Tangled Branches: Cultivated
happenings in and around my zone 6b gardens in northern Virginia and in central Virginia
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day
There was a lively debate here yesterday between me and myself about whether to post anything for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. It went something like this.
Me: Why on earth would you want to show those pathetic flowers to anybody?
Myself: But they're flowers. In December. Outside. And it is Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day.
Just as it was getting dark, myself prevailed and went outside to snap a couple of photos of two very long-blooming alyssum varieties - 'Snowdrift' and 'Navy Blue'. (Navy Blue isn't, BTW; it's quite purple.) Checking my previous bloom day posts, they've been blooming since June 15 at least (probably earlier) from an early spring direct-sowing. I don't think I ever planted alyssum in the ground before this year - always in containers. They grew much better in the ground, and didn't curl up and die in the heat of the summer.
So that's it for December Bloom Day. I'm hoping for snowdrops for the January edition.
Labels: in bloom
13 Comments:
I'm glad you (or was it yourself) won the argument and posted for Bloom Day. I've never direct sowed allysum, I usually bought an overgrown flat of it and then was disappointed because it was all leggy. Sounds like sowing it from seed is the way to go.
See! It was very helpful to show us your blooms in December.
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
I've never been able to grow decent alyssum. So since you have, you should be proud and show it off! A bloom is a bloom! Well done!
Wow... not quite navy blue for sure, but that's a very pretty alyssum! (The white one is lovely, too.)
I'm so jealous... no blooms here except for some cascading rosemary that I just discovered. And that's inside!
Carol: Yep, throw the seed on the ground in early April and walk away. I used to sow it thick in pots and then dig out little plugs for transplanting, but no more.
Kylee: This is the first time I've been happy with alyssum all year. Usually by July, I wonder why I planted it. It is pretty amazing that it's still going.
Blackswamp Girl: The 'Navy Blue' alyssum is very dark purple - the flash made it look a bit lighter than it really is.
I went looking for rosemary flowers, but couldn't find any - lot of buds, but nothing open.
I'm glad yourself won! ;-) I've sown alyssum too but never directly into the ground, must try that next year. It's great that your alyssum is still going strong!
You are doing so much better than me with outside bloomers. I have none!
I love Alyssum and am glad that I read this ... next spring, I am going to do as you do and throw some seed down. Having drifts of different-coloured Alyssum looks so good and the scent is wonderful!
Ho ho! I had much the same conversation. And i too have alyssum hanging on in there ....
Yolanda Elizabet: I really didn't think I had anything in bloom, but then remembered the alyssum. Sometimes I have a few violets in bloom around this time of year, but I couldn't find any for Bloom Day. I'll keep looking.
Kate: I'm with you on drifts of alyssum, and I too love that honey scent! I used to work in a greenhouse long ago and I remember opening a door to a house with dozens of flats of alyssum in bloom - the scent was almost overwhelming.
Sue: I've noticed alyssum in several Bloom Day posts, but I see you have a lot more in bloom as well. I'm clueless about the climate in Milan, but it looks pleasant from here!
Way to hang in there! Just enough color to get you through the month.
I'm glad you posted your allysum photos - at least you have something in bloom outside. Allysum is my favorite annual. I planted it once almost 10 years ago & I've never needed to plant it again. Mine started off as Snow Crystals. Don't you love how those tiny bees visit it? I never see those bees on anything else.
Bonnie: Thanks for stopping by! I'm actually counting on you southerners to get me through the winter. ;-)
Mr. McGregor's Daughter: It'll be interesting to see if my alyssum self-sow, and if they do, what colors result. Another thing to look forward to in the spring. Apart from the delicious scent, one of the reasons I like alyssum is the pollinators it attracts.
You beat me by one outdoor flowering plant for December :)
I didn't think of snowdrops for January so maybe I can look forward to those also but I think it will be too cold for them to bloom here. I wonder if there will be any hellebores blooming?
Ki: I think I'm ready now for the lingering flowers to go. On to spring! I had snowdrops blooming by the first of January last year, but this year they're going to be later.
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