“What’s Going On?”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana
I can’t figure out what’s going on. Here we are in the first week of December, having the coolest fall ever, already have had several light freezes, and I still have hibiscus blooming. Not just one or two but many, and there are buds galore on all the hibiscus bushes. Usually at this time of year there are very few if any flowers as the plants seem to go dormant. I will admit that most of the flowers are smaller than they are in warmer times, but two nights ago it was down to 27 degrees, and these guys didn’t even blink.
Red Hibiscus Bud
Peach Hibiscus in December
Okay, so I have hibiscus plants that are still blooming. What’s to figure out about that? Well, this afternoon, I noticed this.
Always Growing 
Gail said,
December 6, 2008 at 9:30 pm
It is odd! I wonder if a freeze will pop up soon! We are having very cold weather here in Nashville–colder then we are used to having…we might even get snow!
nancybond said,
December 6, 2008 at 9:32 pm
LOL! Nature’s standing on her head this year. 🙂 That hibiscus is gorgeous!
Deb said,
December 6, 2008 at 10:51 pm
My daffodils are coming up early too. I love your snowfall background.
Jan said,
December 7, 2008 at 5:46 am
Gail, I do not remember a fall that has ever been this cool. It has been so lovely the last three months. Usually we will have days of very hot temperatures, but not this year – uniformly cool.
Nancy, you are right. It does seem as if Mother Nature is confused. Can the falling snow on my blog count for my first snowfall for the Garden Blogger First Snowfall Project? LOL
Deb, glad to see I am not the only gardener with early buds on bulbs. I wouldn’t be surprised to have them blooming by Christmas.
fairegarden said,
December 7, 2008 at 6:12 am
Hi Jan, first of all, I love those snowflakes on your blog! Excellent, subtle but beautiful, well done! And seeing a bud on the daff, well, what can even be said about that? 🙂 It has turned into Canada here in southeast TN, so cold and frozen, I don’t hardly know what to do with myself, but hope the plants in the garden can figure out how to cope with this much cold so early!
Frances
tina said,
December 7, 2008 at 8:51 am
A confusing year indeed! Love the snowflakes falling.
Chandramouli said,
December 7, 2008 at 9:25 am
Hey Jan,
Hibiscus flowers almost year round here and nice to see yours blooming too. Aren’t they gorgeous creations born out of Earth’s womb? Congrats on the Narcissus bud! Gardens always surprise us pleasantly, don’t they!
Brenda Kula said,
December 7, 2008 at 10:00 am
I agree with you. Fall in this area is colder than I recall. Maybe you have some phenomena going on in your gardens, Jan, that we are not accustomed to…
Brenda
Patricia Louque said,
December 7, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Cool Snow!!
flowergardengirl said,
December 7, 2008 at 9:08 pm
I love your snow and did you notice it collects at the bottom? It’s fun to watch. I haven’t figured out how high the snow goes. You got bloomers still? They are sure to get nipped. I hate when that happens. I quit growing camelias because of it.
Jan said,
December 8, 2008 at 5:46 am
Frances, it is cold here but not as cold as you are. In speaking with my sister in Virginia, she says the same thing – too cold already.
Chandramouli, it is not unusual for hibiscus and other tender perennials to be blooming here in the winter, but we usually do not have any freezes until Jan/Feb. This year has been a little unusual.
Brenda, I’m glad to see it is not just me or my imagination. Everyone seems to be having colder than normal temps. I guess the garden plants are confused, too.
Pat, thanks. I thought the seasonal snow was kind of neat.
Anna, with the unseasonable cold weather, I am waiting any day now for things to be frozen back.. As it is right now only the coleus is looking pretty sad.
inadvertentfarmer said,
December 10, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Ohhh those are lovely!
Jan said,
December 10, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Thanks, inadvertentfarmer, it is rather nice to have hibiscus blooming in December.