What's Looking Good in December 2023

Poincettia towering above Brugmansia 'Charles Grimaldi' ...



Hibiscus rosa-sinensis in pots ...


... and in the ground ...

 

A bit of fun ... this is the only way we can get a frosty-looking garden. We have CCTV cameras in a couple of places around the garden for when we are looking for the cats ... here is Van in their favourite pot on the raised front patio at night ...

 

I don't think you need a frosty looking garden, a soft wet look or your usual warm sunny look are better ...
Although I do think black and white photos have a charm of their own, and your garden looks lovely in monochrome

 

Agree Michael. That is off the infrared camera. When, and if it ever rains, will see about that.

 

@Michael Hewett
This is it off the CCTV a while ago ... with Van in the pot ...

 

That looks lovely @Victoria, better than frost. What's that nice shrub in the pot with Van ?

 

Thank you Michael. It is a Thevetia peruviana. I have its twin in The Courtyard. It is also called the Yellow Oleander but I have the peach colour ...



Cascabela thevetia - Wikipedia

 

I grew two Thevetia from seed this year, as soon as the summer went they started looking sad and losing leaves, one now looks dead, the other one I have cut back due to black stems.

Its the same problem , I think, that I have always had with Nerium oleander, black stems where everything above that point dies.

 

That's a nice colour @Victoria.
I read in the link that all parts of the plant are toxic to vertibrates, so are you worried about Van sleeping under it ?

 

@pete Sis grew mine from seed in Germany she brought back from Mexico I think. She brought them down to me in 06/07 at this size ...

I assume she grew them in her unheated Wintergarten.

As above, I have had them since 06/07 ... so the answer is no.

 

It is, for some reason, why I cant seem to grow Oleander, I thought these might be different, but it appears not.

I believe the sap would be very acrid, is that the right word, any animal would soon spit out this kind of vegetation.

 

Unfortunately my normally spring flowering camellia has started now, so there will probably be none by March. A friend had one in full bloom 2 weeks before Christmas, so will also have a bare spring. (Not a sasanqua, a normal japonica type)

 

Last blooms for 2023 (a bit overcast) ...

Beloperone (Shrimp Plants) ... Pink and Yellow ...



Brugmansia 'Charles Grimaldi' ...


Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Petit Sunrise' ...


Cobaea (Cup and Saucer) ...


Cyclamen ...


Tecomaria ...


Strelizia reginae (Bird of Paradise ...

 

Daphne bholula "Darjeeling"

 

For the end of the year I dont have much, just the Mahonia "charity".


The pineapple didn't make it in time for Christmas, but its still coming along.