GARDEN BLOGGERS' BLOOM DAY, NOVEMBER 2014

As much of the nation shivers under frigid temperatures and in some places a blanket of snow, we in Texas also find ourselves in the path of the polar vortex. Two nights below freezing has ended our long spell of garden color. Yes, I could show you the hardy flowers like alyssum, dianthus, Copper Canyon daisy, blackfoot daisy, and chocolate daisy and even a sheltered place where the Philippine violet is still blooming but you have seen all those before. They are still brightening the garden but I thought I would take this opportunity to feature a little plant whose fragrant blooms even gardeners in northern climates could enjoy over the winter. The Calamondin, Citrus mitis.

This beautiful little citrus is about to burst into full bloom but at the same time has tiny oranges in all stages of ripeness.

It is a joy to have its sweetly perfumed flowers in the house in the winter. One of the hardiest citrus and will tolerate temperatures as low as 20° but I brought it inside so that we could enjoy the blooms during this cold week.

A native of China this plant is well suited to container culture and there are no problems with pollination as the flowers are self-fertile. As long as it spends the summers outside it will perform admirably indoors in winter. A dry period followed by watering will stimulate flower production within 2 months.
This little tree is important in the celebration of Chinese New Year in Hong Kong, when the streets and flower markets are filled with the tiny orange trees.
Thanks Carol at May Dreams for hosting another Garden Bloggers' Bloom day. Stay warm.