Christmas buds

Christmas Day was dry and brown here this year, the garden bare and exposed.  For our household, it was a welcome change of pace from the more-often-than-not white holiday.  Temperatures were also in the 50's, which meant, after presents were opened and the mess tidied, we could actually be outdoors with only a light jacket.  The lack of snow/moisture means the garden is very dry tho.  Since it was so pleasant, I didn't mind in the least hooking up the hose and giving it a good soaking.  The idle time was also a good opportunity to examine some of the plants.  In doing so, guess what I noticed ~ a bud stalk on one of the hellebores!

Yippee!  I just might have blooms in January!  Could it be?????  I guess we'll wait and see. If so, that will be a first!

I also found some viola buds ~ a sure sign that it hasn't been very cold.  Usually these are long gone by the end of December. 

Since it was Christmas, I even let our cat Regis outside for a festive roll on the sidewalk!  (a big treat for him since he isn't allowed out much).  Instead of rolling tho, he headed directly for the lavender and gave it a thorough sniff-over.  Look what I had the sheer luck of capturing when he was finished:

If I'd wanted to catch him with his tongue out, I'd probably never be able to do it.  Isn't that usually the case? 

Not outside but very exciting is another bud I thought might actually open for Christmas.  As you can see, it didn't quite make it but maybe it will be blooming by New Year's??

You've seen this Paph orchid before ~ it last bloomed for me in January (of this year).  The bloom lasted about a month then it took six more months of growing new leaves before this bud started up in August.  If it opens in time, it will be a great flower to start the New Year, don't you think?   

Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday....

Comments

[Racquel]

Well must be nice that you had temps in the 50's, lol. We got all that snow you guys usually expect at this time of the year. ;)

PS love the shot of your cat, how cute is that! ;)

[RainGardener]

WoW! Buds and flowers - is it spring yet? LOL I'm going to have to come read all of your Amaryllis information. Bob adopted last years and took good care of it and it fizzled this year. Got great leaves then they fell over and that's all she wrote. LOL

[Dana]

WOW Kathleen - amazing that you found the buds and flowers. Now I have to go out and check to see if I have any. It's very dry here in Denver too.

I love all the photos - especially the one of Regis!

[Gail]

Kathleen, 50F and no snow~Someone has switched the East Coast with ya'll! I am glad you could get out and enjoy the garden~I look forward to seeing the hellebore! gail You cat is a darling.

[Janet]

Super jealous with your Paph bud getting ready to open....at least mine isn't dead (yet). I need to see if my Hellebores have buds.....crossing my fingers.

[Tatyana]

Hi Kathleen! Beautiful images, and the cat picture is precious! Our Christmas was wet and green, but happy!

[Eliza @ Appalachian Feet]

Sounds like we traded weather -- I've never had a white Christmas in 33 years, but my city finally had one this year. Beautiful photos!

[PlantPostings]

Lovely photos, Kathleen! The orchid bud is amazing!

[Sweetbay]

Regis is adorable!!! I love that shot!

Weather is funny isn't it? Your weather is on the warm side and dry, and we got 6+ inches of snow the day after Christmas. I can't remember snow in our area around Christmas since forever, not even when the Outer Banks got a freak blizzard in '89.

The Palph orchid is gorgeous in bud. I can see that image as a 4' high poster. It's that beautiful.

[Kala]

That image of the orchid bud is beautiful - composition, clarity, light are all wonderful.

Wishing you a happy new year Kathleen!

[RobinL]

We certainly didn't have any warm, brown Christmas here! It was cold and white, like it's supposed to be. Hellebores in January, that would be wonderful. I'll have to check mine out, now that it has warmed up. The snow is nearly gone, yippee!