As 2024 draws to a close, there are some things that still think temps are mild enough to bloom, going into January.

This seed-grown Camellia japonica, is one example:



https://photos.app.goo.gl/FtDEdWTqbdUeWqts9


https://photos.app.goo.gl/sWFvqG8dJeKQUbMc6




How about BOUGAINVILLEA, blooming in Michigan...


https://photos.app.goo.gl/XSs1zVixrugP8bB3A



As a free gift with one of my tropical fruit trees, I got recently, I was sent a mini zipper bag of 4 CHERIMOYA seeds. Online, there are videos, that discuss first soaking the seeds, before planting, and tossing any seeds that float to the top, because they are non-viable. Before soaking the seeds, I rubbed each seed across some coarse sandpaper, in order to create a tiny opening for water to enter the seeds. However, after scarifying the seeds, ALL floated to the top.
At first, I thought I had only been sent some "old, dry" seeds, as a way for the vendor to get rid of them, because, even after a day of soaking, all the seeds were still floating on top of the water. I sowed them, nevertheless, expecting none to germinate. Cherimoya seeds usually germinate within a 10-60 day window. After about 30 days, ALL FOUR seeds germinated. The first one, after about 18 days. Here they are after about 40 days. They will soon need to be given individual pots. Cherimoyas can begin fruiting in about 3 yrs, from seed, and can do so in a container, for folks in the North, like me..



https://photos.app.goo.gl/Af5ghQ82JidfZ85J6