Garden Bloom in December

Time for the December account of what is actually in bloom in the garden.  It will be useful to tally this up as the garden is now just a bit over one year old.  I've attempted to ensure some bloom year-round.  In this climate winter is actually one of the more abundant seasons, but just now I have a vague sense of the garden being betwixt and between.

Nevertheless, a tour with the camera proved to me that there is quite a bit actually in bloom presently.  The Central Bed is dominated by Autumn Sages at the top and Gaura at the bottom.

Salvia greggii "Flame" is still quite floriferous...

...as are the cherry red seedling and "Autumn Moon", below...

In the upper corner Russelia equisetiformis "Big Red" continues to bloom.  In fact, it seems to never, never stop blooming!  A marvelous plant.

At the bottom, as I say, the Gaura (an unidentified pink that arrived with only the species name) is still full of wiry stems and bright flowers.  I started to cut it back some time ago, but as it has continued blooming, I've let it go on... and on...

One of the delightful things about those wiry stems is the way they allow the flowers to spill into nearby plants, such as Lavender "Goodwin's Creek Gray".

Also nearby is The Alnwick Rose, with a bud coming along.

And below it is some Dianthus.

Most of the shrub roses aren't blooming at present (Wollerton Old Hall made a recent flourish and is now regrouping seemingly).  But hybrid tea "Sterling Silver" still has a bloom and should soon have more...

...while the miniature "Daniela", featured in this week's vase, is loaded with dark red flowers

Looking back up toward the patio, the impact of the Gaura can be appreciated.

Turning to the South Border, there are a few blooms on the young Eremophila hygrophana.  This is such a graceful shrub.

This border now contains two grasses, both in bloom at present.  Muhlenbergia capillaris "Regal Mist" was one of the first plants to go into the ground last autumn, and it is now in full splendour as, indeed, it has been for many weeks.

A much more recent addition is Pennisetum rubrum.

Perovskia, to the back of the border, is just now going over...

...and the nearby lavenders have not yet begun to bloom.  But buds are forming on one of the most spectacular plants in this border, namely, Eremophila maculata "Valentine".  It may be several months before these open, but here they are.

Following around the corner into the east border now, there is Argyranthemum frutescens, the marguerite daisy.

Just the other day I planted Tagetes lucida, as much for ground cover foliage as for the miniscule yellow blooms, which are intriguing but not large enough to be very showy.  This plant is also known as Mexican tarragon, and the leaves are said to useful in cooking.

Another yellow nearby is little Tetraneuris acaulis, unmistakeably enjoying the season.

Lantana "Denver Red" has put out quite a few flowers since I planted it.

Senna nemophila is heavily budded, but no blooms have opened so far; and Acacia salicina is just coming into its first full bloom - unfortunately, no pictures today!

In the barely begun North Border, my plain red geranium is also loaded with buds but waiting to open them, while lovely Hamelia patens has quit blooming in favour of ripening its few berries.

So that is a fair tally of the garden in December.  There is a good deal more blooming here than there was at this time last year; but somehow I am much more conscious of everything that needs to be done, than I am of what has already been accomplished.  A nursery trip is planned for tomorrow...!

This overview of bloom in the garden is linked to the Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day with Carol at May Dreams Gardens - a useful way to keep track of progress.

Salvia greggii "Flame"

Weather Diary: Fair; High: 54 F (12 C)/Low: 34 F (1 C)