January 2026 Bloom Day

Creeping Phlox in front yard

 

It's January Bloom Day for garden bloggers, hosted by Carol Michel's May Dreams blog and here in my Zone 6 garden in Virginia it's very cold today. The weather predictions had called for snow flurries this morning, but they never materialized, and neither did the rain yesterday, so the sun started coming out mid-morning. 

I was surprised to see that the Creeping Phlox under the cherry tree in the front yard still has a few open blossoms--they must have emerged during the extra warm days earlier this week, and miraculously, haven't frozen. The only other blooms in my garden are some snowdrops that I planted two years ago.

 

Snowdrops (Galanthus elwesii 'Mount Everest')

 

 My indoor garden is sporting a few blooms--I pruned my gardenia tree hard a couple of weeks ago but saved one branch with flower buds, which are opening.

 

Gardenia tree (Tabernaemontana divaricata)

One of my Phalaenopsis orchids still has a few flowers hanging on, and some new buds about to open. The Jewel orchid in bud I bought at Floradise has opened a few of its tiny white flowers, while my other new orchid, the Pahpiopedilum's flower is still fresh. 

 

Pink Phalaenopsis orchid

 

Paphiopedilum orchid posed for painting.

Jewel orchid (Ludisia discolor) in bloom.

 

 My miniature orchid, Epidendrum polybulbon has two flower buds getting ready to open. The African violet below is very pretty when in bloom too.

 

Epidendrum polybulbon orchid buds.

African violet (Saintpaulia 'Optimara' hybrid) 

 

Hopefully, I'll have a few more flowers outdoors and indoors next month, thanks for visiting!

December 2025 Bloom Day

 

Streptocarpus 'Wow'

It's the 15th of December, Bloom Day for garden bloggers, when we show what is blooming in our gardens, hosted by Carol Michel's May Dreams Garden blog. There is nothing in my USDA Zone 6B garden in Virginia in bloom--in fact, yesterday we woke up to a thin dusting of snow outside and it's bitter cold today--16 degrees!

 

Streptocarpus 'Wow'

 You can see the expansion of Herb's bed very clearly in this shot taken from my studio's window, with the path not quite finished. That'll have to wait until warmer weather comes around.

 

Back yard on the morning of Dec. 14.

 

My Thanksgiving cactus was full of flowers a couple of weeks ago, but those have dropped off and new buds probably won't open for another couple of weeks.

 

Thanksgiving cactus in November.

There are a few blooms around in my indoor garden: a couple of orchids, a Streptocarpus and an Episcia. Two of m orchids are blooming, the Oncidium hybrid just barely--three little flowers.

 

Pink Phalaenopsis orchid

Oncidium hybrid orchid

The Episcia hangs down over the two-story foyer along with a pothos vine.

 

Episcia on balcony over the foyer

Looking down at the foyer.

My foyer garden offers a refuge from the wintry conditions outside for both my plants and my spirits. On a sunny day it's lovely to be surrounded by these!

 

Lower level of foyer

 

I've still to find an affordable Helleborus niger for my garden, a plant that might bloom at this time of the year outdoors. Still looking, though. 

May your days be merry and bright, and may all your Christmases be white!