"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it brings."

Friday, March 19, 2010

Last Fertilizer Friday of winter!

Finally Spring begins tomorrow. I think I put my Spring countdown up when it was still over 60 days away, and now like many things I've had to wait for, it feels like it was just yesterday that it felt so far away. The closer Spring has gotten, the higher the sun has gotten in the sky creating beautiful lighting. Lighting can be everything in taking pictures. The same beautiful flower can look completely different in pictures depending on the light. We've had some beautiful sunny days with more on the way. Temperatures in the 60's make us sure Spring really does start tomorrow even with another recent light frost. And since daylight savings time started it has been light until almost 7:30 p.m. already giving us longer days to enjoy the outdoors.

So for the last Fertilizer Friday of this winter I found these beauties blooming in the sun:

The White Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectablilis) looks perfect in this light.

The double Hellebore 'Mardi Gras Double' that I bought this year continues to bloom.

One of my favorite spring bloomers Pink Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum) is just starting to open.

Muscari seems to be everywhere in my yard now. They are perfect to put in little Spring bouquets.

The Crocuses soak in the sun.

Navelwort (Omphalodes cappadocica) 'Starry Eyes' in the shady path garden didn't see as much sun. I've found a few of these popping up in other parts of the garden which I'm very happy about.

Fertilizer Friday is hosted by Tootsie at Tootsie Time every Friday. Visit her to join in or to see what other flowers are being flaunted this week.

On my previous post I mentioned that no birds had moved into the pond birdhouse yet, well yesterday morning I was surprised and happy to see a Chickadee spending a lot of time checking it out and eventually going inside for awhile. Hopefully he'll bring his mate along and they'll build their nest.
Pin It

33 comments:

  1. You're killing me with the bleeding hearts. If you don't mind, I'm going to steal that picture and make it my wallpaper on my office computer. A little sunshine to the day.

    ReplyDelete
  2. My bleeding hearts didn't make it back this year. I had three and two were gone due to last years snow and now the third. Love your photos ... also, love that Spring is almost here !!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Now that is the way to start a morning looking at your pretty blooms. The picture of the Bleeding Hearts is just gorgeous Catherine. And I love your Mardi Gras hellebore. Most hellebores I have seen are greenish or dark colors which are pretty but I think this one is so much more lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow! That bleeding heart photo is stunning! Oooh, I wish we could grow those here!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Pretty, pretty, pretty! Loving it!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your hellebroes are just gorgeous. You take wonderful closeups.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yesterday I bought that same bleeding heart. I'll be putting all of my bulbs and rhizomes in the ground this weekend in between working the new veggie garden.

    Everyone's crocus this year is awesome and next year I will have to have some of these.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your spring garden is so beautiful. I absolutely love the white flowers of the Dicentra - WOW!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ah, to see sunshine on flowers is wonderful. Spring is only a day away but has been with us now for a few weeks. I know we may be in for one more frost but I can no longer refrain myself. I will be out in the garden in full force this weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh that Bleeding Heart and Mardi
    Gras are to die for. Do you know my neighbors are blooming and they are in deep shade and mine are still just taking their merry old time? What gives here? And I think I lost my new one Burning Hearts to slugs but I'm not sure. I'm just sick about that.
    Everything is so pretty at your place. My Crocuses aren't showing yet either. Guess I'll go for a drive and take pics of everyone elses pretties. Ya gonna be home? JOKING!!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Catherine - your photos are stunning, and the White Bleeding Heart is beyond words! I'm living vicariously through you, right now there's not much going on over here in Zone 5A (I hadn't planted any bulbs yet - so I'll just drool over your Crocuses!) -Shyrlene

    ReplyDelete
  12. Dear Catherine, What a lovely idea to create little spring posies from all that is flowering in your garden at the moment. I should love to go outside right now and pick myself a bunch of your Muscari.

    Have a happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  13. The only things up yet in these parts are the bulbs; and only the crocus are blooming. But there are little signs and buds of other things popping their heads up. I love the Navalwort!

    ReplyDelete
  14. How gorgeous...your phpotos are always so stellar..beautiful! the third photo..is jaw-dropping beautiful..love it!
    Happy happy Spring..enjoy!!
    Kiki~

    ReplyDelete
  15. Beautiful showing for the last Friday of Winter...I must see if Muscari will grow here and I love the Navelwort!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Catherine. If I lived where you do - I'd have a huge area full of Bleeding Hearts.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I have, I have, I miss, I want to say that every time that I admire your photos, but, wow, you are very forward with blooms! My Dicentra still does not show .....
    Congratulations, Catherine!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. The white bleeding heart is a stunner. I'm so envious. I did finally plant some Dicentra spectabilis, but it's only about an inch tall so far. Your garden is definitely ready for spring! Here's to end of winter! Hoorah!

    ReplyDelete
  19. You've got so much blooming right now! My garden's not that big and I tend to overload it with summer and fall bloomers when I know I'll be outside more, but then I see all these great photos and wonder if I should rethink that strategy...

    ReplyDelete
  20. Catherine,

    White Bleeding hearts we are so jealous! That Mardi Gras Double hellebore I'll have to look into that one next year.

    ReplyDelete
  21. That 'Mardi Gras Double' hellebore is to die for!! I prefer the white bleeding hearts and they also do much better than the pink in my gardens. Always tons of seedlings too. LC

    ReplyDelete
  22. OH! If you'd like to swap hellebore seed this June...let me know!! I have a lots of hellebores from Heronswood (the REAL Heronswood), but that one of yours is tres magnifique.

    ReplyDelete
  23. That is beautiful lighting -- and gorgeous flowers! I love the white Bleeding Heart and Hellebore shots equally, and I'm in love with the Pink Flowering Currant.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh, I am sitting here in awe of the beauty!! Truly outstanding photographs! Spring is coming!

    Nancy

    ReplyDelete
  25. Thanks everyone for stopping by. The lighting sure makes everything look even better than usual!

    Turling - No problem, you can use the picture for your computer. I hope you can find one to grow in your garden!

    Wendy - That would be fun. I've never grown Hellebore from seed, but always have seedlings coming up. I'd love to try some of yours, they must be beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thank you for showing wonderful scenery.

    Happy weekend.

    From the Far East.
    Best regards.
    ruma

    ReplyDelete
  27. Catherine, You always pick the right time to take photos... gorgeous light! You are so right that light is all important in a photograph! Beautiful as always!

    ReplyDelete
  28. catherine, there are so many blooms in your garden. I am stuck at the fist picture of bleeding hearts, they are just superb. i wish i could grow them in my subtropical climate. We do grow mascari easily here and they are fragrant as well. Crocus does not bloom at all here in lahore. Ah the bleeding hearts, this
    photo is my favorite.

    ReplyDelete
  29. My Bleeding Heart has only just put its head above ground. Yours certainly looks lovely

    ReplyDelete
  30. The photo of your white bleeding hearts is so beautiful. Love the lighting!

    ReplyDelete
  31. spring is a beautiful thing in your garden girl...this last day is outstanding!
    thanks for linking it in to me!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I was sorry I couldn't find that Mardi Gras at our local nursery. Peppermint Ice will have to do. Such pretty flowers you have!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit and leave a comment. I try my very best to answer any questions you may have, but usually don't have time to respond to each comment. Please leave a link to your blog so I can visit you in return.