Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day, January 2009

By admin | January 16, 2009

First, to all of those in the heart of that monstrously, viciously cold Siberian Slapdown– you have my respect. And my fervent wishes that you stay safe, warm and well.

We’re going to be bit by the backend of a brushoff from that mess, and we might go down to the upper 20’s for several hours here. For this part of Texas, that is very cold. The plants I have survived the freeze (several hours at 32/31), but this one will be a little longer and a little colder. Ah well. Most of my perennials have really good, strong root systems, and should bounce back after a week of warmer weather.

So, for those of you with only vistas of white blowy cold stuff outside your windows, I hope you can enjoy this, vicariously.

Golden Showers, a bloom and several buds. The roses probably won’t be bothered much by the cold weather, they’re very tough.

The Pinata rose is blooming and, oh MY, I’m liking this rose more and more the longer I have it.

The fig tree got bitten a little, but most of the leaves were more sheltered and did okay. These two figs (half of my ‘crop’) may be in a little danger, but oh well…

Under the pond enclosure, the fuchsia is blooming. It’s springtime under there.

The Butterfly Weed is blooming and the plants seem impervious to the frost.

Not blooms, but proof that even bees need water in the winter.

The Carolina Jessamine is progressing nicely. Last month, they were just beginning to bud, and I could only guess that they were flowers and not new leaves. I guessed right!

Under the frost blankets and plastic and an old ratty comforter (to provide weight, the wind’s liable to pick up), it was WARM. The tomatoes aren’t ripening all covered up, but they’re blooming.

A weed, grows through the brick pavers near the back door. Sigh, guess who’ll be repainting a sill?

This really does look warm, doesn’t it? I believe it’s a wild oxalis of some kind.

And a dandelion…

The Calendula is doing well. I really wish I’d gotten a lot more of these. Next year, I’ll sow a lot of them.

A little frost bitten and wind burned, this pincushion flower is hanging in there.

And a surprise allysium is hanging in there from last month.

And the pansies…oh… the pansies… and violas…

I just love their little faces.

The Black Prince…

And a Gold Medal rosebud…

And the fully opened rose of the same kind.

The Angel Wing Jasmine is still blooming, and also seems to ignore cold weather.

The hibiscus is still hanging in, but doesn’t like opening on a day in the 60’s. It likes something closer to 80.

Truthfully, so do I.

Nasturtiums…

and a very very odd petunia.

Belinda’s Dream is blooming, but the buds and blooms are a little frost bitten.