Sweet Box or Sarcococca ruscifolia started blooming at the end of December. The scent from these tiny flowers is delicious.
Now imagine a whole row of them blooming at once... Yum!
Hellebore 'Blue Lady' is the only Hellebore blooming but the buds are up on most of the others so it shouldn't be too long.
The only Violas blooming now, the rest are still on a break since the first freeze in November. Hopefully they'll get back to work and start blooming soon.
The Pansies seem to be having a tough time too with the weather, not many are blooming right now. I did find one very tattered purple Pansy in the front that must have self seeded and the hummingbirds seem to love it.
And speaking of self seeding just look at where this breadseed Poppy decided to grow. This is the base of the basketball hoop. What a strange place to try to grow, and it's also the only poppy seedling I've seen. It has survived snow and freezing in it's plastic growing spot.
Another exciting find was that the Bleeding Hearts have started to pop up. I found that they were doing the same thing last winter at this time, so they are right on track.
Join Carol at May Dreams Gardens to see what she and other gardeners have blooming right now in their gardens.
That's lovely!
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing at all peeping through in our beds - too cold and snowy yet. On my walk on Thursday though, I saw many gardens in town with snowdrops and hellebores up - even daffodil leaves poking through the soil, and the bits of green from some foolish irises.
I live in anticipation!
So many lovely surprises!
ReplyDeleteThat is a really special hellebore - had to laugh at the perverse poppy!
ReplyDeleteIsn't Nature simply marvellous! I'll bet that poppy is going to put on a really fantastic show, too!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to find out whether our nurseries stock the box you have featured again - I am super keen to plant one in my garden. Any fragrant flowers are a huge attractant to me! And isn't it also interesting how MOST of the perfumed flowers are white?
Thanks for visiting me earlier today - Part 2 is now up, if you're keen to have a peek :)
That is funny where the poppy decided to pop up. Also, thanks for the winter sowing info on the previous post. That is a great idea with the baking pans! I have to give that a try. :)
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to see all the flowers in your garden that we in UK are looking forward to having in a few months.
ReplyDeleteReseeders are such a gift...you never know where they'll pop up or what you'll get! There has been some conversation lately on the Austin blogger page about Hellebore and whether they can grow here in Austin...I see now why they were enchanted by the ones seen at Lowes...they are very pretty. It sounds like there might be a variety or two that can take our heat...
ReplyDeleteThe Hellebore is lovely...I can't wait for spring to come as my garden looks very naked right now...
ReplyDeleteDo you pick Sarcococca to bring inside? I've got two "bouquets" of it and between them and my Winter Sweet the whole room smells delicious. You've got a great row of them by your deck. So luscious! Love your pretty pansies. I haven't checked my Bleeding hearts but I do have a few bulbs popping up. Winter begone!
ReplyDeleteI do love the scents at this time of year - it's as if many of the plants blooming are extra perfumed to drive away the winter blues! I'd love a whole row of Sweet Box.
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine,
ReplyDeleteEach year, this is what makes me totally realize what a different zone I am in. All summer long we seem to be seeing the same plants in our garden, but come January I know the differencce.
Eileen
Your pictures make me want to go out and check how my garden is doing. Haven't actually been out there in several days. I did notice swelling buds on my Ribes last time I looked. Do they flower before they leaf out? I'm up on the ridge, so we're zone 7 rather than 8 like you, so we're just that little bit behind you. But I bet I will see something interesting out there. I know I don't have any flowers though.
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine & Sweetpea. It is so wonderful to see things sprouting in your garden.The seedling found just the spot it wanted.Your hellebore bloom is so pretty and mine are covered in six inches of white stuff. I love how your pansies are blooming at all. Mine are frozen pop sickles in my window boxes. Have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteGrace - I did pick some while I was outside yesterday, I remembered that you did that. For some reason I never really have before.
ReplyDeleteAlison - If I remember right, they get their leaves and flowers right about the same time. Usually the leaf just starts and the flower comes out of the bud at just behind it. It's one of my favorite spring bloomers.
aloha,
ReplyDeletei agree a whole row of the sweet box is a wonderful thing especially when you don't expect amazing scents at this time of the year...thanks for sharing :)
I had a hard time getting past your pretty hummingbird. But, I did scroll on to find many pretty blooms as well. I would bet the sweetbox is pretty all a bloom, plus the scent would add to the display right at your deck.
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures. You have a lot of color for January. Love that little poppy. I, too, have self-seeded poppies (here in Southeast Texas) that are up - some of them in strange places. They give me hope of spring to come.
ReplyDeleteCatherine, How refreshing to see all this growth in your yard. I can almost smell the earth from here! That poppy is very determined! Hope you and the girls have a great rest of the weekend.
ReplyDeleteLooks as if you just had some more rain on that foliage. Determined little poppy there, you will see if it will grow there right? Must be one of those microclimates..
ReplyDeleteNo blooms outside with deep snow cover, and none inside either, but I really enjoyed seeing your contribution to GBBD.
ReplyDeleteHi dear,
ReplyDeleteBleeding hearts greeting the light already? Wonderful. Oh I love that hedge of sarcococca. Nobody would believe the scent they emit.
How are you doing? and those adorable girlies? And that talented chef?
sending love-I feel like a human because I worked outside half a day. Peach tree is blooming!
Love,
Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island
Thanks for your encouraging comment on my GBBD post. You are right, when February gets here, it will feel like spring is on the way.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your blooms. I was excited to see that hellebore and hear that your bleeding hearts are coming up! Spring, I'm ready for you to come our way!
I've seen so many wonderful pansies and violas for Bloom Day, yours included! Beautiful hellebore, too! Mine are under a 2-foot drift. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteOh so lovely! Our temperatures seem to be fairly similar now with the exception of the rains. I took some photos of my pansies today too when you have time to visit. Have a lovely Sunday!
ReplyDeleteSo nice to see that there are blooms elsewhere this time of year. I enjoyed the pictures! :)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love that hellebore, and I have climate envy.
ReplyDeleteMy sweet box is very upright and not super fragrant. I like yours better! It has a more casual attitude and would probably be fun at parties and boring conventions. LOL! :o)
ReplyDelete