Photos of flowers blooming in December post here in What's Blooming in December

By LarryR
December 17, 2011

Readers responded with an avalanche of photos to our call for blossoms from their gardens to publish in our December issue of What's Blooming. Thank you one and all! Before we take a look, though, let's hear from our Mystery Blossom Contest winner, Robin (Robynznest).

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LarryR

Dec 16, 2011 7:53 PM CST

Thread OP

Name: Larry Rettig
South Amana, IA (Zone 5a)

This thread is for your December flower photos.

Gardener was the label imprinted on me when the souls were handed out and so be it. --Margaret Roach (Thank you, Sharon!) Notes from the Garden: Articles of interest on all aspects of gardening
Cottage-in-the-Meadow Gardens: Come on in and take the tour! Check out the photos!

| @LarryR | Post #191036 (1)

tarev

Dec 16, 2011 8:53 PM CST

Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!

Hi Larry!

Here are my December blooms:

Schlumbergera hybrid:

This was how she started her bloom:

Adding this photo today, 17Dec with her stamen more prominently displayed:

Amaryllis

My first attempt to force an Amaryllis bulb, started forcing 19Nov and she started blooming 08Dec:

Made her into a nice Christmas centerpiece

Mini-cymbidium slowly waking-up:

It is a foggy 36F outside today, 17Dec, and my Mandevilla's and Gaillardia's already in bloom since November, are still in bloom and doing fine up to now:

Gaillardia

Mandevilla

A wonderful Christmas to all!

| @tarev | Post #191051 (2)

Last edited by tarev Dec 17, 2011 12:09 PM

vic

Dec 17, 2011 3:34 AM CST

Name: Vicki
North Carolina

I don't have any photo's but I sure enjoyed the article and ALL the photo's

NATIONAL GARDENING ASSOCIATION ~ Garden Art ~ Purslane & Portulaca ~

| @vic | Post #191092 (3)

Onewish1

Dec 17, 2011 6:09 AM CST

Name: Allison
NJ (Zone 6a)

I had another mum showing off

Coleus Forum~~Seed Forum~~Northeast Forum
Click here to visit my Zazzle Store~~ Happy Birthday Wishes

| @Onewish1 | Post #191111 (4)

LindaTX8

Dec 17, 2011 11:46 AM CST

Name: Linda Williams
Medina Co., TX (Zone 8a)

We still have some blooms. Would have been more if not for that one cold front that brought temps down below 26° one night. Sweet Autumn Clematis is holding onto a few blossoms...spotted a hummingbird going to one yesterday. Also the Aromatic Aster, but won't be long before they're gone. A wild fall aster still going in a protected spot, the trailing white lantana, the native blue mistflower still hanging in there. I have also seen a few 4-nerve daisies, Zexmenia and a pot of sweet violets. Wish it was more!
Added one more: Rue! This plant can laugh at cold and keep blooming, at least in my area. It says 'Hey, is that the lowest it can go? Bring it on!'

I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. E. B.White
Integrity can never be taken. It can only be given, and I wasn't going to give it up to these people. Gary Mowad

| @LindaTX8 | Post #191194 (5)

Last edited by LindaTX8 Dec 17, 2011 11:58 AM

LarryR

Dec 17, 2011 1:36 PM CST

Thread OP

Name: Larry Rettig
South Amana, IA (Zone 5a)

We're off to a good start!

Thanks for the lovely photos, tarev and Allison.

Linda, I'd be happy if I had just ONE blossom in my garden! I garden in zone 5, so it ain't gonna happen.

We'd love to see photos of the plants you've listed!

Vicki, thanks for stopping by. Glad you're enjoying the photos!

Gardener was the label imprinted on me when the souls were handed out and so be it. --Margaret Roach (Thank you, Sharon!) Notes from the Garden: Articles of interest on all aspects of gardening
Cottage-in-the-Meadow Gardens: Come on in and take the tour! Check out the photos!

| @LarryR | Post #191250 (6)

plantladylin

Dec 17, 2011 7:38 PM CST

Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

We are having superb weather here in my part of Florida, with daytime temp's in the mid to upper 70's and nights in the mid 50's. There are a few things still blooming in my yard. I've shared these photo's on another thread but thought I'd share them here as well.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Tropical Hibiscus)

Magnolia grandiflora'Little Gem'

Plumbago auriculata

Catharanthus roseus (Periwinkle)

Callistemon viminalis (Weeping Bottlebrush)

Clerodendrum paniculatum (Pagoda Flower)

~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!

| @plantladylin | Post #191389 (7)

Last edited by plantladylin Dec 17, 2011 7:40 PM

LarryR

Dec 17, 2011 9:47 PM CST

Thread OP

Name: Larry Rettig
South Amana, IA (Zone 5a)

plantladylin said:We are having superb weather here in my part of Florida, with daytime temp's in the mid to upper 70's and nights in the mid 50's.

You really know how to hurt a guy up here in Zone 5!

Great photos, all, Lin. Thanks for sharing!

Gardener was the label imprinted on me when the souls were handed out and so be it. --Margaret Roach (Thank you, Sharon!) Notes from the Garden: Articles of interest on all aspects of gardening
Cottage-in-the-Meadow Gardens: Come on in and take the tour! Check out the photos!

| @LarryR | Post #191451 (8)

LindaTX8

Dec 17, 2011 10:06 PM CST

Name: Linda Williams
Medina Co., TX (Zone 8a)

I hope to see upper 70's again one of these days! Not complaining about the drizzle we've been having, however. Extreme drought teaches you gratitude for every single drop.

I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. E. B.White
Integrity can never be taken. It can only be given, and I wasn't going to give it up to these people. Gary Mowad

| @LindaTX8 | Post #191455 (9)

vic

Dec 18, 2011 3:39 AM CST

Name: Vicki
North Carolina

Beautiful photo's Lin.

Linda, we had a severe drought a few years ago, and even today, no matter how much it rains, I'm thankful

NATIONAL GARDENING ASSOCIATION ~ Garden Art ~ Purslane & Portulaca ~

| @vic | Post #191484 (10)

Onewish1

Dec 18, 2011 6:11 AM CST

Name: Allison
NJ (Zone 6a)

nice Lin.. keep em coming!!

Coleus Forum~~Seed Forum~~Northeast Forum
Click here to visit my Zazzle Store~~ Happy Birthday Wishes

| @Onewish1 | Post #191506 (11)

plantladylin

Dec 18, 2011 9:21 AM CST

Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

Thanks y'all ... I was out early this morning and took a few more pictures of blooms. Some of these are container plants on my deck.

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana

Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar Periwinkle)

Vinca (Catharanthus roseus)
Uploaded by plantladylin

Schlumbergera x buckleyi (Holiday Cactus)

Jasminum nitidum (Star Jasmine)

Star Jasmine (Jasminum laurifolium var. laurifolium)
Uploaded by plantladylin

Fading bloom of Orchid Laelia purpurata x BL Richard

Fading bloom of Phalaenopsis Orchid

Orchid hybrid Brassavola nodosa

Pentas lanceolata

Fading Rose Bloom

Streptocarpus saxorum (Streptocarpella)

Well, that's all for me. I sure hope more Southerner's will share what's blooming in your neck of the woods. Have a great Sunday afternoon everyone!

~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!

| @plantladylin | Post #191564 (12)

Last edited by plantladylin Dec 18, 2011 1:41 PM

SongofJoy

Dec 18, 2011 9:32 AM CST

Name: Carole
Clarksville, TN (Zone 6b)

This Southerner is too far up in the northern part of the South ... but I certainly am enjoying all the lovely, lovely pictures!

I garden for the pollinators.

| @SongofJoy | Post #191568 (13)

vic

Dec 18, 2011 11:52 AM CST

Name: Vicki
North Carolina

Beautiful Lin

NATIONAL GARDENING ASSOCIATION ~ Garden Art ~ Purslane & Portulaca ~

| @vic | Post #191639 (14)

Onewish1

Dec 18, 2011 12:30 PM CST

Name: Allison
NJ (Zone 6a)

love the strep.

Coleus Forum~~Seed Forum~~Northeast Forum
Click here to visit my Zazzle Store~~ Happy Birthday Wishes

| @Onewish1 | Post #191659 (15)

LarryR

Dec 18, 2011 1:14 PM CST

Thread OP

Name: Larry Rettig
South Amana, IA (Zone 5a)

Great photos, Lin! I had no idea that Phalaenopsis came in such a gorgeous shade of blue.

Gardener was the label imprinted on me when the souls were handed out and so be it. --Margaret Roach (Thank you, Sharon!) Notes from the Garden: Articles of interest on all aspects of gardening
Cottage-in-the-Meadow Gardens: Come on in and take the tour! Check out the photos!

| @LarryR | Post #191683 (16)

plantladylin

Dec 18, 2011 1:40 PM CST

Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

Larry: That's not a normal color for Phalaenopsis. It's a blue dye the growers are injecting into the plants ... first blooms are blue but future blooms will be the normal white color. It is gorgeous and an attention getter but I would not personally purchase an altered plant ... this one was a gift from a friend.

~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!

| @plantladylin | Post #191694 (17)

LarryR

Dec 18, 2011 3:13 PM CST

Thread OP

Name: Larry Rettig
South Amana, IA (Zone 5a)

I wondered about that, Lin. I've seen the same thing in carnations, but had never seen it tried with orchids. The way things are going with genetic modification of plants, we may soon seen unusual colors in roses and other flowers as well.

Gardener was the label imprinted on me when the souls were handed out and so be it. --Margaret Roach (Thank you, Sharon!) Notes from the Garden: Articles of interest on all aspects of gardening
Cottage-in-the-Meadow Gardens: Come on in and take the tour! Check out the photos!

| @LarryR | Post #191731 (18)

tarev

Dec 19, 2011 6:23 PM CST

Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!