Well, it's now the middle of December. Here in Massachusetts that surely means it's getting cold out there. Winter coats and boots have been brought out and snow blowers and shovels made ready for the very real possibility of snow in time for Christmas...
Or not.
The weather this December has been so mild that I could almost call it balmy.
My new Helleborus niger 'Jacob' is in bloom and attracting the pollinators that are out and about in this unusually warm weather.
While I still have some Alyssum and even Yarrow still holding on to blooms, it is the new flowers of this early blooming Hellebore that are the most enticing for the pollinators.
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| This one's mine! |
I am quite surprised to have flowers blooming and bees buzzing in December...
but after last year's record-breaking winter,
I'm definitely not complaining!
Happy gardening!
To find out what else is blooming in other people's gardens around the world this December, visit Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day over at May Dreams Gardens blog.
Wow! My Hellebores are starting to unfurl, but I have them covered with mulch and leaves. I expect they will probably bloom early this year--maybe in February. Mine are H. orientalis hybrids. No bees active around here yet.
ReplyDeleteThis variety is a very early blooming one. I'd love to fill that area with hellebores that will bloom throughout the season - anything to get blooms around wintertime or shortly thereafter!
DeleteHello Indie!
ReplyDeleteI love the Helleborus. It is beautiful flowers when the window gray, rainy.
Very beautiful photos.
Greetings from Poland.
Lucia
Thank you, Lucia! It has turned colder with a good amount of rain, but I enjoyed the sun while it lasted!
DeleteWell I have hellebores opening already but sadly no bees. Not that I've seen anyway. It's ridiculously mild here, I'm out in the garden in a T shirt some days.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty crazy weather! I think it's finally turned colder though in time for Christmas.
DeleteWell, its delightful to see so fauna activity, evidence of so much life and buzzing in the garden.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great thing to see in December! It will likely have to tide me over until March or April here.
DeleteHope we see them in the spring too!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! I was glad to see a good number of bumblebees here this summer. Hope it continues!
DeleteI have helleborus niger in flower too, and I have bees – but that’s probably more common for my garden than for yours in December :-) we have it rather balmy here too, and especially at night as the temperature doesn’t really drop much from day to night. I am perfectly fine if the winter goes on like this until spring :-)
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be too upset either, though my husband and kids want snow. I think I'm okay with a winter without any :)
DeleteIf we don't get some winter, soon, we'll be fighting bugs in our Spring veggie patch.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if the winter kills our bugs up here as they are probably too used to it - maybe some crazy warm weather will knock some of those invasive ones off kilter? We hope?
DeleteThis crazy, warm weather is everywhere....16c here in the UK. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours x
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family as well, Jane!
DeleteIsn't it amazing...with blooms still going a bit here and there, we have had flies but the bees are gone for now...I have a feeling they will be back early though.
ReplyDeleteThat would be nice. I'd definitely be up for a nice mild winter this year after our last one!
DeleteIndie, I wish you Christmas filled with magic, wonder and love:)*
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and your family as well!
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