I may miss these reports throughout the year, but no way I’m going to skip the inaugural Bloom Day of 2021!
Lachenalia aloides var. quadricolor from the Winter Wonder Bulbs selection of “Huntington Bundles” came with a flower bud!
blooms on Echeveria agavoides
my old standby winter-blooming Pelargonium echinatum
Acacia podalyrifolia has been engulfed in bloom for well over a month and still stops sidewalk foot traffic
Potted up in December, it’s been much easier to keep calendula happy in winter than cosmos in summer, as in no trouble at all. Pure joy. I need to make this a winter habit. Nice long cuttable stems on ‘Touch of Red’ too.
I heard/read a rumor that Helichrysum bracteatum wouldn’t mind growing through a zone 10 winter, and that has indeed been borne out as I watched these strawflowers make size instead of hunkering down and waiting for spring. Unsure whether this would be true in a rainier winter — we’ve been very dry so far. (aka Xerochrysum bracteatum)
Fuchsia ‘Firecracker’ is stirring into bloom with the cooler winter temps (as is an abutilon I neglected to photograph)
The plan to termite-tent the house was shelved, so the vine clambering up the side of the office/garage, Senecio confusus, got a reprieve. I’m pretty sure the roots have escaped the pot and infiltrated through the dry-laid brick.
Aloe ‘Tangerine’ still tightly in bud as are other aloes not included this Bloom Day
Also still tightly in bud is the over 10-foot tall flower spike on Agave pygmaea ‘Dragon Toes’ — uncertain whether flowers will be open in February or whether this very unpygmy-like spike soars even further skyward…
If you’re looking for something to stream to get through this next week, I just finished and can recommend Pretend It’s A City — possibly because I’m a native, suburb-bred Angelino, I’ve always been a big city girl in spirit, which is why I found Martin Scorsese’s conversations with Fran Lebovitz so enjoyable as they rambled around New York. No one does contrarian/curmudgeon like Fran, our modern-day Oscar Wilde in jeans. And who knew anyone could talk faster than Scorsese?! Hoping you have a fabulous weekend…
I adore that Pelargonium, which I’ve only seen in your garden. The Acacia is impressive and I envy you the Lachenalia. I’ve been looking for the latter for years and finally scouted a mail order nursery but they don’t ship until late summer – I’ve marked my calendar.
Our temperature just hit 88F. I hope yours is lower. Enjoy your weekend, Denise!
I adore that Pelargonium, which I’ve only seen in your garden. The Acacia is impressive and I envy you the Lachenalia. I’ve been looking for the latter for years and finally scouted a mail order nursery but they don’t ship until late summer – I’ve marked my calendar.
Our temperature just hit 88F. I hope yours is lower. Enjoy your weekend, Denise!
Calendula sounds like a great winter habit. Hope to take it up myself. None of the seeds planted in October sprouted, unfortunately. Next year.
Nothing like enjoying flowers in winter. I have ordered a couple of Lachenalia so interesting to see yours. Looking forward to it’s blooms.