Every month on the 15th I shake my head and say 'already?' Yes, it's already time, once again, for
Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day over at May Dreams Gardens.
*(In fact, it's past time, now, as I'm getting this post published a day late). While I don't have tons of flowers in bloom, I have to say there are quite a few more than were available for
January's bloom day post.
Hellebores are still in bud and bloom. Some still look very similar to photos from last month, while others have opened and continue to do so. I will probably have Hellebores in my blog posts in March and April, perhaps even beyond that.
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| H. x ballardiae "Pink Frost", a little less direct sunlight in this photo |
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Helleborus x nigercors (Winter Rose)
HCG "Green Corsican"
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| H. hybridus |
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| Helleborus niger 'Jacob' (blooming since November and still producing buds and blooms) |
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| H. hybridus "Red Lady" |
Several varieties of Galanthus are scattered throughout the yard, all opening at various times through the winter and early spring--so they will continue to pop up when I least expect it. There are 'Giant Snowdrops', 'Common Snowdrops' and some that truly look like miniatures that are only now beginning to show the teensiest sign of a bud.
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| Galanthus nivalis (Common Snowdrop) |
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| G. nivalis (Common Snowdrop) |
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| G. elwesii (Giant Snowdrop) |
Here is the only Scilla that began to pop out a tiny blue blossom a couple of days ago--so it shouldn't be too long until the whole flower begins to unfold. I planted a few more of them last year...
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| ...also known as Squill |
Crocus 'Romance' surprised me yesterday afternoon in one area of the garden, although like the Scilla, there is only one that showed its pretty head. The rest are all still in hiding.
And this one particular Hyacinth has been pushing out a bud for over a week and there is the faintest hint of blue.
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| Hyacinth (blue) |
Golden Groundsel has evergreen foliage, generally in the heart-shaped leaf form. However, when it gets ready to form buds, they develop in longer, toothier-edged leaves. The buds start out reddish-purple, as they are right now (below):
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| Senecio aureus aka Packera aureus (Golden Groundsel, a native groundcover) |
Last year, Golden Groundsel's buds looked like this in mid-March:
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| Golden Groundsel March, 2012 |
Later in the spring, they will turn bright yellow and look like an entirely different plant. Pretty cool! Here is a photo from last spring, the end of April:
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| Native Packera aureas (Golden Groundsel), April 28, 2012 |
Lastly...I found this mushroom/fungi growing on the edge of a small treestump in the yard. I thought it could be considered a 'bloom' so I'm including it :)
Narcissus have yet to flower in my yard, but foliage has been up for some time. I seem to have some late blooming daffodils...I guess I need to add some earlier bloomers.
I've been noticing all the Monarda foliage spreading throughout an area of the side garden. Maybe it will put on a good show this year, as I don't remember having so much of it in past years. See all the squirrel holes (or deer tracks?)...they are all over the gardens.
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| Native Monarda didyma (Beebalm) foliage |
Be sure to stop over at Carol's
May Dream's Gardens to see what other gardeners around the world have blooming in mid-February.
What gifts have you discovered today?
Until next time,
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.
