What's "blooming" in January?

Think of those quote marks as a wink to the quaint notion that blooms MATTER.  In fact, I have a little story about that.

When the Associated Press photo editor called me to set up a shoot of me in my garden earlier this month there was grave concern that this would even be possible.  Did I have ANYTHING blooming, even a HOUSEPLANT?  And that just got me started on my schtick about evergreens and rocks and ponds and garden furniture and all that good stuff and she fell for it!  No seriously, though a nongardener working and living in Manhattan, she could envision all that looking damned photogenic.

And the photographer herself immediately saw all the best shoot locations - standing under an arched doorway, against the backdrop of a waterfall, on a teak bench with evergreen foliage and red berries behind me and ON AND ON.  (Did I mention it was about 40 degrees and a bit windy, too?)

But back to blooms because that's what gardenbloggers show off on the 15th of every month and I only have one really sad-looking and disappointing hellebore bloom (H. foetidus) that you don't want to see.  That's why I'm showing you my friend Pam's rosemary as it looked just last week, which she assures me will be its happy state right through the winter.  Gotta get me some of that.

And here's a favorite winter photo of mine, taken at the National Arboretum.  Don't winterberry hollies look awesome massed like that and paired with grasses?  For the Latin-inclined, that's Ilex verticulata.

Comments

[Commonweeder]

I'm with you that it is more than flowers that makes a garden bloom. Although I have a friend who cried that she wasn't ready for shrubs! as she tried to get her perennials under control, I have come to a great appreciation of shrubs, and built things! Thanks for opening our eyes to a new perspective.

[eliz]

Wow!! I love berried shrubs of any kind. Wish I had some. And of course I don't think houseplants compare to a real garden scene, complete with evergreens and other cool winter stuff. But, as with all gardening, I love the process of getting the indoor plants and bulbs to do what I want. The results are not all that. For true indoor magnificence, you need a botanical garden or some such.

[Carol]

Susan... you are right, blooms don't always make the garden. Gardens are so much more than just flowers. Winter proves that for many of us.

[Eric]

I sympathize, Susan. Not much blooming in my yard right now - I had two winterberry hollies that I cut back nearly to the ground to rejuvenate, so they aren't helping with their berries either. None of my hellebores are blooming right now. If we get enough warm spells, maybe the late winter witchhazels or the early blooming mahonias will kick out some color. It's just that time of year when the bones of garden get me through visually - the backdrops of dark rich greens - yew, holly, laurel, rhodos, and the interesting barks on the japanese maples and the crepe mrytles stand out. I always think this time of year that it would be nice to have a "Harry Lauder's Walking Stick" growing, but I haven't the room left for one! The red cardinals and blue jays hanging out in the virginia red cedars bring flashes of moving color. It's just a more subdued, mellowy, subtle time of year for the garden. With the leaves down, at least I can really enjoy watching the woodpeckers at work on my maple.

[Curtis]

I understand Susan. Nothing blooming in my yard. Just the Blue Daze inside I saved from the cold. I like the winter berries.

[Mike in Arlington]

Witch hazels are now in bloom. I have three in the back yard, two of which are extremely fragrant, and burnt orange in color.
In addition, my fall blooming camelia is still in bloom.

[Joy]

For an economical January wedding in northern California, does anyone have an idea of the flowers that bloom in late December and early January??