All through December I put this post off until I had some good photos to go with it. I never got any photos -- even not-so-good ones.
In December, my Mediterranean white heath was in full bloom. I have some white heather too -- similar, & closely related. It's blooming now, but nearly finished. These are evergreen plants, & the only things in my garden that bloom this time of year. They're subtle, blooming in masses of tiny white bells...but being surrounded by dead brown stuff makes them standouts nonetheless.
I had 2 other kinds, whether heaths or heathers I don't recall, that were supposed to bloom other times of year. One had a golden foliage & rose flowers, the other was green with bronzey blooms. I planted these in July. Then I went out of town. Genius, huh? One I'm sure is entirely dead, but the other might have a breath left in it. We'll see in spring.
Because the ones I planted in spring (& actually cared for) have done well for 2 years (& spread), & because they stay beautifully green & bloom even if it's freezing, I think it's worth investing in more colors/varieties of these winter gems....
