12/15/09

December Bloom Day!

I don't have anything new to show you. Doesn't that mean it's time to get new plants?

These winter-blooming flowers opened a couple weeks ago.

Tithonia diversifolia

Tithonia diversifolia. The flowers are borne on tall stems. I have to reach up to take their pictures, and bend a stem down to smell them.

Tithonia diversifolia

They smell like chocolate.

Tithonia diversifolia

Another giant aster blooming in my garden right now: Montanoa grandiflora.

Montanoa grandiflora

This plant was new to the garden this year. Just one clutch of flowers at the top is all it's got. They smell like vanilla cupcakes.

Behind it, you can see some Ceanothus flowers, a good two months early. That happens with this plant. The standard deviation of bloom time is very large.

Ceanothus arboreus 'Ray Hartman'

More yellow: Asclepias curassavica.

Ascelpias curassavica

Is the Abutilon yellow? It's in the yellow family (whatever that is), but it's not exactly yellow. Whatever. You must be sick of seeing this plant on my blog.

Abutilon

If I had more room, I'd have more plants. There are limits you know.

Gayle, I know you're sick of this one. Sorry!

Fuchsia boliviana 'Alba'

I think you said you like this one better. There's some confusion about the naming. Fuchsia arborescens, Fuchsia 'Miep Aalhuizen'. Fuchsia arborescens 'Miep Aalhuizen'? I don't know. Just don't call it "fuschia" and we're good.

Fuchsia 'Miep Aalhuizen'

Anyone who likes plants in San Francisco is sick of this one. It's everywhere. Although, you know, it seems to me like it's less everywhere now than it used to be.

Tibouchina urvilleana

Here's another one with ambiguous nomenclature. The label said Cuphea pinetorum when I bought it. You can buy it from Annie's Annuals as Cuphea 'Minnie Mouse'.

Cuphea

Cuphea belongs to the loosestrife family, Lythraceae, along with crepe myrtles...and now pomegranate.

Cobaea scandens. Polemoniaceae!

Cobaea scandens

We have 2 Fabaceae in bloom. Snap peas,

Sugar snap

And Hardenbergia violacea, juuust getting started.

Hardenbergia violacea

And that's what I've got. Thank you for coming by, and Happy Bloom Day!

For more Bloom Day fun, be sure to visit May Dreams Gardens on the 15th of every month.

15 comments:

Town Mouse said...

Wow, I love that Tithonia. And your Hardenbergia is already starting? That's pretty amazing.

Happy bloom day!

Les said...

A garden that smells of chocolate and vanilla cupcakes is indeed special.

Christopher C. NC said...

Very lovely and floriferous for such a tiny space. Got me beat with all my vast grounds. Even the late sugar snap peas turned to mush.

Lona said...

Your garden plants are making me hungry with fragrances of vanilla and chocolate ;-)
You have some wonderful blooms to share.

Unknown said...

Still kicking myself for not planting the cobaea seeds this past spring. :(

But I'm completely in love with Hardenbergia violacea now. (I know, I'm fickle!)

Anonymous said...

Hi Chuck, not only are your flowers beautiful, who cares if we have seen them before!, but your captures are mind boggling! My post will be up tomorrow, leading off with something we share. :-)

Brad B said...

You have an amazing amount blooming in your garden. I especially like the last pic of the Tithonia and the hardenbergia. Our hardenbergia isn't even thinking about blooming yet. Your plants seem to bloom much earlier on that side of the bay.

Bay Area Tendrils said...

Dear Chuck...
hope the exam went well! It's over, right?
all best for the holidays,
Alice

Anonymous said...

I love your humility and love of plants, flowers, cats, seeds, travel, hiking, photography and your simple joy of life. Repetition of bright flower faces is definitely alright with me! Out here at the base of Mt. Diablo the frost has done sad things to my more tender plants. I was just trying Plectranthus varieties when poof, they are gone.

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

It's a good thing I just had breakfast - scents of chocolate and vanilla indeed! Your flowers warm my frozen heart. I'm particularly partial to the Ceanothus, which I get to see in person only once a year, when I go to FL. What a fantastic blue.

Noelle Johnson said...

Hello Chuck,

I would love some chocolate smelling flowers. They are beautiful. My Hardenbergia is also getting ready to bloom...I can't wait.

Thank you for your comments on my blog.

Noelle

Pam/Digging said...

It's late, and I've already forgotten the names of the plants I wanted to comment on. Suffice it to say, your Bloom Day post wins! I enjoyed every pic.

Pam said...

What fun - love the 'minnie mouse' cuphea - I've admired the bat-faced cuphea's for a longtime, but this was a new one! I'm a huge fan of the Tithonias - but haven't grown diversifolia - I'm guessing it's a perennial for you? I need to try that one (I love the shape of the leaves - reminds me of fig leaves). And I agree with Kim on the Hardenbergia violacea!

Kerri said...

Be still my beating heart! All those beautiful flowers. Oh my!
I particularly love the Fuchsia Boliviana, and that Tibouchina - what a color! I wish it was everywhere here in the frozen north. It would look fabulous against the snow :)
Bright yellow and smelling like chocolate? Wow is all I can say. The Hardenbergia is stunning. Everything is beautiful!
Thanks for feeding us starving northern gardeners ;)

Anonymous said...

Plant spa always includes the ferns and usually the Norfolk Pine because of all my plants they need humidity most.flowering trees