Home of the Practically Perfect Pink Phlox and other native plants for pollinators

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

GBBD~My Garden Mettle Has Been Tested


The flowers that remain blooming are almost all  metal!
Of course, there are wallflowers and a few violas  that have seen better days!


How perfectly apt that the last bloom day of the year should end with a big freeze! This year we've had arctic freezes,  flooding rains, drought and now snow and frigid  temperatures!  It's a perfect end to a year of weather events and extremes that have left this gardener shaking her  head in wonder over what 2011 will bring!

 Looking out into the frozen landscape I knew exactly what made sense to share with you.



Without further ado,  I give you Clay and Limestone's favorite Bloom Day posts! ~You can follow the links if you have any inclination or time!

January~
When winter's frigid chill descended upon the  garden and all hope of bloom were dashed ~I went straight to the florist for tulips!

February

 I pulled a Rabbit Out Of My Hat For GBBD when there were so  few blooms


March

I was glad all over to see the crocus!



June


Clay and Limestone was in daylily heaven~with a few native plants to make us all smile.

Last, but,  certainly not least~

October


The October Blue skies finally arrive to  compliment  the native ex-asters.


I am so glad you stopped by for  December 2010 Bloom Day~ An event that knows no geographical boundaries and is celebrated hither and yon in this great big wonderful world we inhabit. Please visit Carol, May Dreams Gardens for a link to all gardenbloggers who are celebrating the day!

I wish you all a wonderful day, filled with laughter, celebration and gardens!


xxoogail

43 comments:

  1. What a great idea! It's good to do a year in review. Also nice on the particularly cold day to see some warmth!

    Happy Bloom Day!

    ReplyDelete
  2. You've pulled another rabbit out of the hat, Gail! A great idea to review the past year--one of these days we'll be seeing crocuses and daylilies again. Your frozen kale even looks so pretty--it looks like a miniature Christmas tree:) Hope you have a cozy fire to sit by and are staying warm!

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a lovely year you've had Gail - the shot of tulips from the florist is just outstandingly good! Love your metal petals :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Honestly, Gail - I love seeing your pretty snow pictures! But that's because I am sitting here by the fireplace with my computer. But it's supposed to be 77 here today and I am wishing for some of the white stuff - or at least a little chill. Happy Bloom Day. Come visit if the cold gets to you!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Very nicely done Gail. I make CD's of the different months and enjoy going through their slide shows. My decorations I left out and solar lights shine, along with all the birds at my feeders.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I too liked your pretty snow images. Even though the colorful blooms are where it is at, I like the restful look of snow. It gives the gardener a rest too, except for snow SHOVELING which is no picnic. Ha ha.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Brr! It looks cold in your garden, but fortunately not as cold as here. At least you have 1 plant in bloom outside. I love wallflowers. I couldn't find any last year.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh Gail, how fun! This weather has brought out the creative side, to our great pleasure and delight! I love all of your winter interest and art. Stay warm my dear friend and may we hope that 2011 takes it easy on us!
    xxxooo
    Frances

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your metal flowers are striking! Dependable too I bet ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh, Gail, I do hope 2011 is kind to you in every way . . . to your gardens too! Lovely lovely post of your favorite bloom day posts. The tulip and crocus are beautiful! Your daylilies sumptuous and I love the asters hugging your purple bench. Keep warm! Hugs from New England. ;>)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Indeed the blooms looking like metal or glass but still they bloom despite the cold cold harsh winter! Happy Bloom Day!

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a great year-end review! And I love that kale!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love the year-end bloom day review!!! Hang in there, spring is on the way :-) Those daylilies in June are gorgeous!! I also see that you have Stachys officinalis 'Hummelo.' I got some of those last year. I think (now that I see your post) that I may need to move mine to a little more shade. Do yours get any sun?

    ReplyDelete
  14. That metal flower is a beauty, Gail! Sorry you've endured such a crazy year in the garden. We've had some crazy WARMER than usual (hooray!) weather lately - up to the upper 40's some days and all the snow has melted. That's a perfect Christmas present for me.

    ReplyDelete
  15. You are the clever one - I didn't even venture out today, it is just too cold.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Gail, nice to see you again! I didn't realize Nashville is having such harsh weather. Do you garden indoors in winter?

    ReplyDelete
  17. That little wallflower is incredibly charming.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh Gail, brrrrrr.


    Heres to better weather.


    Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Gail, Beautiful blooming flowers!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Carol, so glad to have been able to visit your wonderful garden throughout the year. Some days, it's exactly the cheering up I need.

    Happy bloom day!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Fabulous way to end the Bloom Day posts for 2010 Gail. You picked some beauties.
    You really have experienced a year of extreme weather. It does make one wonder about the next year... Let's hope it is a gentler season.

    LOVE the light in your bottle tree photo too. Just beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thanks for stopping by my blog with words of encouragement. I get so depressed by the unsunshine when I arrive home to see my ungarden....until the weekends.
    Your bottle tree in snow!!! OK, wowza... I'm going to try again and make a bottle tree after seeing yours. You've inspired me. So beautiful.
    PLUS...I don't know how you manage, but your photographs can make magic happen...brown, almost dead plants become works of art.
    I've got some brown twigs I'm going to look at differently.
    :0) David/ Tropical Texana/ Houston

    ReplyDelete
  23. decorative cabbage - that's the last picture - right? looks so surprising..
    .
    white, white outside - I am already bored :)
    ..
    Hugs,

    ReplyDelete
  24. Great post :-)
    I love the colour of that daylily.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hello Gail, love your metal sunflower, and thank you for the reminder of past beauties. Look forward to seeing your 2011 blooms!

    ReplyDelete
  26. It certainly has been a year of weather extremes. Alas, that seems to be the new normal. Glad you had some metal survivors!

    ReplyDelete
  27. The last few posts you have included your wallflowers. I miss having them in my garden, will have to look for some in the spring. Cute post.

    ReplyDelete
  28. The last few posts you have included your wallflowers. I miss having them in my garden, will have to look for some in the spring. Cute post.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I think we need a new holiday carol called "O Bottle Tree, O Bottle Tree." I love your metal sunflower!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I really like the bottle tree shot. Stay warm!

    ReplyDelete
  31. How fun to look back at the year's flowers when the garden is frozen and snow covered!

    ReplyDelete
  32. It has been a head shaking gardening year for sure. The image of the Crocus gives me something to look forward to.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Fantastic post Gail! I loved your look back at favorite Bloom Day posts. Have a warm, wonderful weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  34. I loved your metal flowers Gail and how you showed your blooms for the last 11 months - I wish I had thought of that :)

    ReplyDelete
  35. Gail that was a great idea to do a year in review for bloom day. You certainly have had a year of weather extremes!! I hope it warms up a bit for you soon!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Your tiny snowman is adorable on right hand side.

    ReplyDelete
  37. I should have known you had gotten snow but I guess I didn't realize how extensive the snow storm was. I love your bottle tree and metal flowers. They must make you smile when you see them in the snow. Hmm, maybe I should get some (not that I ever get snow!). Hope you have a lovely holiday Gail!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Hello Gail,

    Oh, I have been thinking of you and your garden and wondering how you both have fared with the extreme cold. I am so glad you have both weathered the extreme weather this year. Your past bloom day posts are just so beautiful :-)

    ReplyDelete
  39. How fun, a year of bloom day posts. Sorry I missed it. Stay warm my friend.~~Dee

    ReplyDelete
  40. I didn't expect to see snow at Clay and Limestone! What a brave little wallflower :)
    Ah, daylilies in December..lovely, lovely, and the ex-asters draping the pretty purple bench...very romantic.
    The ornamental cabbage looks very festive decked in snow.
    A very creative post, Gail.
    As for keeping our cats away from my plants...I'm very lucky because the only one they're interested in is the Spider Plant. Jasmine, in particular, will occasionally chew on it and it doesn't bother me at all. I consider it a small sacrifice when all the other plants are left alone. I'm sorry about Coal's plant mania. It's probably his only bad habit though, right? ;)
    Happy Bloom Day!

    ReplyDelete
  41. A belated visit to your bloom day post but what fun! And, such a clever idea to keep 'metal' flowers adding bright color to the winter garden.

    Love the little note: Let Winter bring out the kid in you. It is snowing heavily here and I'm pulling on the snowshoes to take Bad Dog for a walk.

    Merry Christmas, Gail!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Gail, what a lovely retrospective on the year -- it has been a year of extremes, to be sure. So much for the warm winter predictions so far for our part of the world.
    Cheers,
    Lisa

    ReplyDelete

"Insects are the little things that run the world." Dr. E O Wilson