Thursday, March 8, 2012

What's Blooming Now

It's March 8th and I've decided to show 'what's blooming right now' in my garden. The last time I blogged was in January and I had 'vowed' to blog at least twice a month. Somehow, February completely slipped away without a single post. Did anyone notice?! Probably not!

Crocus 'Romance' (Just planted bulbs in January!)


Hyacinth


I took photos daily, or at least several times a week, throughout the month of February, so it's all 'on record' if I want to share anything. I'm not sure what the reason for lack of blogging was, but it could have been the fact that most of my blooming plants were being completely destroyed by squirrels. It was kind of depressing, to say the least!

Anyway, I just noticed today that the Candytuft is blooming...it seems early to me:

Iberis sempervirins (Candytuft)
The Pulmonaria started blooming in late February...I could hardly believe it. Much earlier than last year!:

Pulmonaria 'Raspberry Splash' (Lungwort)
 Here are some of the Hellebore's that are and have been blooming. Some since January, most of the others were blooming the whole month of February. I couldn't show them in February, however, because they were gnawed and eaten, with blooms cut off and looking scraggly! I finally got some good 'critter spray' (Bobbex) and have had good luck with it so these photos show 'intact' plants. (Wait until my next post when I show all the ugliness that the squirrels created here...!):

Helleborus hybridus




Helleborus hybridus (Pine Knot Strain)





A couple of different Hellebores...both 'hybrids'.
(The one below had part of the flower eaten by
squirrels but you can still see the pretty interior as
it opened up).




Helleborus hybridus 'Phoenix'
H. 'Phoenix' (above) was totally chewed off so I had to wait for a new flower to form...


Corsican Hellebore was the only plant that wasn't touched by the squirrels:
Helleborus x nigercors 'Green Corsican'




I have a lot more Hellobores but couldn't show any blooms because either they bloomed and were destroyed, or they haven't bloomed yet. As I said earlier, I have another post 'brewing' about that issue.

I think it's early for Hepatica, compared to last year:
H. nobilis:
Hepatica nobilis (Liverwort)

H. acutiloba:
Hepatica acutiloba (Sharp-lobed Hepatica) - pink


Same with Jacob's Ladder...it is much earlier than last year!:

Polymonium reptans 'Jacob's Ladder'


I just planted these Iris reticulata bulbs in January...so not sure if they are 'early' or not. They began blooming over a week ago:

Iris reticulata (Just planted bulbs in January!)


Daffodils have been blooming for a few weeks, on and off...but I still have several varieties that haven't even broken ground yet. Here are some I've had for years...nothing 'special', really. I planted a bunch of new ones in January and will photograph them when they bloom...




I had to show this guy...usually I'd pull him out but in February, he was welcome!

Dandelion (so-called 'weed' but adds color!)

Veronica repens (ground creeper)

Pieris japonica (Andromeda) 'Valley Valentine'

Vinca Minor (*An 'invasive' vine but I keep it contained, although I wouldn't mind getting rid of
it entirely! I do admire the blue flowers, though)

Ilex Berries (Holly Tree) -- just because it's pretty against the blue sky
If you noticed a white 'film' on any of the plants, it is spray to keep away the squirrels and deer. You might wonder why it would be on things like daffodils, hellebore and pieris. If I didn't know better, I would wonder myself. However, it is necessary, believe me! I have a whole series of photos showing the damage and destruction caused by squirrels alone. I have never had so much hellebore damage. It's a crime, it really is! I'll explain in my next post...

Until then, did you remember to say
Thanks for Today! Unwrap the present; discover the gifts! ?

What gifts did you discover today?


Words and photos ©Thanks for today.™, by Jan Huston Doble @ http://www.thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/
Not to be reproduced or re-blogged without express permission of the author.

21 comments:

  1. Such pretty pictures! You have lots blooming! Wow, I am so surprised to hear of squirrel damage to Hellebores, I thought they were poisonous to mammals. It is so depressing when animals cause so much destruction to the beauty we are trying to create in the garden. I'm so glad you got a post together.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You have a lot blooming. It is looking pretty nice!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love the helleborussen so nice and different The flowers in the spring they are a Joy foor every one I dont have mis jou but I notice You new blog The time wnet faster every Jear it seems to me like we running out of time
    Love Jacky

    ReplyDelete
  4. Enjoyed your beautiful pictures!!
    Your garden is ahead of our Garden in Toronto, Canada.
    Snowdrops and crocus are in bloom right now.
    I am interested in the spray you use to repel Squirrels.
    Haven't planted any new tulips in years because of squirrels.
    Thanks,
    Gisela

    ReplyDelete
  5. Gosh you do have some beauties on show at the moment. Love the Hellebores and the Iris. The Veronica repens and Hepatica really caught my eye. They are quite lovely. To answer your question, yes I did notice you hadn't done a blog post in a while and it's been great to pop in to see what's going on in your garden at the moment.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am going to have to revise my tips to customers about hellebores, in that nothing eats them. You must have very hungry squirrels, I thought the plants were poisonous.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Les, they don't really 'eat' them...they just chew off the buds and blossoms and leave them lying right at the base of the plant. They do the same thing to daffodils! It's crazy, literally.

      Delete
  7. We did miss you, but look at all of the beautiful flowers you have to show us. It was worth the wait.

    Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

    ReplyDelete
  8. You do have a good number of blooms now. Love the first few photos with the color focus on the bloom, great showcase of the flower.
    It is a shame those squirrels have done so much damage to your Hellebores. Rotten critters!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hello, stranger. I've missed your blogging. Many of these plants are also in my garden but won't be making an appearance for quite some time. The Iris reticulata bloom is just about the prettiest bloom ever! Your photos always make me want to throw away my camera, but I won't:)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow! I cannot believe your Raspberry Splash Pulmonaria is blooming.I will have to look out at mine to check it now. LOL! The Blue Irises are just the prettiest Jan. And all of those gorgeous Hellebore's.I did see a couple of blooms on my Vinca Minor but nothing like yours yet. I just love it that things are starting to bloom again. Have a wonderful weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I discovered you posted...I noticed you had not and missed you. Wonderful blooms. With the lack of snow the deer and rabbits have eaten many plants.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Good to see you post again Jan. I know how difficult it can be to blog about your garden, when the garden in question is just depressing the heck out of you. But now it looks like you have lots of darling little gems in your garden. Hope to see you blogging again soon :-)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow Jan, you have lots of blooming things for February! It has been such a mild winter all around that there are so many early blooms to enjoy. Isn't it wonderful?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Dear Jan ~ You have some beautiful blooms.

    Enjoy all that beauty surrounding you.

    FlowerLady

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your hellebores are lovely, Jan, and I can understand your frustration with the squirrels. I've been waiting for the past month for mine to bloom and finally have a few; if the squirrels got them first, I'd be on a rampage! Love those sweet irises.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Jan, I noticed and I missed you!! I saw you on Facebook, so I knew you were OK, but it's great to see your beautiful post, too. Dang squirrels! Now you have me worried about my spring bloomers that I just exposed to the sun yesterday (by raking off leaf mulch). I hope the squirrels and rabbits don't get to them before they bloom! Those Hepatica blooms are priceless, and the Irises are among my favorites. Beautiful post! Welcome back!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi, you have a lot going on in your garden. It is pretty. Kinda slow here in my garden. If you would like a start of the Flowering Almond let me know. I will send you some.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I vowed to blog at least once a month in winter - you are more ambitious. Squirrels eat my dogwood buds, but am lucky that other things are left alone. A neighbor heard that putting out nuts will keep their bellies full so they would not bother his garden. Turns out all the nuts attracted more squirrels to his yard, and more damage!
    -Ray

    ReplyDelete
  19. Dang those freaking squirrels! I'm so sorry they're wreaking havoc on your plants. Have you considered a dog or cat? I have an aging garden cat who sticks close to home and guards my gardens.

    Your hellebores are lovely. My Pulmonaria is just starting to bloom too. I think it really is spring.

    And yes, I did notice that you hadn't posted in awhile. So there. :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. oh no, your hellebores are destroyed? i thought they were pretty destroy-proof! I'd be fuming too.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for visiting and taking the time to comment! Please enjoy your TODAY and all of the gifts in YOUR garden of life!

Jan

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