Garden Bloom in December

It’s been so long since I’ve blogged regularly that I nearly forgot that today was Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day—hence the lateness of this post. I did, however, saunter out with camera in hand to peruse my plantings. Here is what I found.

The Salvias are just returning to bloom: Salvia microphylla “Hot Lips”…

…and S. farinacea. There are only a few flowers on each, but they all look healthy now.

Nearby, Catharanthus roseus churns out its soft lilac colored blooms. Tonight and tomorrow night will tell a tale, as temperatures are expected to drop near freezing. The tropical Catharanthus may prove an annual at that point! I hope not, as they’ve only recently become bushy.

The dianthus I’ve been enjoying is finally coming to the end of its long flowering spree and will need a more thorough deadheading soon. This is Dianthus “Floral Lace Picotee“. I’ve also planted out a six-pack of wine-colored dianthus, but they aren’t in bloom at the moment.

At the same time, my tiny Lavandula stoechas is just budding out…

…while Viola “Primrose Picotee” just keeps on flowering.

A note about the lavender: when I first planted it out, I deadheaded some old blooms that had gone to seed. On the off chance, I sprinkled the seeds around my recently planted Sternbergia bulbs, then more or less forgot about them. Today I mindlessly “weeded” out some lavender seedlings before realizing my mistake. I’m quite miffed at myself, but happy that apparently lavender will grow from seed here.

That is about all from my recent plantings. My sister has some container plants growing on our patio. Her pelargoniums are flowering happily…

…as is her pot of Calibrachoa. She’s giving both some protection tonight.

Then there are the wildflowers, which at the moment primarily means Encelia farinosa, the brittlebrush. The steep slope on the south side of the house is bright with the yellow daisies. I’m very glad they make their own planting there, as the area is nearly impossible to get to—partly from the steepness of the slope and partly from the ample stands of prickly pear!

Not a bad showing from the baby garden for joining Carol at May Dreams Gardens this December. I’m looking forward to beginning the new year in this garden.

Encelia farinosa