What's Blooming in December

Robin's response:

The Gladiolus callianthus, Acidanthera bicolor (Robin's photo at left) is one of my favorite summer flowers, the fragrance is as wonderful as the famous Brugmansias.   Commonly known as Abyssinian, Fragrant Glad or the Sword Lily, it is very easy to grow.

Plant the bulbs in the spring about 3 inches deep and watch it take off quickly, sending up leaves that can grow up to 30 inches and more. In no time the flowers will start opening showing off the creamy white petals with a purplish center. They are beautiful when combined with daylilies and other glads. Did I forget to mention the fragrance? Pure delight.

This year I was late getting them in the ground. I put some in a pot and some in a new bed. They took off in both the ground and the pot. I figured if they don't bloom this year I can dig them up or take the container inside. They bloomed in September and continued to bloom up until Thanksgiving. The temperatures were very cool with it frosting several times. So needless to say I will continue to grow this beautiful flower.

My grandmother used to grow glads all the time. They would be everywhere and I loved to go out and pick giant handfuls when I was little. Got a good scolding and a spanking when I did it, too. Granny always said that they were there for everyone to enjoy, not just me. Then I would be sent outside to pester dad and gramps. They would take advantage of all that childish energy and set me loose in the vegetable garden to gather the vegetables for dinner and to chase out the rabbits. I still can't resist picking the glads and putting them in vases all over the house, and I still go out and gather the veggies for my family's dinner. I don't run as fast as I used to, but you can still see me chasing rabbits out of the garden.

My gardening has expanded from just glads to a variety of flowers, in the ground and in containers. I don't limit myself to just flowers in containers. I love to plant different veggies in them too. Why go all the way out to the garden for a handful of green onions or chives or a tomato, when I can reach right outside my door for some? I learned that trick from my mom.

One thing I have learned from my playing and working in those gardens long ago, is to look, listen and grow. When you don't know what you want, look at other gardens to see what grows great around your area. Listen to some of those old timers, they do have tried and true experience. Grow what ever you want. If it doesn't grow, try again, try something different. Just keep trying. If it ain't growing, your knowledge is.

Even though gardening keeps me pretty busy, most days you'll find me playing on the computer, crafting or in the kitchen, experimenting and creating different dishes that are healthy, (some turn out great and some don't). I keep trying.

Carol
(AlohaHoya)

Hawaii

Marti
(marti)

California

Marti
(marti)

California

 
                     Jefferson Rose

Sharon
(Sharon)

Kentucky

Sharon
(Sharon)

Kentucky

Sherry
(wcgypsy)

California

Sherry
(wcgypsy)

California

Sherry
(wcgypsy)

California

Sherry
(wcgypsy)

California

Sherry
(wcgypsy)

California

Left photo:
Susan
(virginiarose)

Virginia

Right photo:
Tee
(songofjoy)

Tennessee

Tarev
(tarev)

Zone 7a

Tarev
(tarev)

Zone 7a

 Tarev
(tarev)

Zone 7a

Tarev
(tarev)

Zone 7a

HOW TO ENTER THE NAME THAT BLOOM CONTEST

Scroll down to the forum at the end of this article.  Click on the thread, "December Contest Entries."  Enter the name of the plant, either one of its common names or its botanical name (genus and species).  It's important to include its cultivar name, which appears in single quotes when it's cited.  The contest thread should appear shortly after publication of this article. The winner gets to select a photo of a blooming plant from her/his garden, to be published in next month's What's Blooming article.

CONTEST DEADLINE IS JANUARY 5, 2011

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ABOUT COTTAGE-IN-THE-MEADOW GARDENS

 Cottage-in-the-Meadow Gardens, owned by Larry and Wilma Rettig, South Amana, Iowa, has been featured in local and national publications, on the Internet, and is listed with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., as a national heritage garden. Larry and Wilma grow over 300 varieties of flowers, trees, shrubs, and vegetables. Since 1986, they have maintained a seed bank that preserves vegetable varieties brought from Germany to the Amana Villages during the 1850s.  More . . .