More Hellebores (H. orientalis) getting ready to bloom. This one is 'Royal Heritage'. These I know are right on track.
Iris reticulata seemed early, but looking back at my records they are at about the same place they were last winter.
Clematis 'Nelly Moser' as well as pretty much all of the other Clematis in my yard have new growth.
Old fashioned Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra spectabilis) seemed really early to be sprouting, but looking back it's not. All of them are at about the same stage as this one.
Corsican Hellebore has buds that seem to be growing daily, last year they bloomed through the snow. I think they are typically later bloomers than the other Hellebores (H. orientalis), but in my yard they bloom right around the same time.
Variegated Wallflower (Erysimum linifolium) was new last April, but it came in full bloom when I bought it. It has only stopped blooming during the freeze back in December, it's now got quite a few new buds. As I've said before this has been one of my favorite new plants this past year. If you see it and it grows in your zone (USDA 3a - 9b), buy it!
Winter Daphne (daphne odorata) never got a chance to really bloom last year. Hopefully these quickly growing buds will be able to flower before any more freezes.
Winter Hazel (Corylopsis) 'Buttercup' didn't really get a good chance to bloom either last year. It's loaded with yellow and pinkish buds.
This house down the street from me has a tree that has new growth all over it, I can't tell what type of tree it is though and this was the best picture I could get. Any ideas? This house is going to be for sale, anyone want to be my neighbor? :)Sarcococca is now blooming, but I'm saving those pictures for Bloom Day. They are exactly on time, Grace's are blooming too. The Snowball bush (Viburnum) actually has some leaves beginning to open as well as some of the Hydrangeas. The Hydrangeas worry me though, since one good freeze and I say "goodbye" to all the flowers for summer. Another thing I'm a little concerned about are the pests that seem to be enjoying our mild weather, I've seen both Aphids and Leaf hoppers on my plants. As much as I've loved this mild winter I would really love to get at least one snowfall.
You really have a lot sprouting out. Speaking of pests I don't usually see in winter - I saw a slug the other day. This did not excite me!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to check again you've got things showing I didn't notice here but then I'm a little behind you too.
You realize, of course, dear Catherine, that the rest of the continent is pretty much green with envy over all your new growth, don't you? But all in good fun, of course, because it's blogs like yours that keep us winterlocked sorts from going crazy for the next couple of months.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy comparing growth in the garden year by year. I hope that you get your wished for snow Catherine but only a dusting to see those bugs off:)
ReplyDeleteHello Catherine,
ReplyDeleteI enjoy visits to your garden, even in January because there is so much going on. The Hellebores are going to be so beautiful. I hope you get one last snowfall soon so that your garden can really get going on getting ready for their spring show.
Every time you post your pictures I think, "I need to go and see if any of mine are showing signs of life, too" since I am also in the P. NW. However, that will have to wait until the rain and wind stops. Then I will be slogging through some mud...
ReplyDeleteWould love to be your neighbour... provided you'd manage my garden too! It's a lovely tree - we call the furry things 'pussy willow' but that's just a general name, not the name of the tree. Great to see new growth - good to be reminded of nature's great cycle.
ReplyDeleteComparing to my garden yours is real early. But we're not in the same zone, are we? We use to have mild and rainy winters but not this one. It's still cold and the snow stays put. But today the temperature reached over the freezing temperature and it has thawed some. It makes me hopefull!
ReplyDeleteApparently your winter has been milder than ours. You are showing some very good growth here. Is that tree a pussywillow? I'd love to be neighbor's with you...maybe you could get a cutting when the house is vacant...
ReplyDeleteStunning pictures, the hellebore buds are gorgeous, I have to buy some this year if I can find them. You're lucky to have so much going on, I know what you mean about being worried about plants starting too early, I have the same concerns when we have an early spring. Does your viburnum self pollinate? I bought a blue muffin in the fall and am unsure of it's ability to produce fruit on it's own. :) Rebecca
ReplyDeleteCatherine, this is a great post and everything looks wonderful.... but my brain keeps saying, "No, no, no..." We're still deep in snow and only 1/3 of the way through Winter! ha.
ReplyDeleteEvery year is different. Last year on Bloom Day I had blossoms on half a dozen things. Some of those, especially spring bulbs, haven't even sent up a tentative leaf, much less a bud. I see buds on shrubs and trees, but they're tight against the cold which I hope lessens soon.
ReplyDeleteAhhh....what I would give for some signs of life in our garden. Everything is frozen solid here in New England... we've been barely making it out of the teens temperature-wise and there so much snow. I'll buy the house next door! :)
ReplyDeleteYou can have our snowfall. Ha, no, we'll keep it. You are so right about the plants seeming to be early but really when you look back they are right on time. Blogging is good for this-reminding us. It is one of the reasons I blog. I hope your winter hazel blooms. I'd love to see in your garden. I tried it the year we had a late freeze and it died. I might try it again. I think your tree is some type of pussy willow? I see someone else thinks the same. You might be able to google it. It is in the willow family I believe.
ReplyDeleteI have some of the wall flower, too. I love it. It blooms pretty much year round. It's only drawback is it's short life span. It blooms itself to death after two or three years. Bowle's Mauve does the same thing.
ReplyDeleteDeirdre
Such gorgeous pictures!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like spring is on its way in your garden. Envious? Definitely!!
Ellie
jennyfreckles, Darla and Tina - I'm sure you're right about it being a type of Pussy Willow. Isn't it strange I never noticed this tree before. There used to be a flowering Plum in front of it. I don't think I've really paid attention to when Pussy Willows "bloomed" before.
ReplyDeleteYou live in a great area for growing things. It will be fun to get prespring pictures from you and I will share my in late March early April. Thanks for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteI have found that since starting my blog I often look back to see how things compare from one year to the next
ReplyDeleteI love seeing these things, Catherine. They are like previews of coming attractions here, we grow many of the same things although we are so far apart geographically. I see the tree was identified as a willow. What a beauty! We have a new Corylopsis that might bloom this year, so I was excited to see yours coming along. Hooray!
ReplyDeleteFrances
Your photography is amazing. Wow. I didn't realize so much was coming out in your area already. Is this pretty much the "usual" timing of things. Very interesting. I am a new follower and shall live vicariously through your non-desert gardening.
ReplyDeleteWow...you have a lot sprouting up! It does seem so soon. Everything will be blooming again before you know it!
ReplyDeleteJenny - Hi! Yes, most of this is pretty usual. I thought it seemed early until I checked my pictures from last year and found the same things starting.
ReplyDeleteWe have about three more monthes before we see this in our gardens here. Such an early spring you seem to be having.
ReplyDeleteYou are lucky! There is nothing sprouting here! Except the weeds, which somehow manage to remain green even beneath the snow!
ReplyDeleteThe tree looks like a pussy willow to me too...is it possible for you to get a close-up with your camera?
Everything looks beautiful in your garden...I love it when the plants start sprouting. I think it is a pussy willow too. Oh I forgot how much I love them, but I thought they were more of a shrub. I looked it up in the Sunset Western Gardens book & it they can be a tree or shrub & reach 25 feet! If only they didn't love water dso much, I'd plant one here...
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see your bleeding hearts...
Hi Catherine~~ I didn't read through all your comments but I'm assuming the mystery tree has been IDed as a pussy willow. However, in my experience, Valentine's Day is when they're at their peak and ready to pick. Could the mild weather cause them to bloom so early? I'll have to check mine. Ditto for Corylopsis. 'Royal Heritage' looks gorgeous! Hopefully the bugs will get sick and tired of all this rain and wind and head south.
ReplyDeleteCatherine,
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post celebrating these early signs of spring. I love the colors of the Variegated Wallflower, and will watch for this come spring. Your garden is so beautiful, and I look forward to my visits. It is so much fun to watch as new things begin blooming.
Catherine, as much as I enjoyed this post and all the photos, it hurts me to think how long I still have to wait to see anything popping out of the ground.....like 90 days.
ReplyDeleteYou go ahead and enjoy your gardens and don't worry about me:) I'll come here to your blog when I need a dose of green & blooms.
donna
What great photos of new life emerging from the earth! The bleeding heart photo especially is super....you can almost see it growing.
ReplyDeleteI will look for the variegated wallflower...what a great plant.
I would LOVE to be your neighbor Catherine. Sign me up! I wouldn't even have to dig up half my garden (to move with me) then ~ I'd just come over and beg for starts! Not to mention the appealing idea of living where there is life in the garden all year. What a concept! Everything is still buried in snow here. Wish I could send it to you. Your garden says "spring" to me. It's so refreshing to see so many different plants coming to life.
ReplyDeleteIt is so great to see life in a garden this time of year! Come on spring....
ReplyDeleteI agree with Grace, The tree looks like a pussy willow. Will have to check to see if mine is blooming. I also have all these wonderful plants putting out growth and flower buds. Makes me feel a little guilty when everyone else is snow-bound or frozen over. We'll just have to feed their souls with pictures from our blogs. Yes?
ReplyDeleteCindee
Gosh Catherine you seem to have gone from late summer to early spring with no winter in between I am so envious from a snow covered Surrey still.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog, Catherine! And while we in Iowa are buried with 30inches of snow...your garden is beginning to bloom already! I have hellebores too but they are sleeping under their white winter blanket.
ReplyDeleteBeth
http://beyondthegardengate-beth.blogspot.com
http://foodasart-beth.blogspot.coom
My hellebores aren't doing anything. The freezes didn't seem to damage them. But they just look like they did a month ago. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
How fun to watch your garden coming to life already! And thanks for reminding me of one reason I'm glad (?) that I still have several months of freezing weather - fewer pests. Though the winter doesn't solve my thrips problem, or rose curculios. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteI really like that you have a clock counting down until spring. That is cool!
ReplyDeleteThose little sprouts are a wonderful reminder that there is still life in the garden.
ReplyDeleteIt's all so amazing.
It's good you keep those records by way of your blog...we tend to forget.
I am definitely going to look for the variegated Wallflower. I love the colors of the flowers.
ReplyDeleteYour new growth must keep you going through the winter. But it sounds like your winter is quite mild. Ours is too, but not much new growth, ut some seeds sprouting. Love your new hummingbird header!!
ReplyDeleteIt's always interesting to see how differently the same plants behave depending on where they live. My hellebores aren't even close to blooming yet. Last year, they were still blooming well into May.
ReplyDeleteMust admit, I wouldn't mind a few blooms right about now - it's been quite gloomy here.
Hi Catherine
ReplyDeleteIts wonderful to see all the fresh buds appearing in the garden isn't it. I used to never photograph my garden during the winter - I looked at the overall look of the garden rather than the little gems down at soil level. Now that I've started blogging I have amazed myself at how much beauty there really is in the winter garden - just like here in your garden.
Oh Catherine, I am glad I discovered I had missed this post! Beautiful! I love the stage of your hellebores... those sweet buds and seeing the blades of iris reticulata I imagine the hidden folds of purple petals. It is so exciting to see all this life happening ... even though here I sit looking out on freshly fallen snow... at least six inches. May your weather remain mild so as not to kill your hydrangea, and hopefully a large crew of lady bugs will discover all your pests! ;-)
ReplyDelete