Welcome to Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day for December 2018.
Here in my USDA Hardiness Zone 6a garden in central Indiana, we’ve had some winter already, including a few light snowfalls.
The garden is mostly dormant but I am seeing a few blooms on the Christmas Rose, Helleborus niger.
That completes my list of blooms for bloom day!
Short and sweet, much like these last few days before the winter solstice. The days are short and often we don’t see the sun. It remains hidden behind the clouds.
The other day, though, it was nice enough for me to venture out and mow the lawn to mulch up the last of the leaves. I’m glad that’s done now. That means all that’s left to do this winter, gardening-wise, is catch up on reading gardening books and browsing through seed catalogs!
And tend to the houseplants.
Indoors, I potted up some amaryllis and paperwhite bulbs in the same container, just to see how it might look.
My guess is the paperwhites will bloom well before the amaryllis bulbs bloom, which is fine with me. It will just prolong the joy I get from seeing something in bloom in the wintertime!
What’s blooming in your garden on this fine December day? We’d love to have you join in for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day and show us. It’s easy to participate. Just post on your blog about what’s blooming in your garden, then leave a link to your post in the Mr. Linky widget and a comment to let us know what you have to show us.
And always remember…
“We can have flowers nearly every month of the year.” ~ Elizabeth Lawrence
Happy Bloom Day Carol! With temperatures dropping I’m glad you were able to get your leaves all mulched up. The garden here on Long Island is also asleep for winter and there aren’t any blooms except for some dried flowers. The focus now turns to evergreens outdoors and winter blooms indoors. I am going to get some Amaryllis to enjoy until the Hellebores here start getting buds. Speaking of leaves and Amaryllis, I am really enjoying your podcast. It’s nice to listen to garden talk while the weather outside is frightful!
Short and sweet is perfect for this time of year! We've had a few freezing nights in a row but there are still a few brave winter bloomers and summer hangers on.
Peach colored Christmas cactus
Happy GBBD, Carol! Winter is Southern California is a different thing. Some might say it isn't winter at all, although it is our one and only rainy season so I'm very much hoping we get some winter this year. Best wishes for a happy holiday season!
Happy GBBD, Carol. We haven't had much time or energy recently for any kind of gardening prep or cleanup, so we are coasting along. But I actually had more than you? (I can't believe it, and I'm not bragging, believe me.) Wishing you the happiest of holiday seasons, and thank you again for hosting GBBD. I've participated for so long now it's a permanent part of my life.
I really like the idea of combining paper-whites and amaryllis in the same container, brilliant! Happy Holidays Carol…
My Christmas cactus is blooming on schedule, my clivia is blooming ahead of schedule, but my paperwhites are not blooming–their buds are blasting! Wailing and gnashing of teeth in Cold Climate Land.
Happy December Bloom Day!
At least you have the prospect of blooms in the next few weeks. I didn't force bulbs or remember to by pansies, so I'm stuck with rosemary. Don't get me wrong, they blossom my favorite color!
Happy Bloggers Blooms day …We have mild winters so cant imagine what frigid climate is .But silver lining is you are able to cherish blooms indoor.
Have a great week ahead.
Hellebores are amazing aren't they? They don't seem to mind the weather whatever it is.We have a few flowers here inside and out, but not very many.
Blooming plants are sparce at our place; they're resting just like at your house. But it's a time for some indoor plants to shine. Hope your holidays sparkle!
I planted some Lenten Rose and Christmas Rose this fall. I am so excited to see them bloom!
Carol, I like your idea of combining paperwhites and amaryllis in the same pot. My amaryllis bulbs were brought out of hibernation earlier this month, but they are not doing anything yet. Happily, I have other houseplants blooming; the Maine winter thus far has been unusually cold and snowy.
Hi Carol, I don't think I ever remember a failure to find any outside flowers but such is the case this month. Thank goodness for the greenhouse.
Carol, oh my goodness, I completely forgot! My eldest son is coming home tomorrow to celebrate the holidays, and my mind has obviously been elsewhere! I would love to plant some paperwhites, too, but I have never seen them here. I used to grow them in my dorm room when I was away at college – that's how much I love them! Hope to see yours when they bloom. Karen
Snow-covered here (not even a hellebore in sight) so I posted blooms from my Nov-Dec trip to Florida, Georgia, and Virginia! Thanks for hosting.