Small Sunny Garden blog

Share this post
Garden Bloom in December
smallsunnygarden.substack.com

Garden Bloom in December

A. Christine Myers
Dec 16, 2021
2
5
Share this post
Garden Bloom in December
smallsunnygarden.substack.com

Viola Primrose Picotee

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”…

Saliva microphylla Hot Lips

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

Salvia farinacea

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.

Catharanthus roseus

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.

Dianthus Floral Lace Picotee

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

Lavandula stoechas

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

Viola Primrose Picotee

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…

red Pelargonium in a flower pot

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

Calibrachoa flowering in a pot

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!

Encelia farinosa on the hillside

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 farinose, brittlebrush
Encelia farinosa
5
Share this post
Garden Bloom in December
smallsunnygarden.substack.com
5 Comments

Create your profile

0 subscriptions will be displayed on your profile (edit)

Skip for now

Only paid subscribers can comment on this post

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in

Check your email

For your security, we need to re-authenticate you.

Click the link we sent to , or click here to sign in.

Diana Studer
Dec 27, 2021

Lovely sweeping fall of yellow daisies. Hope the frost was kind to your plants.

Expand full comment
ReplyCollapse
1 reply by A. Christine Myers
Cathy Lyon-Green
Dec 18, 2021

I am really enjoying seeing how your embryonic garden grows, Amy!

Expand full comment
ReplyCollapse
3 more comments…
TopNewCommunity

No posts

Ready for more?

© 2022 A. Christine Myers
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Publish on Substack Get the app
Substack is the home for great writing