No theme was planned for these six random pictures that I took last Wednesday after we relocated the pygmy date palms. Daphne, pigsqueak and azalea were featured somewhat recently already.
1. Phoenix roebelenii, pygmy date palm, which is one of a pair, is included in my six this week only because relocating them, in their large and heavy pots, was such a major task.
2. Cymbidium spp., orchid is not blooming yet, but is working on it. No such bloom was expected, since this formerly large specimen was divided thoroughly after its last bloom.
3. Daphne odora ‘Variegata’, daphne was featured in my Six on Saturday earlier, but this picture demonstrates how large one of several specimens is. It is apparently happy here.
4. Bergenia crassifolia, pigsqueak bloomed with a few premature flowers for December, but is blooming more on time now. The flowers are nice whenever they choose to bloom.
5. Hyacinthus orientalis, hyacinth has been reliably perennial for several years, which is impressive. The winter chill here does not seem to be adequate for it to bloom so nicely.
6. Rhododendron spp., azalea started blooming prematurely nearly two months ago and continues to bloom through winter. Its bloom duration compensates for its off schedule.
This is the link for Six on Saturday, for anyone else who would like to participate: https://thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/18/six-on-saturday-a-participant-guide/
Tony Tomeo 
This phoenix is gorgeous! Here they can survive in pots, but the cold damp winters don’t suit them. I’ve lost some in recent years.
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They had been outside for a few years, then became large houseplants for a year or so, but are back outside now. They collect debris from the redwoods above, and are difficult to groom. They are nicely happy though.
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The daphne is beautiful! I don’t know anything about that plant, but it’s definitely one to research.
Here, we call Bergenia “elephant’s ears.”
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With few exceptions, it is the only daphne that is available here. (I only recently saw it without variegation in a retail nursery.) Other daphne are available in other regions. Here, they can be difficult to get established. That is why I am so impressed by the size and vigor of these particular specimens.
“Pigsqueak” sounds more amusing than “elephant’s ears”. Besides, there are a few other species that we know as “elephant ears”.
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It’s interesting how the names are different in different regions. What we call “hoverfly” is apparently a “flower fly” in the USA.
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