During my frosty morning walk the sun had just begun to peek into the meditation garden, illuminating the burgundy and green hued leaves of this Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ (Beardtongue).
Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ (Beardtongue)
A very few orange gardenia hips have recently appeared on the ‘Chuck Hayes.’
A patch of Lobularia hybrid ‘Snow Princess’ (Sweet Alyssum) from summer surprisingly has withstood the cold nights. This delicate-looking annual is reputed to be cold hardy (and heat tolerant), but probably Its location near the foundation of the house is giving it some extra protection.
Lobularia hybrid ‘Snow Princess’ (Sweet Alyssum)
Hellebores are not as early in blooming as last year, though I did find a few fattening buds. Camellias continue to bloom and provide sweet fragrance. Several Iberis Sempervirens (Candytuft) flowers are visible but nothing to compare with last year’s early and prolonged display. Weeds are cropping up around the beds, especially the rather invasive Cardamine hirsuta (Hairy Bittercress). The garden is overdue for a few heavy maintenance days.
Finally, one plant I noticed and photographed during a recent arboretum visit was Abutilon megapotamicum ‘Little Imp’ (flowering maple). Native to Brazil this shrubby mounding plant begins blooming in spring and still carried a quite a few of its little lanterns on the last day of December. The red calyx (or group of sepals) surrounds the yellow flowers to form its little lanterns.
pbmGarden 
Your Abutilon is amazing for flowering for so long, it certainly earns its space in your garden! Lovely to find these treasure on such a sunny frosty day!
Pauline I don’t actually grow this plant in my garden. Just saw it elsewhere recently and wanted to make a note of it. It is amazing to find it still blooming.
Excellent article. most interested to see what you have in flower.
Why thank you very much! Not much going on yet. This time of year I always make a note to myself to try to include some winter flowering plants–never gets done though.
I’ve seen this Abutilon as a summer container plant here, but how wonderful to see one flowering in December/ January!
This was pretty interesting to come across. I need to look for it in the spring if we return to that arboretum.
I have never seen the flowering maple…very interesting plant…nice to see some foliage and flowers…none here until spring!
The flowering maple is new to me also. Strange name because it is not a maple at all. I’m very ready for spring.
I’ve never seen gardenia hips before, even in the tropics. Very interesting shape and color.
I usually have a few (think half a dozen or so) among all the different shrubs. Don’t know why they’re so rare. The color is a nice and strong one like that of a pomegranate flower.
I love abutilon, and I can’t believe it is still living in NC right now. It would have succumbed to the cold ages ago here.
I must admit I was unfamiliar with this plant until we saw it the JC Raulston Arboreturm last week. We’re zone 7b which seems to be just at its limit of survival. Apparently hummingbirds really love it.
I have never seen Gardenia hips before. They are such a beautiful shape and lovely colours.
That deep orange color is a nice treat for this time of year.