December Blooms in the Pacific Northwest

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December Rose Blooms

December Rose Blooms

< Can you believe these roses blooming in the middle of December? The neighbor told me she’s had roses from the garden on her table for Christmas, and I wasn’t sure I believed her. Now I do. If it hadn’t been for the freak snowstorm we had, these would have been on my table Christmas day. This mystery rose has been blooming non-stop since June, if you can believe that.

Hebe

Hebe

Several other roses are also blooming, and there’s stragglers on the hydrangeas. This hebe is also throwing off a few blooms, too (Hebe ‘Ritt’).

But as remarkable as the flowers are, this time of year I’m most excited about all of the foliage and berry color…

Palace Purple Heuchera

Palace Purple Heuchera

…like the leaves of this coral bell (Heuchera ‘Can Can’)….

Ornamental Purple Kale

Ornamental Purple Kale

…or this purple ornamental kale.

Mourning Widow Geranium Phaeum

Mourning Widow Geranium Phaeum

I also love the bright splashes of color in this variegated mourning widow geranium (Geranium phaeum ‘Variegatum’). I’ve been propogating it all over the shady parts of my garden.

Autumn Color Azalea Foliage

Autumn Color Azalea Foliage

I was really surprised by the color in this azalea. It was a freebie from a friend who was digging it out. I don’t even know what color it blooms yet. But the winter color is lovely.

Parney Cotoneaster

Parney Cotoneaster

Of course, one of my favorite winter interest plants is cotoneaster, and I brought several with me from the other house. This one, Parney cotoneaster (Cotoneaster lacteus) is great for training onto (or into) a wall, with big leathery leaves and a stunning amount of berries when mature.

PeeGee Hydrangea

PeeGee Hydrangea

My PeeGee hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’) has lovely brown mopheads, dried on the plant. I left them on for interest, so I’ll have to be careful when I prune this Spring so I don’t lop off the new buds.

Buds on Fruit Tree

Buds on Fruit Tree

But speaking of buds, here’s my most favorite thing to see this time of year. Buds on the trees. This is a plum tree from my veg garden, and it just makes me so happy! Spring is coming! I know, not for months.

But it’s coming!

What about you? What’s your favorite thing to see in your winter garden?

This post is a part of the DecemberGarden Bloggers Bloom Day, sponsored each month by May Dreams Gardens.


Comments

6 responses to “December Blooms in the Pacific Northwest”

  1. I miss my dried floral arrangements on my old bushes. I’m sure I’ll have some again someday, but they really do add interest to a winter garden.

  2. Enjoyed your blog. Checked out your building and design projects and the snow. we just broke the record for most snow in a month (I think we’er at 38 inches for Dec.) and you can be sure nothing is blooming here. I am doing a history of my various gardens every Wednesday which you might enjoy. Glad you stopped by GBBD at Carol’s which is how I discovered you.

  3. I like the look of your garden blog, Angela. It’s very appealing. I’m enjoying Christmas roses too and the ever-silver, dramatic presence of agaves.

  4. Helen aka patientgardener Avatar
    Helen aka patientgardener

    It appears that your garden is very colourful despite the time of year – Ihave a rose that has been in bud for weeks to be honest I dont think it will actually flower but you never know.I am going to try and pick this post but it is saying that there are feed problems so you may need to get on to Stuart

  5. How amazing to have roses in December! Your ornamental kale is gorgeous – they always look very much like great big roses to me too.

  6. Angela, I updated your info and so glad to see this beautiful blog–congrats. I’ve seen quite a bit of your garden and it is truly beautiful. I too love Coral Bells and I’m seeing if Proven Winners Key Lime is cold tolerant evergreen in my Zone 7 garden. So far our few nights of below freezing haven’t fazed it. It is still Key Lime green.The winter garden can be quite interesting and those roses are amazing.Hugs, Anna

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