camellia – Fine for Friday

October Hunter Moon 18 Oct 2024

In these parts, first frost is from Nov 1 until Nov 15 according to the sources. We did have some temps in the 40’s this past week which is to be expected. I have been planning on moving tender plants where they will be sheltered when frost comes. I have also been cutting back spent stems and putting them into the compost bin. It has been dry so I have spending time watering perennials and shrubs.

Many plants have been rejuvenated by the autumn coolness and there are even some blooms to be seen in today’s selections. My bulbs arrived this week and I am waiting for the optimum time to plant them.

As per routine, I will be posting my blog with the Six on Saturday group. Come take a look over a cup of coffee and enjoy the gardens from many different parts of the world. It is easy to participate. Choose 6 recentish photos and link to your blog. The rules and website are here https://gardenruminations.co.uk. Jim Stephens is the host.

The bloomers today are a Confederate rose. This is also called Dixie Rosemallow. (Hibiscus mutability). The blooms begin white and may end the day as a reddish color. You can see a spent bloom in the background.

The Camellia sasanqua is a lavender like color as seen with small exquisite blooms. Sorry, name shall have to be anonymous.

The remaining photos are of various sedums which are all hardy in our climate. I have placed them in several non functioning garden fountains. The creeping Jenny makes a great “filler in containers”. I particularly like the Angelina and the Blue Spruce.

As always,

Happy Gardening.

March is a Lion 1 March 2024

Growing up, my mother announced the character of March as coming in as a lion or a lamb and going out as the other. It would be interesting to know if this sounds familiar to you. This year, it is a lion here in the American South albeit a small one. It has been breezy and rainy today but spring’s promise does not disappoint.

There are an abundance of blooms to report today. So let’s get on with the show.

If you love spring, come join our group on Saturday morning. There should be an exuberance of offerings. Here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk/page/2/

This is the star for this week. It is the delicate, regal and magnificent Camellia japonica “Sea Foam”. In the last week, the plant has more than a dozen new blooms. It is still a young plant, so I am expecting many more.

There is an abundance of red camellias to report. The only one I can name for you is the “Professor Charles Sargent” which is on the right.

The asparagus fern has awakened from its winter sleep and is sporting a beautiful lime green gown.

The quince which I submitted a week or two ago is now displaying many blooms. I moved this plant last year and seems to prefer the morning sun location where it lives now.

The Kerria or Japanese rose has such a beautiful bloom. It is a leggy plant with long arching stems but the blooms make it stand out.

I am premature in showing you the begonia. It survives in my cold frame. Soon, I will take cuttings and prepare them for planting in window boxes. If it succeeds, this will be the fourth year in a row for this plant.

Don’t forget to join us tomorrow. Jim Stephens does such a good job of hosting us.

Happy Gardening!

Mid-Winter 9 Feb 2024

I am settling in after last weeks sunny break in Florida. The weather definitely is warming and I was able to play golf yesterday for the first time in a month. More color is appearing and there are new growth surprises nearly every day.

I have some plants started from seed and I am itching to plant them. Be patient! Planting weather is still at least 6 weeks away.

Every Saturday, a group of gardeners from around the world, get together online to post 6 recent pictures of what is happening in their gardens. Come join us to see the show or better yet join us and post 6 of your own. The weekly event is hosted by Jim Stephens at https://gardenruminations.co.uk.

Here are my 6 for the week.

The first is Leatherwood. It is a native shrub. It blooms early before the leaves come out and they are small but beautiful. The shrub may grow to be 6 or 7 feet tall. This plant is about 5 years old and seems quite healthy.

Next, is the first daffodil in my yard or in the Corner Garden. Looking at my notes, this is a week later than last year.

These hellebores are outstanding. They were a gift from a now deceased gardener but I do not know the name. I will enjoy them even though they will likely remain nameless.

My camellia japonicas are just beginning to bloom. This one is an old standby but the cultivar name is lost. These did not bloom last year after the December 2022 deepfreeze. This year there was another deepfreeze in January but fortunately, the blooming has begun.

This second hellebore has delightful color but is also nameless. It has such a beautiful shade of color.

My window box pansies have really broken out this week. This is the majestic series which has done so well for me.

Glad you stopped by and I hope you enjoyed the show. Happy Gardening!

The Promise of Late Fall 15 Dec 2023

I have been dreading the dull, wetness of the approaching winter. In fact, this week, I thought that I might take the week off from Six on Saturday. I was better motivated today and I resolved to find some worthy snaps for the blog.

To delight, it was a sunny and pleasant day. There were plenty of photo opportunities and I am including 6 of those that inspired me.

If you are new here, we post on SixOnSaturday. I will give you the link shortly. It is hosted by Jim Stephens and there are always beautiful photos. Take the time to visit. The link is here https://gardenruminations.co.uk.

The Columbine has appeared. I think it may be A. canadensis which will be a beautiful pink. In my youth, we called it honeysuckle and we would bite off the little tips for the nectar.

The paper bush has steadily healed all summer from last December’s icy insult and is getting ready for next month’ display. It has a wonderful fragrance and an eye catching architecture.

The fig did not bear fruit last summer. This new sprout is making me hope for a crop of figs. If not for me, perhaps the birds and squirrels can enjoy some.

Camellia japonica “Prof Charles Sargent “

The japonica is showing signs of recovery from the disastrous cold of last December. This camellia has been in the garden since 1980.

The osmanthus is also slowly recovering. I have pruned it gently all summer and fall removing the twigs that are dried out. It shows evidence of new growth and I am optimistic for its future.

The hardy mum is a new transplant which I featured a few weeks ago. I am reposting it today because of its little pollinator visitor with the comical name. I came across this on iNaturalist and I am pleased to share it.

I cannot say that I will post next week but I do send you Greetings and Hope for a Joyful New Year.

Happy Gardening.

Fall Colors Continue 17 Nov 2023

Thanks for dropping by again. I still have some blooms to show you. Next week is Thanksgiving in the US and there will not be a post.

Visit our SixonSaturday group in the morning. Gardeners from around the world will post 6 shots from this week. It is always wonderful to see the variety and the color.

The beautiful fall weather is continuing. We are forecast for rain Monday of next week and we had some this past week. This is definitely needed and has prolonged the blooming plants.

Here are my six for this week.

The geranium which is really a Pelargonium sp began blooming when the fall temperatures arrived. It is listed as an annual but I have been successful with this type keeping them in my cold frame. It is a subtle color but very refreshing looking.

This mum was acquired in September and soon after planting the 3 that I purchased the tops were eaten by the local deer. I don’t think they liked the taste since they have not returned to finish eating the rest of the plant. This past week I saw that one of them had begun blooming. It is a beauty. It is tall and not prostrate like the other mums I have.

The camellia sasanqua (cultivar unknown) is blooming spectularly. It was hard hit by the hard freeze from last December but it seems to have recovered very nicely.

This is another Pelargonium that I have successfully overwintered in the cold frame. This is its 3rd season. I have used stem cuttings to propagate several of these in terra cotta containers. They seem to really like that.

This is the third year for the Poinsettia that I originally bought from a nursery for the holidays. They seem to thrive in the heat of the summer. I keep them out of the direct sun. In September, I put them in deeper shade and now I see the red bracts.

The tall ginger lily (Hedychium sp) bloomed this month. It has a pleasant fragrance. This is a second season for these which I acquired from a friend. It is beside a fountain and must benefit from the occasional splash and higher humidity.

Thank you again for stopping by.

Happy gardening!!

Five for Friday 14 Jan 2023

Here in Birmingham which is in Central Alabama of the American South, it is blustery and cool today. We are at the high for the day early this afternoon and it is 39F or 4C whichever pleases you the most. In addition, it is gray and dismal.

Severe storms came through at mid day yesterday and brought with them strong winds and some tornadoes. There was a lot of damage in Selma about 75 miles to our south and several people were killed in Autauga County also to our south.

Selma, Alabama at the home of a good friend’s relative. It is right across the street from the historic Sturdivant Hall which was spared.

Sturdivant Hall

In our location, we were spared the damaging storms. We will be warming up next week, although the expectation is for rainy weather.

There are an increasing signs of spring for you today.

First, I have to show you the blooming geranium in my greenhouse. It is so red that it blurred the picture.

Second, I have two hellebores. The first is a white which is just emerging.

Lenten Rose

The next is a lavender pink color. When the bloom emerges, it is more erect so that you can easily see its face. I do not know the cultivar. It may be Pippa’s Purple.

The third is the culinary ginger which I keep indoors. It thrives outdoors in the summer. It is great to just take a segment for cooking..

The fourth is the Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’. It is just beginning to peak above ground. As you can imagine from its naming, it is red.

Crocosmia

The fifth is daffodils beginning to appear. I think these are Barrett Browning.

Daffodil

Finally, sixth, this is a camellia bud that looks like it will emerge soon. This is Professor Charles Sargeant.

Camellia

Join us on Six on Saturday https://gardenruminations.co.uk/ hosted by Jim Stephens and see the photos of gardeners from around the world.

Happy gardening!

Six on Saturday 16 Dec 2022

The weather is forecast to be much colder but there are still some blooms to show you. There is also signs of new growth to come.

We are expecting a cold snap here in Central Alabama. Temps will drop below freezing for several nights. Looks like this will continue at least until Christmas. Who knows! We might have a white Christmas.

In the meantime, my photos today will feature some persisiting blooms and some signs of things to come.

First, here is a lantana to start. It still has a few blooms despite the short days and cool temps. I really like this gold color. It will not survive the upcoming cold nights.

Second is the Camellia japonica “Sea Foam”. It is a little early but the double bloom is outstanding.

Third is the second Camellia japonica. I could not find the cultivar name but it is an unusual dark color.

The next are two ferns. The first is known as Southern Shield and it is evergreen. The other is an asparagus fern which dies back with the cold.

Fifth is a bay (Laurus nobilis) which I use for cooking. This has a hint of lemony flavor in addition to the expect bay leaf flavor.

The next is a project that has succeeded. These are leopard lilies that I have started from the seeds (bulbils). I planted them last fall and they sprouted this spring. They should be ready to plant next spring.

Happy gardening! Hope the cold weather does not cause the garden too much damage.

Follow the Six on Saturday group on this site Six on Saturday blog. Jim Stephens has taken over hosting the group.

October Colors 28 Oct 2022

Even though we have had a dry month, the colors this week have been magnificent. There is a forecast for rain this weekend which will knock a lot of leaves down so this week my be the maximum for color.

The grass is still showing some color but the growth is slowing. There are still some blooms appearing to delight and surprise.

Here is this week’s efforts.

First is this patch of mums growing along the busy street. Sunlight here is mostly afternoon so the stems stretch in that direction. I do not know the name. These are transplants from a volunteer patch.

Next is the magnificent shades of a sweetspire (Itea virginica). This is an Alabama native.

Next is a cultivar of a camellia. These are Camellia sasanqua. It just started blooming this week. It is a beautiful fall blooming plant. It is covered in blooms. It is usually smaller than its relative Camellia japonica which will bloom in winter.

Next is the Sedum “Autumn Joy”. It is doing very well in a container that gets plenty of shade. The blooms are now in the brown phase as they decline but this is their prettiest phase.

Next, is the Rudbeckia hirta “Indian Summer” around the flagpole with the border of alyssum. They are beginning to show a little end of season fatigue. These have been prolific bloomers all summer and attract the pollinators.

Last but not least is my best photo of the week. This was shot at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. This Acer rubra (red maple) is really showing out.

As winter approaches with its drabness and wetness, it is such a joy to experience these displays of color in the landscape.

If you have a chance, venture to Garden Ruminations where Jim Stephens is not hosting Six on Saturday.

Happy gardening.

Blooms and Buds

March 4, 2022

It has been a very warm week here in Central Alabama with daytime highs reaching 80. The forecast is for several more days like this before some rain and cooler temps arrive in a week. We may get some freezing temps then. It is tempting to plant tender plants now but I am avoiding that action. I have potted up my tomatoes and peppers yesterday. I have some rudbeckia and daisies that I hope to pot up today.

Here is the Five for Friday.

This is a holly fern with the large fiddle head visible. This is part of a group of hollies at the entrance to the Mens Garden that was transplanted a year ago. They are very happy and sheltered enough that they have stayed green all winter.

This is a star magnolia. It is Magnolia stellata which is a native of Japan. The blooms are small in comparison to the massive Southern magnolia.

This is an early blooming azalea. I hope it doesn’t get stung by next week’s colder temps. I do not know the name of this variety.

This is Veronica prostata or prostrate speedwell. It is native to Europe and unlike its cousins, it forms a nice groundcover and is everygreen. This one is in an open area and may have to be transplanted. It is forming a slowly spreading mat of foliage.

This is Trillium cuneatum. It is a native to the eastern US. It will open up to a reddish tinted bloom. The trillium natives are spring ephemerals so after blooming, they will disappear until next spring. We are glad it hides out in the Mens Garden for the year.

The last two are a late blooming Camellia with an unknow name and a sedum. I believe this sedum is Autumn Joy.

Happy gardening and enjoy the weather wherever you are. Don’t forget to follow the Propagator. He is the inspiration for my blog.

Daffodils and Winter Projects

Five for Friday

Feb 18, 2022

We have had some fine weather last week but as is typical winter reared its head again. Yesterday, it was blustery, thunderstorms and some heavy rain. This unsettled air will persist into next week but its time to look at the beautiful growth in the garden and finish up some winter projects.

The daffodils are pushing up and blooming this past week. It has turned colder these next few days after the rain and blustery weather yesterday.

From left to right, these are Orange Sunset, Barrett Browning and KIng Alfred.

These majestic pansies have struggled some this winter in the cold spells. When it turned fair last week, they were truly “majestic”.

This Autumn Fern remains evergreen. It shows some signs of winter damage but it will soon be glorious again. It tolerates enough sun that it is a wonderful garden companion.

This tea olive also known as Sweet Osmanthus is well established in my garden now. It is evergreen and delightful with the fragrance that comes from these tiny blooms. It is reliable to smell the new blooms after every measurable rainfall.

The compost bin has been very productive this year. We spread almost a yard of it around the shrubs and perennials this past few weeks. Added more leaves and fern prunings this week. Should be some grass cuttings before long. Don’t bag up and discard your grass clippings and fall leaves! There is garden gold in those bags.

Last week, saw the male bluebird bring his intended to this house. She did enter it and look around. Hope she liked it. Last year, it was used at least twice for fledglings.

This camellia is Sea Foam. It has such a beautiful and delicate shape. It is just a few years old, but it has been prolific since December.

Don’t forget to check out the Propagator tomorrow.

You might also like Globetrotting Grandpa.

In the meantime, enjoy the post and Happy Gardening.