Alas, I have even less blooming this month than last! I don't consider myself a flower gardener, but I'll admit that flowers are a really enjoyable part of growing the plants I like - except the Agaves, who perish after flowering - not that I have ever had Agave blooms here in Portland. But I digress.
There's no denying that in the dead of winter we all look for that tiny, bright, tell-tale sign that life is continuing. So here, for the record, is what's blooming indoors and outdoors at Longview Ranch, with a few "almost in bloom" and "maybe for February Bloom Day".
Arctostaphylos x 'Austin Griffiths' is blooming its heart out for the third month in a row, delighting the Anna's Hummingbirds who check it multiple times a day. I can see it from my breakfast room, and it's a sight for sore eyes on these wet, short days.
My Hellebores have always been really late, and this year is no exception. I guess I'll check back in February.
I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw that Abutilon megapotamicum, for all the blooms that got whacked by the snow and ice, had two new blossoms that were perfect.
Three dwarf Pieris japonica 'Prelude' are ramping up for their spring show. But how many months will it be before they actually bloom?
Good ole' Rosemarinus prostratus 'Bonny Jean', again this month. It was sold as a cold hardy prostrate selection, and it's proving itself.
Mahonia repens blooms are still tightly closed. I don't think we'll see them before March, at the earliest.
Likewise Camellia japonica 'April Kiss'. The buds look like they're showing color, but I think it's a fake out. Whaddaya think - April maybe?
Our recent "silver thaw" did its worst work on the emergent Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide' blossoms.
But afterward, the life force of these great winter shrubs prevailed. Now we have multiple, newly-opening flowers.
Moving indoors, here are the tiny bloom spikes of Ledebouria socialis.
Streptocarpella sports one perfect bloom in the very best blue.
And we finish with another "next month?" One of my Sarracenia is sporting its first flower bud!
Bloom Day is sponsored monthly at May Dreams Gardens. Click over to see flowers from across the nation and around the world.
Happy Bloom Day!
Arctostaphylos x 'Austin Griffiths' is blooming its heart out for the third month in a row, delighting the Anna's Hummingbirds who check it multiple times a day. I can see it from my breakfast room, and it's a sight for sore eyes on these wet, short days.
My Hellebores have always been really late, and this year is no exception. I guess I'll check back in February.
Three dwarf Pieris japonica 'Prelude' are ramping up for their spring show. But how many months will it be before they actually bloom?
Good ole' Rosemarinus prostratus 'Bonny Jean', again this month. It was sold as a cold hardy prostrate selection, and it's proving itself.
Mahonia repens blooms are still tightly closed. I don't think we'll see them before March, at the earliest.
Likewise Camellia japonica 'April Kiss'. The buds look like they're showing color, but I think it's a fake out. Whaddaya think - April maybe?
Our recent "silver thaw" did its worst work on the emergent Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide' blossoms.
But afterward, the life force of these great winter shrubs prevailed. Now we have multiple, newly-opening flowers.
Moving indoors, here are the tiny bloom spikes of Ledebouria socialis.
And we finish with another "next month?" One of my Sarracenia is sporting its first flower bud!
Bloom Day is sponsored monthly at May Dreams Gardens. Click over to see flowers from across the nation and around the world.
Happy Bloom Day!
So many pretty things flowering for you, Jane! That Abutilon is one to remember, for sure! I totally forgot it was Bloom Day. :(
ReplyDeleteYou have a Sarracenia bud...in January! That's cool.
ReplyDeleteI have even fewer blooms than you. The Sarracenia flower is cool, I've killed them twice.
ReplyDeleteI have lots of buds, but very few blooms. Like you, I don't consider myself a flower gardener, but I still feel their absence acutely. I'm planning to add lots of Arctostaphylos, so someday there will be more winter blooms.
ReplyDeleteHappy GBBD! I've got a baby Arctostaphylos x 'Austin Griffiths' in a pot and hope that someday it'll bloom and be as beautiful as yours! 'Yuletide' is such an nice jolt of warm red at this time of year!
ReplyDeleteSo many cool plants, but that 'Austin Griffiths' is a scene stealer!
ReplyDeleteIsn't Arctostaphylos lovely? These are beautiful photos - and so much hope in all those buds!
ReplyDeletePretty blooms! And I love to see buds. Anticipation is certainly a part of the joy of gardening!
ReplyDeleteStreptocarpella - now that's a mouthful, but what a lovely blue flower! A new one to me.
ReplyDeleteI had someone asking me to identify a plant yesterday, and I couldn't remember what it was. And then I just saw it in this blog post, Ledebouria. Thanks!
ReplyDelete