The host of this monthly meme,
Carol of May Dreams Gardens, likes to remind us of this quote from gardener and garden writer, Elizabeth Lawrence: "We can have flowers nearly every month of the year."
That's true enough but the pickings do get a little slim around this time of year. Most of what I have to show you this month are some pots of pansies and violas scattered around my patio. But in mid-December I'll settle for that for I do love pansies and violas.
In addition to the pansies and violas, the firespike (
Odontonema cuspidatum) has been in bloom for about a month and continues to offer a bit of bright color in our gray December.
Likewise, these happy little gerberas are real day-brighteners. (Excuse all the pine straw in the picture. When the wind blows from the north as it has this week, my neighbor's pine trees spread their bounty all over my yard.)
More gerberas - and pine straw.
And still more gerberas.
The Turk's caps are still in bloom as well.
And the blue plumbago still has a few blossoms, although it will soon go to sleep for the winter.
A few of the lower buds on the Cape honeysuckle survived the light freeze and frost which we had just before last Bloom Day and they are now in bloom.
The jatropha is a tender perennial that dies back to the ground each winter, but this one lives on the south side of the house in a protected spot and it escaped the frost and continues to send out flowers like these.
Thank you for visiting my zone 9a garden in Southeast Texas this month. Although the blooms are sparse, each one is treasured.
Happy Bloom Day!
Very pretty! I used to grow Pansies in the Winter - such hardy little plants - but then the deer discovered them!
ReplyDeleteLove the Gerbera Daisies!
Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!
Gerberas are a favorite of mine, too. Once the deer find something they like they can be very persistent, can't they? Fortunately, my fenced backyard discourages them, although I sometimes find their tracks in my front yard. Apparently I don't have anything growing there that appeals to them.
DeleteSo many pretty blooms at this time of year, it's amazing! :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's good to see any blooms in the middle of December.
DeletePansies, well, violas and Johnny jump-ups, the small ones, are my favorite flowers. I neglected to get any this year, and now can't find any in the garden stores. Your gerberas looks fabulous.
ReplyDeleteA winter without pansies and their relatives would hardly be worth living for me!
DeleteYeah, it's pretty bleak out on the deck.
DeleteHold on - spring is coming!
DeleteA "few" beats "none", and I love pansies and violas. If only I could grow them indoors! I have a couple of a type that should come back in the spring, but we will see. As you know, your garden and other Southern GBBD ones sustain me during the winter.
ReplyDeleteA few certainly does beat none. I'm grateful for every one of my little blossoms.
DeleteHi,Pansies are my first loves in flower world ,Each year I thought about growing Pansy dominated landscape for spring ,but may be lazy to do so.
ReplyDeletehave a great week ahead.
Same to you, Arun. Pansies and violas are a marvel. I always try to include them in my winter landscape. They thrive here during our generally moderate winters.
DeleteLocation, location, location seems to be the key to these treasures. Brightened my day for sure.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad.
DeletePansies are such wonderful plants to grow in winter and yours are beautiful. You have so many other beautiful blooms still going, which are all eye candy at this time of year!
ReplyDeleteEye candy at least is not fattening, which is very important at this time of year!
DeleteLots of great blooms in your December garden. Thank goodness for the winter bloomers that help keep us sane during the winter!
ReplyDeleteThe winter bloomers just serve to remind us that beauty is possible even in the bleakest of times.
Delete