Scattered late blooms of spirea, azalea, and Rankin jasmine vine are a curiosity (particularly as they stray into December), but hardly unusual following mild autumn temperatures. With an extended period of cold overdue, but expected within days, remaining flowers will be ruined with no more expected.

Camellias have flowered heavily since early October (the best I’ve seen in decades in this garden), and with many unopened buds these are likely to resume flowering once less chilly temperatures return. Winter flowers of camellias are quickly ruined by freezing temperatures, with blooms often brown along the edges, so there are not likely to be perfect pink or white flowers from here on out. Flowers of mahonias are now at their peak, and these will tolerate temperatures to ten degrees and below with no damage.

While I prowl about the garden regardless of temperature, by week’s end my wife won’t venture outdoors into the cold, even for a minute without bundling up. But, there should be no issues in the garden unless the gardener has neglected to bring tropicals indoors. Otherwise, temperatures will not be severe enough to damage cold hardy plants. With nighttime lows regularly dropping into the twenties, plants are well acclimated by early December, so there’s no reason to worry.