December already?

 How can it possibly be December? Not just because the year has flown by but because it's still getting up in the high 60s during the daytime here in the Bay Area. Well, our gardens certainly don't mind. Without further adieu, here are some recent photos from my garden.

Aloe Sunshine. A new Aloe in my garden, this aptly named variety has sunny yellow flowers.

A new Grevillea, this G. Poorinda Leane is already blooming.

I like the pleasing contrast between the fall colors on my Cotinus Royal Purple and the delicate bluish-green foliage on my Melianthus pectinatus.

This shamrock oxalis is a winter bloomer and also sports vibrant green foliage.

Another photo of my Oxalis White Pillow. I love the dense mound it makes.

My Black lotus (Lotus jacobaeus) is in full bloom, attracting every bee from a mile away. Or so it seems on sunny days.

This sport off an Azalea variety was named Court Jester. The flowers are all different, some with pink portions like this one, others with pink speckling.

After a major pruning, my Duranta has flushed out vibrant golden new growth.

Berberis 'Orange Rocket.' My Berberis is holding onto its foliage late in the season.

Aloe striata (Coral aloe) + Sideritis cypria. These companions have filled in very nicely.

Here is part of my collection of bromeliads and dwarf conifers. Even though they're in pots, the fullness creates a densely planted look and I like them against the backdrop of the tree.

Speaking of dwarf conifers, here is the first collection I planted 10 years ago around the other side of the tree mentioned above.

The patches of Babiana are getting nice and thick. This South African bulb is an early spring bloomer.

Three new bromeliads, added to my extensive collection.

A simple Petunia but pretty nonetheless.

This uncommon Centaurea (C. ragusina) has kept its intense silvery tones.

There are many shades of blue, and flowers exhibiting those colors. I think of this Salvia bullulata Pale Form as being a fine representative of robins-egg blue.

Aeonium 'Sunburst.' This succulent has prospered without much attention.

Kalanchoe variety. This one gets big, with thick rubbery leaves. This girl is just a baby.

Sometimes called 'propeller plant' for its thick, planar leaves, this Crassula falcata has some of the most intense flowers in the world of succulents.

Canarina canariensis. I love the simple reddish-orange tubular flowers on this winter blooming scandent plant.

Catching up

 Well, it's been a few weeks since my last entry but things have been busy for me and not quite so busy for the garden, thus less to photograph. Still, there was a surprising bounty to capture on film today so I share that with you now.  Though winter is not quite upon us, losing daylight savings time and having shorter days always makes it seem as if winter is around the corner.

This sunny bed is already showing the first clumps of Babiana shoots. It has has a lovely petunia in a pot and some Lemon Balm in the right foreground.

This dense mound is the always charming Oxalis 'White Pillow.'

A new addition to my garden, this yellow blooming Aloe 'Sunshine' is already attracting hummingbirds.

Correa 'Ray's Tangerine.' Correas can sometimes bloom in winter and I have two varieties doing just that.

My ceramic hedgehog planter is now sprouting some Sedum Angelina.

My Berberis 'Orange Rocket' had its best year ever, holding onto its rich burgundy-red color all year.

This is one of many mixed dwarf conifer bowls in my garden. For those of you who get the Regional Parks Botanic Garden eNewsletter, keep an eye out for my article on dwarf conifers that will appear in the January edition.

This new addition to my garden, Juniper horizontalis 'Pancake' is slowly spilling out of its pot.

Another of my favorite dwarf conifers is this Chamaecyparis 'Golden Mops.' It too has held onto its color all throughout the year.

It's not too late for Hibiscus to be in bloom and that includes my H. 'Cherie.'

I've begun collecting Dianthus (carnation) and this is one of my favorites - D. 'Chabaud Orange Sherbet.'

I got a bee harvesting nectar from my Asclepias cancellata flowers today. There are so many flowers that the branches are weighted down nearly to the ground.

Pelargonium 'Raspberry Twizzle.' This fun geranium always seems to be in bloom.

I'm pretty sure this Begonia 'Summerwings Ebony and Orange has some B. boliviensis in it, given its telltale orange flowers.

Azalea 'Court Jester.' This azalea is a late season bloomer, sometimes up until nearly XMas.

This striking Begonia 'Gryphon' has never bloomed but I don't mind. I bought it for its foliage.

On the other hand, this Begonia 'Irene Nuss' does put on quite the blooming show in the fall.

Billbergia 'Hallelujah.' This is one of the more spectacular billbergias and it's one of those plants that thrives with benign neglect.

And finally another bromeliad that I think is an Aechmea though I'm not sure. I love the banding.

Transitions

 Not much to share today, just hoping that everyone has been able to get vaccinated. Fall has made itself known, with some cool mornings and/or nights. Okay, onto the photos.

 

Suncatcher. I found this cool Etsy seller who custom prints on tempered glass. I gave him this image and voila.

Evolvulus. I never get tired of photographing this plant. I'm a sucker for true blue flowers.

There is a Begonia series called Belleconia and here's a new one I added to my garden.

Above and below are two Petunias, each with their own unique pattern.

I yanked out a dying Ninebark shrub and replanted that area a month ago. That's a golden spirea in the back and of course alyssum circling it.

The latest Salvia in my garden, this Skyscraper Orange has a lovely coral-orange color.

My Itoh peony, bought as a bulb, is making slow progress. Though it has yet to bloom, it has acquired a lovely bronze fall color to its foliage.

Gaillardias may be common but they bloom over a long period, attract bees and butterflies, and add a bit of sunshine wherever they're positioned.

This unusual Centaurea (C. ragusina) has the most silvery foliage. Looking forward to its flowers.

Tillandsia tectorum. The most silvery (and fine textures) of all air plants.

My deciduous begonias were late leafing out this year (like this B. Gryphon). Not sure why. 

Maybe only exciting to bromeliad lovers but seeing my Vriesea fenestralis bloom was a moment to savor.

Justicia Fruit Cocktail. A funny variety name but it sort of fits. Chartreuse bracts sprout bright red flowers on this plume flower.

Verbena lilacina de la Mina. This CA native sub-shrub is famous for its long blooming period and its drought tolerance.

Here's another Justicia, this one J. fulvicoma. I love its combination of reds, oranges and corals. A late bloomer but worth waiting for.

Picea Papoose. This dwarf spruce is a personal favorite. Conifers always seemed boring to me until I really began to investigate them.

Many bromeliads will color up when put in some sun. That's true for this Neoregelia, which has added a deepening purple color to its center.

Aeonium Kiwi. This pinwheel aeonium brightens up any space.

Dianthus variety. Can't remember now which one this is but I love its picotee edges.

 Azalea 'Court Jester'. This late blooming azalea's flowers are all different, with a white base and either streaks or speckles of purple.