Saturday, December 15, 2012

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - December 2012

geranium rozanne december 2012  2951
It's hard to believe it's the middle of December already, where did the month (heck, the YEAR) go? I never expect to have anything alive, much less blooming, in December...but here in Portland, we've had another crazy-mild fall so far. At least in my neighborhood, we haven't had a freeze yet, so many plants are still hanging on. They aren't exactly the picture of beauty, for the most part, but they are green.

The things that give me the most joy, right now, are the various seedheads and grasses. As a whole, the garden is pretty scrappy, however. The best blooms, at the moment, are coming from Geranium 'Rozanne'...even while most of its foliage is flushing bright red, it keeps blooming! There are also some lingering blooms on a few stubborn plants who just refuse to give up. Agastache 'Blue Boa' is still blooming a bit, as are various Knautias. Persicaria 'Inverleith' keeps blooming, even while most of it's foliage is a pile of mush!

The good news for today is that I got my camera back...yay! Sadly, I've not be home while it's actually light out...so don't have any pictures other than the Geranium above that I snapped one day last week when I ran home for lunch.

As I look out my office window right now, I see a flock of Goldfinches is happily perched in a patch of Agastache 'Golden Jubilee', gorging themselves on the bounty of seeds they provide. It's nice to see the garden providing food for wildlife, even during it's downtime.

For more Flowery Goodness, head over to May Dreams Gardens!

23 comments:

  1. I'd rather watch out my window at the wildlife any day than the television Scott. We've had a much colder end to the year compared to last year though Rozanne was still flowering up until 2 weeks ago in my garden.

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    1. It's really rewarding to see the wildlife enjoying the garden, isn't it, Rosie...so glad your 'Rozanne' is a trooper too!

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  2. Yay for returning cameras! That took a long time. I read there was a possibility of snow this morning as low as 500ft in the Metro area. Crazy! None here, how about you?

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    1. OMG...for real...I was starting to go a little crazy! I saw that...but, sadly, looks like we're not getting any snow this time in my 'hood...what about you???

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  3. Hi Scott,

    Lovely photo and I'm very jealous to see you still have blooms. We've had plenty of hard frosts earlier this week which have thankfully now gone but it put an end to pretty much everything except the Erysimum (but then that never seems to stop!).
    I spotted my first Hellebore bloom developing today so blooms are on their way!

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    1. Hahaha...omg...you are so right about Erysimum...does it EVER stop blooming? Mine used to always look kind of sad...but I moved them to a spot where they never get watered, and they are SOOOO much happier now!

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  4. Agastache are great for goldfinches. I like your 'Rozanne' - I haven't had much luck with that variety.

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    1. They really do love Agastache...especially 'Golden Jubilee'...which must have bigger/more rewarding seeds or something! So sad you haven't had luck with 'Rozanne'...she's such a great performer for me here...

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  5. I'm happy for you that you got your camera back! It's difficult to be the light master when you don't have a camera. Also hard when you're never home when it's light outside. Spring is coming.

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    1. Ha...that's for sure! It's really the only thing about winter that has always bummed me out...getting out or work in the dark...meh.

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  6. Hi Scott, when i see you only have 1 posted photo i immediately thought your camera is not yet okay. Then good to hear you will be shooting again, photos that we love! That lone photo is lovely too, i am so biased to blues! Merry Christmas!

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    1. Me too, Andrea...I can hardly get enough blue & purple in the garden!

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  7. Congrats! Hooray for new pictures.

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    1. I know, right! I need to come home at lunch once in a while to get some pics...the weekends are always so hectic anymore.

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  8. The beautiful 'Rozanne' certainly deserves her reputation of being a 'good doer'. We've had some bitterly cold weather on this side of the pond so it's most definitely winter :)

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    1. She definitely does...she gets straight A's in my book! Sorry about the bitter cold...that's not much fun :-(

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  9. I begin to understand your fondness for Rozanne. It is indeed good news for all of us that you are finally reunited with your camera. Happy Holidays!

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    1. Thanks, Ricki! Yes...she's a great performer...and she does it all without any fussing from me...which is a bonus :-)

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  10. Good deal on the camera...Rozanne looks lovely! It won't be long at all till the days start getting longer...almost there!

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    1. Thanks, Leslie! You're totally right, starting this weekend, as a matter of fact!

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  11. I really enjoy your blog, in particular the photos - crisp, beautifully composed, and the color is spot on. Although I know the photographer controls the quality of the photo and I couldn't possibly wield a camera with your skill, I am in the market for a new camera and would love to know a bit more about yours, since yours seems to have really great color balance for capturing plants. Glad it's back in your hands.

    Thanks for taking the time to post!
    Babs

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