It wouldn’t do to start the new year off skipping the first Bloom Day, which is technically the 15th of every month, but our host Carol (May Dreams Gardens) doesn’t seem to mind slackers.
Helleborus argutifolius, the last plant remaining, sown into the bricks against the back wall. I pulled the others in the garden to make room for new stuff. That’s me, the savage gardener. It reseeds like crazy, so there’s no danger in losing it entirely.
Subtle, jewelry-like flower buds from a climbing kalanchoe that was a gift.
The flowers’ little bells are the exact same slatey-grey color as the buds. I think it’s Kalanchoe beauverdii
Aloe capitata a couple days ago. The bloom was just about finished today
Bocconia frutescens, the Tree Poppy, keeps sending out flowers
Bloom truss from Bocconia frutescens
I just planted these osteospermum last week, a variety called ‘Zion Orange’ (the name was inspired by the colors of Zion National Park)
Phlomis lanata is getting woolly with new growth, at the same time sending out occasional flowers
Lavandula multifida is rarely without flowers
Euphorbia milii appreciated the recent rain. Planted in September 2014
Grevillea ‘Robyn Gordon’ just planted in December
Mangave bloom spike, technically no flowers yet
I’ll close it out with Kalanchoe beauverdii again, threading its way along the pipe rack/junk collector. The hanging pot was a Christmas present, temporarily filled with Pachypodium namaquanum, the “Halfmens.”
Lastly, we had the great pleasure of a visit in December by Andrew and Loree, who blogs at Danger Garden. Loree wrote a wonderfully kind account of her visit here.
So many cute little flowers!
Happy Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day!
Lea
As usual, your posts sent me searching on-line for more information. The Aloe and the Kalanchoe are wonderful. I like the Bocconia too but it’s too big for me to find a place for. Happy GBBD Denise!
Do you find that your Bocconia frutescens seeds around a bit? Mine ended up with multiple little babies in the container, which I tried to extract for friends but failed every time.
That container is just perfect for the Pachypodium namaquanum, perfect.
Still having fabulous flash-backs to our visit…
Lovely!
That is certainly an interesting Kalanchoe. I am not familiar with Grevillea, but this is the third or fourth Bloom Day post I’ve seen it on. It’s probably not hardy in zone 5, but if it were I would love to plant one–so lovely!
@Lea, it is an odd assortment! Have a great weekend.
@Kris, that kalanchoe behaves like the proverbial mother-of-thousands, so I’ll be potting up plantlets as soon as I spot some.
@Loree, I haven’t spotted any seedlings yet. Seedlings might prefer loose potting soil to my clay — we’ll see.
@Hoov, and it has been a lovely week! Clouding over supposedly next Monday.
@Rose, there are so many grevilleas making it to nurseries, practically a new one every time I go. This ‘Robyn Gordon’ is a very old cultivar widely planted in Australia.
Happy GBBD! I saw a yellow crown of thorns recently at a nursery, and was tempted, but resisted. Now I’m sorry. Yours is such a pretty soft yellow. I’ve been looking for a Pachypodium lately too. Will the Mangave die after flowering? I’ve been so glad to hear that you are continuing to get rain.
Hi Alison — I’m not sure what to expect with that mangave after it blooms. My ‘Bloodspot’ is still alive after blooming in summer. This one in the photo looks a lot like the Manfreda guttata ‘Jaguar’ that Plant Delights lists in its 2015 catalogue, which PD thinks is really a mangave. Mine was picked up w/o ID at a plant show by Dustin, who gave me an offset. (http://www.plantdelights.com/Manfreda-guttata-Jaguar-for-sale/Buy-Jaguar-Spotted-False-Agave/)
Oh my, I love that Kalanchoe. Bet it’s too tender for me 🙁
RD, I like it too even though it’s fairly low-key and not very showy. It’s hardy down to 25-30 F but thrives in a pot!
That Kalanchoe is adorable as it winds its way through… Love it! You have so many wondrous plants, and it was nice to see your kitty too.
Thank you, Anna! I like to include Evie when I can. We’re not sure of her age, but she’s at least 15. I’ll be sure to post if and when that kalanchoe has some offspring.
I love Osteospermum, especially some of the more crazy forms and colors, but they only have a short window of time here between too cold and too hot. I am surprised the Helleborus is so prolific in your climate.