Oxalis densa

We came back from a wonderful Thanksgiving in NY to find some more special flowers to celebrate the end of 2013 with.  In particular, the oxalis remain delightful with each variety taking it’s turn on stage.  The oxalis densa is remarkably compact with very large flowers for the size of the very hairy stems.  The back sides of the petals are streaked red so the when the bud is rolled up it’s a bit like an abstract painting.

Oxalis densa showing rolled up bud

Next to it we have the oxalis adenodes which has a wonderful sheen to the petals in the late afternoon light.

Oxalis adenodes

And I cannot shake a fascination with the oxalis purpurea ‘Skar’ which looks so well-formed and colorful in it’s tight little hairy bud.

Oxalis purpurea ‘Skar’

I had two surprises in the greenhouse when I got back from Thanksgiving.  Both were from bulb distributions from the Pacific Bulb Society which has a wonderful online database and a very active mailing list.  One was Freesia fucata, a cheery white african flower with yellow markings.  It’s a small plant overall which makes the flowers that much more remarkable.

Freesia fucata

The second addition to the blooming category was a small Narcissus that would survive outside but would be lost amid all the other flowers of spring time.

Narcissus cantabricus ‘Silver Palace’

In the Greenhouse it gets a full portion of daily appreciation.

At the same time the house had an explosion of Orchid to share with us.  Our prettiest cattleya was fully in bloom and it’s scent every bit as good as the velvety texture of the flower.

Cattaleya in full glory

Meanwhile, the outside garden had it’s own surprise.  The crocus specious, which I had thought might not even join the bloom party this year, had popped fully open.  It is truly a very pretty flower with the stamens having a signature bright orange that contrasts vividly with the purple flower.

Crocus speciosus

Of course that was the first week of December.  Since then we’ve had two snows and the back yard looks like this.

After December winter storm

Ever the optimist, I can’t help but wonder what is going on underneath that snow…:)