I've been admiring some of the beautiful frosty pictures on many blogs lately. By the time I've gotten out with the camera most of the frost is gone from the plants, but it has hung around almost all day on the grass and a few other plants.
Lamb's Ear (Stachys byzantina) has held onto the frost almost all day. I love how the textures look with "frosting".
The Breadseed Poppies that have self sown from the summer flowers have been sprouting like crazy. So far they have survived the frosts. I'll be interested to see how long they last.
The Flower Carpet rose has been unfazed by the cold weather. It's in a corner that gets a lot of sun on these clear cold days, I think that helps.
The giant Lacecap Hydrangea has one blue flower left. It looks so pretty against the faded flowers.
Penstemon 'Raven' keeps on blooming.
Schizostylis coccinea 'Fenland Daybreak' is not only pretty, but tough.
One of the stars of the garden is the Variegated Wallflower (Erysimum).
Scabiosa 'Butterfly Blue' doesn't seem to know winter is right around the corner. Lots of flowers are on the plant.
A little bit of what's going on inside the house. African Violets are flowering for their third time this year (I guess fertilizer does help) and there are buds on the one on the left. Paperwhites have begun blooming, I love the smell but I know others don't. Amaryllis bulbs have sprouted and the Ornamental Pepper is doing great as well. I do have one Amaryllis that has been sitting for three weeks with no new growth although the bulb is green. Is that normal?
A closeup of one of the Paperwhites. I found a Delftware pot that had been my Grandma's and started the bulbs in it. It makes it feel like she's around having these pretty flowers blooming in one of the pieces from her collection.
The frosts do make for nice pictures! I like the lamb's ear!
ReplyDeleteLoved your photos, Catherine!
ReplyDeleteI,too have an Amaryllis that is green and still shows now growth. I hope I didn't get a dud bulb. I bought three and only one came up so far. I think we just need to be patient? What kind of fertilizer did you use for you African v?
Thanks
Rosey
I need to get some paperwhites .. I love the smell
ReplyDeleteGood Morning!
ReplyDeleteIt has been cold here too, at least cold for us....in the 30's last night.
I love the way frost looks so beautiful on plants. The picture of your few remaining hydrangea blooms is just such a great contrast.
Have a great weekend!
My Lamb's Ear looks tha same! LOL Don't you just admire the endurance of those that won't give up?! Love, love Paperwhites! Your last shot is amazing. i know what you mean, I love to use things from my Grandmothers & Mom too. They give me a "warm hug".
ReplyDelete*hugs*deb
Pretty, pretty, pretty...love that Paperwhite!!!
ReplyDeleteImpressive, how much stuff you still have blooming! And that's a nice story about your grandma, what a lovely way to carry her memory forward. Yes, it does truly feel like winter now!
ReplyDeletePS I heard at the SAGBUTT Arboretum tour that the common name for Schizostylis coccinea is actually a racial perjorative and should not be uttered! I had no idea. Anyway, just passing that along to anyone who has the plant these days. I guess the K-word is equal to the N-word, just in a different part of the world. Who knew?
You still have lots of color for December!
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine, It's amazing how tough some of your plants have been. That one lonesome yellow iris in my yard is still blooming! I love your indoor potted plants. That dish of your grandma's is beautiful with the paperwhites in it. How very special to have a reminder of her, especially at Christmas. Wishing you all a lovely weekend.
ReplyDeleteWoW Catherine you have a great indoor display. Nice that you found something of your Grandmothers to use - that always makes anything more special!
ReplyDeleteI almost took a picture of my mini Lambs Ears yesterday but decided they weren't frosty enough. Yours look so good!
Girl it is cold here too, at 12:11 p.m. it is still 47 degrees! Your plants look great, love frosty photos and the Wallflower is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Frosty theme! I looove the Lamb's ear photos..super gorgeous! Fun post..yay!
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine. I love the frost effect! About your Amaryllis, I think that if your bulb is still firm - it will be fine.
ReplyDeleteI like the frosty Lamb's ears. That's a neat pic Catherine.
ReplyDeleteI could almost smell the paperwhites. They have the most wonderful scent.
Last year my scabiosa's bloomed off and on all winter long. And they stayed green which is a great attribute for the plant.
Great pictures! My Stachys still looks good too, I love that soft little plant. Your hydrangea is beautiful, and the detailed pic of your paperwhites is very pretty. I'm very bad at forcing bulbs, and didn't try any this year. It's snowing like mad here, I need to get to a greenhouse asap to recharge.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like lots of us our getting frosty weather now and winter isn't too far off.
ReplyDeleteRosey Pollen - I think I'm just going to be patient too, hopefully we'll both end up with flowers. I just use the Schultz brand of African Violet fertilizer and go by the directions on it. I've had it here for awhile, but decided to see what happened if I used it regularly, and it seems to have made a huge difference.
Karen - Thanks for the info. I had never heard that and in fact that's how the plant was labeled. I tried to do a little research on the word and found differing opinions on the word being used as a plant name versus a racial slur. I think I'll just go by the Botanic name from now on for this plant.
Thanks for the reminder to plant some Amaryllis bulbs. Probably too late for a Christmas show, but so fun to watch. I have a nursery here that sells them already planted & they use long birch branches set around the edge of the pot & gathered up at the top with rafia to make an obelisk. They are so pretty & functional, I'll try to post a photo.
ReplyDeletesuch beautiful photos! very nice speacially the first ones with ice! veru interesting!
ReplyDeleteCatherine, it is cold! went out to take some photos this morning and the ground was hard. I hope we don't lose many plants this year should this continue. Last winter was the first time in 16 years that we lost plants due to the snow and ice....unseasonably cold. Have a great weekend. Diana
ReplyDeleteCatherine - I know, I did the same search but was just going with what the docent at the Arboretum said. She wouldn't even say the word out loud. I think it's originally an Arabic word that means 'heathen' but was used in S. Africa by right wing whites as a pretty heavy duty slur. I think it's also used for that kind of lime leaf sold in Asian grocery stores. Maybe we can vote on a new common name for such a pretty plant! :)
ReplyDeleteThe frosty Lamb's Ears is beautiful. I really like the fragrance of Paperwhites too.
ReplyDeleteYou have really great light in your house!
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed with your success with the african violets!
Your paperwhites are gorgeous, but I just hated that smell last year. I'll stick with amaryllis this year, thanks! LOL
ReplyDeleteI love the frosty and not frosty foliage and blooms in this post. It looks like paperwhites are related to daffodils.
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine. What are we going to do if you lose your flowers? I've been coming here (well, and a few other places) to see things still in bloom!
ReplyDeleteI'm not an expert on Amaryllis but I have grown and kept bulbs for over ten years (still have my original ones). I've read if bulbs are slow to wake from dormancy you should add a little bottom heat. Do you have a warm radiator, heat mat, etc., you could place the one on that isn't doing anything? That might spur it into action. Also hold back on watering until you see some growth then water regularly. I hope that helps? and good luck. I enjoy growing them so much.
btw, your paperwhites are so pretty as is the container. I don't care for the scent but I like to see the flowers. That's a quandary isn't it?
Yes, it looks like denial time is over for us and the snow is a'comin. We can't complain too much though. It only lasts long enough to look pretty and completely mess up traffic. I can't help but wonder if it will be as bad or worse even than last year. That was a pretty darn white Christmas. LOL
ReplyDeleteCatherine you have so many flowers to see yet in your garden. I love the indoor picture with the St. Nick : ) .. I too have Delft ware scattered all over the house plus many speculaas boards (cookie molds) .. some how I missed the train on starting bulbs to bloom .. the "girls" can get to pretty much everything if I can't find the right place to put something like that away .. I'll be back to enjoy yours : )
ReplyDeleteJoy
Very pretty photos. I love the hydrangea photo! Also, I like how you did the four seasons of your pond on the sidebar. -Amy
ReplyDeleteLove that frosty look! The rose looks sweet! My amaryllis does the same and suddenly bursts with leaf growth and flowers. In fact I'm not sure if Amaryllis has a season here, coz it gives out buds when least expected! No matter if it's hot summer or cold seasons. It seems to have a mind of its own.
ReplyDeleteKathleen - Thanks for the great tip on the bottom heat. I do have a heat mat that I'll pull out if it doesn't sprout soon.
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine~~ The last photo at the bottom of your page, of your pond in summer~~Fabulous! [I like living in the past.] I'm with you. I love the scent of the paper whites but it grosses out some family members.
ReplyDeleteI suppose I should concede to winter but darn it. At least the sun is shining. Could be worse. You've got a lot of winter interest going on in your garden. Lovely as always.
Wonderful pictures Catherine. Lamb's Ears are certainly great textures to hold the frost.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the variegated wallflowers!
the frost is so pretty!!!
ReplyDeletethanks for linking to me this week!!
I forgot to say I love the variegated wallflower foliage.
ReplyDelete