December in the Northern Hemisphere

[Maggi Young]

 This  pic is  from October but I couldn't resist using it to start this thread....


The recently described Zingiber shuanglongensis from Taiwan flowering on Oct. 8th in the greenhouse of the Botanic Garden of Lyon.  It was posted on Twitter by  David Scherberich ( ‏@BotGLyon  https://twitter.com/BotGLyon/media   )

[Maggi Young]

Get some floral cheer from Panayoti Kelaidis'  latest Blog  http://prairiebreak.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/a-regional-gem-colorado-springs.html  " A regional gem: Colorado Springs Xeriscape Demonstration Garden "

[Brian Ellis]

Doesn't it look good, I must look out for Amsonia jonesii - i really like Amsonia.

[meanie]

Doesn't it look good, I must look out for Amsonia jonesii - i really like Amsonia.

I have to agree with you.

Things of interest are limited here. I've decided the tenders have taken as much frost as I can bear to inflict upon them and they are all in their winter quarters now. My Bird of Paradise only came into the back porch this evening as it was one of a few plants outdoors this summer that were afflicted with RSM - hopefully they should be free now. Ironic how the greenhouse and the house are free of RSM (parasitic mites are the ultimate cure) only for plants outdoors (many previously free of RSM to the eye) to become afflicted.
Anyway, as I was moving a Bryophyllum daigremontianum indoors I could not resist taking a few snaps of the plantlets forming on the leaves............


Incredibly easy to grow I have several pots coming along and picked the largest plant to force into bloom over the winter. The plan is that after the success of Kalanchoe x houghtonii as an annual the last couple of years I am going to add the Bryophyllum to my spikey area as well next year.

[Jupiter]

Maggi I grow Kaempferia rotunda which has something in common with that Zingiber. It's flowering at the moment but the flowers only last a day and there are none fresh today. I'll take a photo tomorrow to show you. I suppose growing tropical gingers is out of the question in Aberdeen?

[Maggi Young]

It might be possible to have some species  outdoors in a really warm, sheltered garden in summer, Jamus - but I wouldn't even try it. I'd need a nice big heated glasshouse - so the answer is  "no"   

[Luc Gilgemyn]

A few ericaceous plants seem to think it's spring ! 

Phyliopsis 'Mermaid'

and a very young


x Kalmiothamnus 'Hytor'

[Maggi Young]

I like those, Luc.  Especially  'Mermaid' - where did you "find " her?

Here it seems that when ericaceous plants make  such "out of season" flowers  they are still able to make a good display in spring as well.  Is that how it seems with you?
 It is one of the reasons I love them so much - real generous plants!

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I like those, Luc.  Especially  'Mermaid' - where did you "find " her?

Here it seems that when ericaceous plants make  such "out of season" flowers  they are still able to make a good display in spring as well.  Is that how it seems with you?
 It is one of the reasons I love them so much - real generous plants!

I got it from Aberconwy a couple of years ago Maggi - it's doing quite well.
I normally don't fancy too many flowers on a plant in the Fall as that normally means less flowers in Spring - these phyliopsis species don't seem to mind though !
So I'm a happy chappy ! 

[johnw]

Luc / Maggi - Aberconwy seems to have the lot!  One to get is Phyllothamnus erectus 'Crinolines' which they mistakenly show as a Phylliopsis.

Oops no x Phylliopsis 'Purple Emperor' yet.

john

[Leon]

Where would one obtain Parasitic Mites?

Ironic how the greenhouse and the house are free of RSM (parasitic mites are the ultimate cure).

[meanie]

Where would one obtain Parasitic Mites?

Ironic how the greenhouse and the house are free of RSM (parasitic mites are the ultimate cure).

Good point - I should have said predatory mites!

[krisderaeymaeker]

Hard to find some flowering stuff on such cold and rainy days ....

A few impressions of what is stil flowering here ...

Iris unguicularis J&FK1024 "Peloponnese Snow".  (flower is washed away today ...)
Galanthus elwesii 'Peter Gatehouse '  (always the first elwesii of the season here )
In the glashouse : Massonia in flower 
Almost in flower : Ranunculus calandrinioides 
Merendera robusta .

[Robert]

The last of the fall foliage for this season.

Our first big storm in three or more years is expected, starting Wednesday. If the 60mph winds materialize, there will not be a leaf left on the deciduous trees.



Populus fremontii
A wind blown seedling that I let grow in place.



Populus fremontii is our local native Cottonwood. A good tree for our farm. It is growing in an out-of-the-way location where the roots will not be a problem.

[Robert]

Not much going on in the garden flower wise.

However, the fall rains have started many of our natives into growth.



Ranunculus californicus. One, of a number, of our native Buttercups. The flowers of this species are small, however when grown in mass they put on a very good show. Summer dormant and xeric. They are seeding about in this area. It should look nice in a few years.



Festuca californica In the same bed as the Buttercups. One of our perennial native bunch grasses. This bed receives no summer irrigation.



Stipa (Nassella) pulchra - Purple Needlegrass. Another one of our perennial native bunch grasses. It shares the same bed as the Festuca californica. Other grasses in this bed are F. idahoensis, and Achnatherum hymenoides (Indain Ricegrass). All xeric.



In another bed are Brodiaea elegans, making good growth.



As well as some seedlings B. elegans coming up around some Oreganos in the same bed.