Plant Preview


Welcome to Plant Preview, a blog dedicated to helping gardeners learn about gardening techniques and preview new plant cultivars. Read about new plants here first and hear how your "comrades in compost" are making use of new plant introductions in their gardens and landscapes. Blog author Geri Laufer is a life-long dirt gardener, degreed horticulturist, author and former County Extension Agent. Plant Preview is copyrighted by Geri Laufer.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

The Winter Solstice is a Balmy Planting Day in Atlanta


Although it is late December and the shortest day of the year, we are having an incredibly balmy day in #Atlanta. I was delighted to spend 3 hours outside this morning under a light mist (or perhaps it was inside a low-flying cloud), planting Japanese irises along the sometimes-wet dry creek bed, star magnolia in a prime spot, forsythia near the road, plus camellia, hardy ageratum, Chinese sacred lily, Italian arum and 2 huge native azaleas. O, the anticipation of spring.

Everything is green and still growing; in fact the hardy ginger already is sending up spring sprouts. Ferns are thriving, Amarcrinum and Crinum still green, lots of fall-blooming crocus still photosynthesizing. Herbs that I planted almost a week ago look great as they begin to make contact with the rich brown soil. 108 Helleborus x orientalis that I grew from seed  and put out as quarts this fall are each beginning to offer a new leaf. Left over from summer, I still have late roses, Encore azaleas, pink daisy mums and yellow ones in bloom, as well as camellias blooming for the first time.

After awhile even my and hair face felt a little green and mossy. So satisfying to breathe the good, rich earth smells and suck in the endorphins. What a lucky gardener I am, to live in Zone 7B.



  

10 comments:

  1. I think typical for Z 7b gardens and weather is somewhere between you and I lately. Here's to you enjoying your mild winter for me! Someday, 7b might return here...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ty Desert Dweller!
    Because we have yet to receive a “serious” freeze, many plants of the summer garden are continuing to perk up in the cool air after suffering in the brutal summer heat.
    The basil is gone (sensitive frost indicator plant)but many other plants are doing well.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The November solstice a887 black, also known as winter months season solstice a887 black in the south hemisphere and the summer solstice a887 black in the lower hemisphere.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you very much for your excellent web page.I am really really like it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The Nov solstice a887 dark a887 dark, also known as winter season season solstice a887 dark a887 dark in the south hemisphere and the summer solstice a887 dark a887 dark in the lower hemisphere.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hair experience sensed a little natural and mossy. So fulfilling to take in the good, wealthy world odors and pull in the hormones. What a fortunate grower I am, to reside in Area 7B.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dear Sandwich Panel, thank you v much you are kind.
    Dear Biomass Briquetting Machine, I am fortunate also. The USDA recently changed Atlantas Zone to 8A, Camellia Heaven.
    Best, Geri

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you very much for your outstanding website.I am really really like it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. A complicated place sickness may oust one of the most popular and effective. After rain fall or fog followed by warm nigh time. Liked it.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Dear Printed Pouches and Hydraulic Car Lift,
    thank you very much.
    (??)
    gardengeri

    ReplyDelete