December in the garden has been rather quiet here in the Bay Area,  Most of December we had rain and many days of cold and cloudy days, however the last week of December has been spectacular with sunny blue skies and daytime temperatures in the cool 60s.

Here is a look at how my garden faired in cool, rainy, and now dry December.

My cottonwood trees finally dropped all their leaves! The rain helped to accelarate the leaf droppage.

Geraniums are still going strong.

Bought this stunning white amaryllis at our local Trader Joe’s and enjoyed the blooms all through December.

 

Succulent cuttings work- in-progress.

Love gifting something from my garden ❤️🌿. Gave a few succulents as holiday gifts  this holiday season.

I also love using twigs and sprigs from my garden as present toppers .🌱💐

 

Received this gorgeous topiary from my neighbor and dear friend. I have never taken care of a topiary before! I hope I don’t mess it up 😒.   I am enjoying it indoors but I wonder if it will do better outdoors?

 

I also received this beautiful lilly from another neighbor across the street. Enjoying it indoors for now but will eventually plant it outside in the garden.

This is the year of ivy topiary I think 🌿🤔. Got this three-tier topiary from my neighbor up the hill with whom we share our common driveway – this is our neighbor Jim’s wife and the same neighbor who gives us bounty of summer vegetables every year.

Since I am sharing indoor plants let me share these photos of Christmas cactus plants that I bought at our local grocery store this holiday season. I hope to take care of these better than I did last year’s Christmas cactus plants .

Moving on back outside again, I see signs of new life in the garden. Daffodil bulbs are sprouting already.  I even have one daffodil already in bloom!

January will be busy mulching and pruning perennials, roses and other bushes.

Hope you had a fun December.
Looking forward to an outstanding January!
Happy New Year!