Bloom Day: January 15, 2015

More things are blooming in the garden than I would expect from January. Currently blooming is Sarcococca ruscifolia. The flowers are small but intensely fragrant and appear at the same time as last year's shiny black berries:

 

Elaeagnus pungens 'Fruitlandii' is still blooming after a month. This evergreen shrub also has a sweet scent, but not nearly as strong as Sarcococca, nor are the flowers as profuse.

 

Mahonia x media 'Charity' has also been blooming for more than a month, but is clearly reaching the end of its run. It is popular with the Anna's hummingbirds which frequent the yard. Hopefully blue berries will follow. They are quite attractive to robins.

Mahonia x media 'Underway' is new in the garden this year. Some if its bloom spikes were killed by frost.

 

Viburnum x pragense is blooming for the first time in the garden.

 

A few things are not quite blooming including Pieris 'Valley Valentine,' which is also new in the garden this year and fully decked out in reddish winter stems and folliage:

Viburnum rhytidophyllum has been growing in my garden for years and frequently sets buds, but unfortunately they seldom open. The leathery leaves and tan fuzz on the stems are attractive year round.