Once again our best December flowers for GBBD are the camellias.  The one above was purchased at Camellia Forest Nursery which is probably the best source for camellias in the whole country.  It took a few years to get to flowering but now has probably a dozen buds on it for this year.

Its older cousin is the red camellia sasanqua which has a record number of flowers this year.

Even the camellia ‘survivor’, which flowered earlier than the others, still has a few flowers left on.

Elsewhere around the yard there are still a few things that have withstood the 25 degree temperatures that we’ve seen so far.  In particular the Japanese Quince is loaded with early blossoms.

And the heather has more flowers than I’ve ever seen on it.

One little surprise in alpine bed is a cute little polygala

When you actually go inside the greenhouse there are some very lovely flowers in process.

And some oranges just about ready to harvest

One item from the greenhouse that has made it into the house is very striking Nerine from Far Reaches

I should mention too that when I went out to the woods yesterday I found the dark black berries from the Blackhaw Viburnum hanging in the tree.

A reminder of the flowers that will come in the springtime.

I should also mention that I spent early yesterday morning ordering seeds from the North American Rock Garden Society Seed Exchange.  It’s a wonderful opportunity to acquire unusual seed from all over the world.