supply of blooms here in my part of southern California.   In September, following a heat wave, I complained that finding blooms suitable to include in the Bloom Day post amounted to a scavenger hunt.  Finding blooms in my December garden presented something of the same challenge.

Much of what is blooming seems to be pink, with the biggest masses of color represented by Camellia sasanqua, Correa pulchella 'Pink Eyre, Pelargonium peltatum 'Pink Blizzard' and Schlumbergera x buckleyi.

Camellia sasanqua (no ID) with blooms somewhat worn by the recent rains

There are masses of bloom on this Correa pulchella 'Pink Eyre" but you have to get close to the flowers to fully appreciate them

Close-up of flowers on Correa pulchella 'Pink Eyre'

Pelargonium peltatum 'Pink Blizzard' is still churning our flowers in both pots by the front door

Schlumbergera x buckleyii on the side patio

Grevillea lanigera 'Mount Tamboritha' has bloomed continuously since it was planted in early January

Some other pink-flowering plants are just entering another bloom cycle:

Argyranthemum frutescens 'Comet Pink'

Camellia japonica 'Taylor's Perfection' will be blooming soon

Cuphea x ignea 'Starfire Pink' is coming back after the hard pruning it received in October

Coleonema pulchrum 'Sunset Gold'

The tiny blooms on Greveillea lavandulacea 'Penola' are just beginning to open en masse

Leptospermum scoparium 'Pink Pearl' is finally putting out more than a few sporadic flowers

Others are well past their prime:

Celosia argentea var. spicata is more tawny than pink now but I still hesitate to pull it out

These should be Lisianthus 'Echo Pink's' last blooms

Pentas lanceolata 'Kaleidoscope Appleblossom' has proven to be hardier than other varieties in my garden

There are some orange and yellow bloomers too.

Grevillea 'Superb' with Nandina domestica

Anigozanthos hybrid (Kangeroo Paws) with Papaver nudicaule (Iceland poppy)

A late-blooming 'Joseph's Coat' rose hanging over our truck's front bumper

Tagetes lemmonii (dwarf form)

And there are a few white and purple blooms here and there.

Argyranthemum frutescens 'Comet White'

Gomphrena 'Itsy Bitsy'

Hebe 'Patty's Purple' (photo-bombed by Geranium 'Tiny Monster')

Lavandula multifida (fern-leaf lavender)

My garden workhorse, Osteospermum ecklonis '3D Silver'

Osteospermum 'Serenity Purple'

Pansies

Westringia fruticosa 'Naringa' in the vegetable garden

Perhaps the biggest story this December is that my favorite citrus fruit is ripening fast.

Washington navel oranges

Mandarin orange (no ID), fruiting earlier this year

The pink-fleshed guava is also coming along but I leave that to the squirrels as I have yet to develop a taste for it.

Guava 'Mexican Beaumont'

Yes, I'm lucky.  Please visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens, the host of the monthly Garden Blogger's Bloom Day event to find what's blooming in her garden and other gardens around the world.