Sunday, February 15, 2009

Blooms Day, February 09






Well! After last month's dreary count of flowers in bloom on the 15th of the month, there has been a big change in the garden, and much much more change to come next month!

Today's offerings from La Dona Primavera include snowdrops, aconites, and violas; the helleborus niger is determinedly sending up its pink buds, but they need a little more warmth in order to open. The other hellebores have their big fat fringed buds down low among their tattered and burned old leaves, with probably a month to go before they actually get the courage to open. The mahonia by the front door (north face) is dawdling in opening also. My photographs leave a lot to be desired, I know, but as a record for me of what's opening today they are just peachy. There is actually one foolish camellia April Dawn flower almost open; this is an example of what happens when one breaks the rules and plants camellias on a south wall! Not possible to get a picture though, unless I wade right into the bed where the hyacinths are coming up. The little violas have survived the winter very well, and are now beginning to fatten -- this year, I fertilized with kelp all winter and they seem to like it. And one final photo -- the h. niger blooms from a neighbour's garden; whywhywhy does her plant bloom weeks before mine?

The buds are getting fat on the corylopsis sinensis, although the edgeworthia still has its silvery parasols closed up tight. Soon it will open and send glorious fragrance around the neighbourhood for a week, but not this week.

10 comments:

joco said...

Rosella,

What a lovely and unusual name.The H. niger, is that Potter's Wheel? It looks slightly different.Beautiful picture.

And the title photo is so inviting. Are you brewing?

Gail said...

I have been seeing edgeworthia today and know nothing about it! Tell me more...Happy Bloom Day! gail

Country Mouse said...

Lovely garden - thanks for sharing. I enjoy your pictures.

Pat said...

Joco, I don't know what it is -- it was bought at a local plant sale a few years ago, without a name. And -- brewing every day at 4.00, when it's warmer!

Gail, edgeworthia is a wonderful shrub -- it can grow quite large, and has these vey litte silvery parasls of buds al winter It's relative of daphne and when the flowers open, they sell marvellous. Ths is the plant that brings people ringing my doorbell, to ask "what is it?"

Thanks, country mouse! Now I'm off again to look at everyone's bloom day pictures.

Carol Michel said...

Your garden is way ahead of mine. It's nice to see people with blooms outside!

Thanks for joining in,
Carol, May Dreams Gardens

Anonymous said...

Beautiful blooms today Rosella! Isn't this fun seeing what everyone else has going on their garden from month to month? Happy Bloom Day!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I am lovin' these blooms. Happy GBBD.

Anonymous said...

The Helleborus look great, such a wonderful plant, and so appreciated when other plants are waiting for warmer days. Snowdrops are another reason to tour the garden, looking for the little white buds. How fun to have your flowers already budding and blooming.

Dreamybee said...

I especially like those first two pictures. What a pretty bouquet, and what a happy sight those pink blooms are!

Jan said...

Wonderful GBBD post! I am loving hellebores, any way I can get them! I am inspired to find more, as I have only 1 plant. Like a few others, I'd like to know more about edgeworthia. It piqued my interest, too:)