Winter Time Gardening

Almost every gardening book you read advised you to study your gardens and plantings in the Winter time so that you can observe the structure of your plants more clearly. Certainly great advice.

Additionally, everyone who has ever held a trowel knows that now is the time to order and plan for the upcoming growing and blooming season.

Today, I will focus on the "Joy of Gardening." In fact that is the title of a program that I will be giving later today at the Dublin, Georgia Garden Club. I have fond memories of pass along plants that I have received from Gardening Friends here in Georgia, my adopted home since 1971.

The program today will focus on "Helleborus," also known as "Lenten Rose." I do not recall how I was first introduced to this lovely plant, but I was told that Deer did not eat it so I immediately obtained several plants because I was tired of the Deer even consuming the roses I was trying to grow.


Here you see a portion of the 20 plants I will share with the Garden Club in Dublin, Georgia this afternoon.


This is a view of the Lenten Rose planting in the Back Gardens where I live in West Bibb County Georgia. Lenten Roses thrive in the same type soil that Camellias appreciate. They are a shade plant but in the Winter time they perform well in full Sun. They also are very easy to maintain.

Here is a close-up of a plant that is preparing to bloom. This has been a slow Winter for the blooms to spring forth. Last Winter, I recall that I had one in Bloom on Christmas Eve 2008. You can see a few tight bloom buds in this picture.


So that you can appreciate the size of this lovely flower which will bloom through late March or even early April I have included this picture. This is the first bloom of the Winter 2009/2010 Blooming Season.

Please be advised that you can view these images in a larger format by simpling clicking on the picture. All of these pictures were taken on Tuesday Morning, January 12, 2010.

So, in addition to planning your 2010 Gardens, take some time to obtain cuttings and pot some new baby plants to share with your Friends. We all know that it is possible to obtain great satisfaction when we share the flowers and shrubs that we grow.

This, Dear Gardening Friends is part of the "Joy of Gardening." Thank You!!

Christmas 2009

Natural Foliage

I have noted that several organizations in Middle Georgia focused on using Natural Plant Material in the decor for Christmas 2009. Even the Grand Home of the South, Macon Georgia's Hay House focused on using Natural Plant Material.

The arrangement shown above is in the entrance of the Neel Reid designed home on College Street in Macon, Georgia. This is also the Headquarters of the Macon Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc.

Except for the three gold objects in this arrangement this design on the top of the Hutch in the Breakfast Room at the Garden Club Headquarters in Macon also uses Natural Plant Material.

Have a Blessed Christmas Season!!!

Fall Beauty

Preparing for Winter

These close up photographs of the Fatsia Blooms are shared here because I have never had seen this bloom. These plants are in four foot tall planters with a Southern exposure here in Macon, Georgia. This will be their second Winter and they remained out of doors last Winter with no damage.
The Gardens here are in a tree sheltered situation so I suspect that they will endure cold temperatures more efficiently than plants in planters in a landscape without trees.


No Fall Garden is complete without the lovely Confederate Rose. This pink bloom was just waiting to be photographed.

Frequent visitors to this Blog will know that I enjoy the "Angel Trumpet" plant. This one is in full flower here in late October. It is in the landscape on the East Side of our home in a wind sheltered area. I always cut these plants down to the soil line just before a frost. I collect about a dozen cuttings of the stems about ten inches long. I root them in water over the Winter in the Garage. The garage is not heated, but it is warm enough that these plants do not freeze. I also maintain the "Angel Trumpet Mother Plant" in a sixteen inch planter which I Winter over each year in the garage just in case we have a severe Winter.

I have been enjoying this beautiful plant in our landscape here in Middle Georgia for about eight years now.

As I visited the East Gardens I noted that the one Yuletide Camellia that we have is setting a plethora of buds which will soon become beautiful Flowers. I will share photographs here when they start blooming.

As we anticipate cooler weather it is prudent to think about plant protection for the upcoming Winter Season. Sometimes I wonder if the labor of toting the planters in and out from the garage is worth it, only to remember that the beauty that I enjoy makes it all well worth while.

Enjoy the Fall Season. Soon the Burning Bushes and other Fall Shrubs will be in full beauty.

Top Award Winners

Georgia National Fair

2009 Standard Flower Show

October 11, 2009 is the final day for this Show at the Georgia National Fair. The Flower Show is a real testment to the design skills of the Garden Club Ladies of Georgia. Additionally the horticulture displays gave every fair attendee the opportunity to view the plants that thrive in Georgia. A very educational event.

There were other Top Award Winners at this Flower Show, but I can only display so many. I took 167 images so that the Flower Show Chairperson could compile a Book of Evidence to submit in Garden Club Competitions.

You do not have much time left to enjoy this event, but I would urge everyone to attend the Fall Flower Show today or tomorrow, October 11, 2009.

I believe that this entry was in the "Hahira Honey Bee Festival" Class.

If I remember correctly, this entry was in the "Gold Rush Days, Dahlonagha" Class.

Fall Flower Show

2009 Georgia National Fair

Perry, Georgia

A Standard Flower Show

Yesterday, October 8, 2009 you had the opportunity to view the Fall Flower Show Staging. Today you are viewing the Complete Flower Show after the Judging had been completed. Of course there are visitors to the beautiful show.

2009 Georgia National Fair

Flower Show

Hosted By The

Camellia District IV

Garden Club of Georgia, Inc

What you are viewing here is the Standard Flower Show Staging. Tomorrow I will display the Show with all of the entries. This Flower Show was open to all citizens of Georgia.

Night Blooming Cereus

Today I will show you the cycle of bloom on this delightful bloom. The time and date are shown on each photo. It is amazing how this bloom progresses in a twelve hour period. Enjoy this sequence of blooms. For those who have never experienced the bloom of this flower please be aware that the fragrance is also wonderful. Last evening it was especially nice because of the humid conditions. We actually had a party!!!! Some of our Neighbors, some of our Camera Club Buddies and also some fellow Garden Club Members also enjoyed the show this lovely flower presents.

The first blooms on this plant were on August 1st, 2009. Now we know that the bloom cycle is at least forty days. It will be interesting to see if we have one more bloom cycle this year. Please be aware that we Winter over this plant in the garage. We do not desire that it be killed by a freeze.