It was a good time to see the newest happenings in the garden. I was surprised to find tulips and Dutch Iris coming up and some of the Hellebores pretty far along.
Because it really hasn't been all that cold the ornamental Kale still looks really pretty.
Chard from the Seattle Tilth sale last May is still producing. I just checked to see that their edible plant sales are not that far away. Here's a link to their website.
Kale that Nola gave me is starting to grow. I hope the slugs don't eat it all though.
Primroses are budding and
blooming! The slugs have found them too.
Not a great picture, but you can see how far up these Hellebore buds are.
The row of Sarcococca that I planted along the deck is finally starting to look like what I imagined after planting it many years ago, and is full of buds about to bloom.
The entry garden actually looks good compared to how it looked when I first went out that morning. There are new Hellebores planted along with a small Sarcococca. Heucheras along the edge will soon be joined by Grape Hyacinths and whatever other bulbs I've forgotten about that are in there.
Look at the amazing sunrise this morning! The benefits of the kids going back to school include seeing the sunrise after sleeping in for the last two weeks. It's now pouring rain, but it was nice while it lasted!
All words and photos in this post are property of A Gardener in Progress.
Catherine, your garden looks great! I am really surprised that you have so much going on (and blooming!) at this time of the year. The green of the chard just pops, I want to eat it immediately. I like your entry garden as it is right now, but with all the bulbs coming up it will be quite spring-ish. The photo of the sunrise is amazing. Thanks for letting us have a glimpse into your lovely garden world!
ReplyDeleteChristina
Thank you for sharing your garden ~ mine is under so much snow yet I can't even let myself go there yet. It's usually the end of May, first week of June before I can start gardening in our frigid cold zone 3.
ReplyDeleteA little suggestion about those slugs ~ have you tried putting some beer in a jar cap for them? Set it out in the garden where you're seeing them. Knocks them deader than a doornail:)
I like your idea of spring. Ours is months away. I am envious of the hellibores. V
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful sunrise. And I also heardly can't wait untill it is spring.
ReplyDeletegr. marijke
Love your garden I could not believe we had roses still blooming Jan 1,20012
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteLovely photos; it's so nice to be able to get out in the garden at this time of year. I often feel it does wonders for the mood and you can literally feel how much cleaner the air feels compared to being cooped up indoors for the past month or so.
Looking good Catherine, looking good :-)
ReplyDeleteI see your hellebores there too. Perhaps we are a little ahead with one of ours. Ah... it is nice to get out in the garden very early as it wakens. Enjoy future days like that :-)
What a fabulous sunrise! I just came back from Costco and was shocked to see the temperature in my car said 64 degrees!!! Crazy! (I am in Oregon). I need to get out there and do some clean up myself!
ReplyDeleteSo nice to see your garden.
ReplyDeleteWe're having unseasonably warm weather this week which is melting all the snow we got but I'm happy to know it is watering the garden. Cold will return I'm sure. But, spring can come soon!
You have a lovely garden. Please consider sharing it with others by linking up to my weekly gardening blog hop here: http://mysimplecountryliving.blogspot.com/2012/01/country-garden-showcase.html
ReplyDeleteYour kale still looks so pretty Catherine. You are having some nice weather. And primroses ready to bloom is a treat. My Hellebore's have buds for the first time and I am scared that something is going to happen to them before I get to see them open. LOL!
ReplyDeleteWhat a glorious sunrise! Just a beautiful picture.
I have buds on my Sarcococca too. I only bought one last spring, because I had never grown it before and wasn't sure I had the right spot for it. It seems to be thriving though, so maybe a whole row of them is in order. I bet they are going to smell just wonderful when they open.
ReplyDeleteMy chard looks a lot like your kale, very slug-eaten. It's not the most appetizing sight, is it?
Red sky at morning, sailors take warning....gardeners too, I guess. That's such a beautiful photo.
Oh my gosh Catherine that sunrise is stunning! I'm amazed at how much you still have growing there during the first of January. Gardening is so wonderful because you never know what to expect from one season to the next.
ReplyDeleteHappy Gardening ~ FlowerLady
Oh, how I love primroses ... so look forward to the pretty heads peeking thru. Your sunrise is spectacular!
ReplyDeleteTTFN ~
Have a great week ~
Marydon
It does look like spring has begun at your place! That was a gorgeous sunrise!
ReplyDeleteI checked around my yard today, and saw that the hellebores are putting out new growth, but saw no buds so far. It is supposed to get into the 60s tomorrow, way above our normal temps for this time of year. I hope to spend some time out there.
Your sunset is perfect. My heart leapt at the sight of the primroses. Primroses are so beautiful. I love them. Thanks for lifting my spirits on a cold winter day.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Catherine and Happy Blogaversary too. I think I found you right after you started blogging?? Anyway, it's always fun to read your posts and see what you're up to not to mention how jealous I get of your year 'round blooms!! No really, it's inspiring. If it's blooming there then it will be here too.
ReplyDeleteI CANNOT wait for Spring. I planted more early blooming bulbs last fall so I'm hoping some are up in Feb (at least) to encourage me thru the rest of winter.
Your garden went thru some wonderful changes in 2011. I bet it will just get better and better this year.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteAll the flowers and leaves look exotic to me. I have only heard some of the names. It is fun to learn new varieties in the kitchen Garden.
I saw that beautiful sky over here in Sammamish! I'm happy to see the primoses opening up and my Julia Child rose is still hanging on too!
ReplyDeleteI like the ornamental kale, what a pretty plant! The sunrise photo is stunning. Your garden is looking very tidy as usual! I have so much tidying to do but the weather is too bad.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sunrise...reminds me of my poem "Fire in the Sky" from my December post with poems. Unbelievable the things growing in your garden...mine had one hellebore budding until the now and frigid temps hit....did see some tulip greens coming up that the deer were eating and a few dwarf Dutch iris peeking through...
ReplyDeleteHye there! =)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy reading and watching your garden. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Do you know that Hellebore has secret in it? I mean it is good for health ^^
Okay.. I write until here. See you another time. Take care =)
Regards,
Wanie, Malaysia
It looks great to see all this green coming up. I know even though we are quite warm for this time of year the winter blast will come.
ReplyDeleteEileen
Wow, that's a great photo of the sunrise! You have a lot more happening in your garden that we do at the moment. Just checked the hellebores and there isn't much happening yet.
ReplyDeleteI had to wonder if the sun even rose here this morning. It was still quite dark. It is actually snowing here - big, beautiful flakes, but how I would love to see primrose and hellebores blooming in my garden! How exciting. I am a long way from Spring but glad I stopped in to catch a little fever. Of course, your gardens look great! I love Kale and noticed yesterday mine is still green in the potager! The slugs also seem to like mine but they are no trouble now ha ha.
ReplyDeleteWow! You have so much still blooming and growing, it's wonderful! That kale is stunning by the pond, and the primroses are gorgeous - hope the slugs don't inflict too much damage! That sunrise - what a treat indeed to be able to see that indeed...worth the early alarm clock!
ReplyDeleteCatherine, the sunrise photo is incredible! Do you cut back your Hellebores or are those new starts? I have two of them and I'm not sure I'm doing the right thing? You're motivating me to get out there this weekend and do some yard clean up :) Cheers, Jenni
ReplyDeleteJenni - Those were seedlings from Hellebores in my front yard. I cut the old leaves back once the flowers begin to bloom, I'll probably wait a little longer to cut them back.
ReplyDeleteOur weather has been a roller coaster ride....cold/hot/cold/hot....your plants look really good. I haven't a clue what sarcococca is but it is very impressive looking!
ReplyDeleteSeeing the new blooms, and growth venturing out of your plants brought reality to a screeching halt for me. Up here we are still, and will be until March frozen. Solid, icy, and snowy. Even with the above normal temps our ground is still whiter then the rest of the Okanagan.
ReplyDeleteIt's going to take some getting used to,since those blooms and buds used to happen in my garden too.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
Wow! That sunrise photo is outstanding! We've had mild weather here this week too ( although here in Texas we often get beautiful days like this in winter - almost makes up for our brutal summers!) It's good to see the sprouts in your garden.
ReplyDeleteOh my, it definitely looks like spring in your garden! It's so good to see all the green everywhere. We've had milder weather than usual this winter, too, but nothing much is growing in my zone 5 garden other than some ruffled kale in a container. Gorgeous sunset!
ReplyDeleteI just happened upon your blog and so glad I did! I grew up in Tacoma WA and lived in Seattle for some time before moving to the east coast.
ReplyDeleteThe sunrise photo is just spectacular and I enjoyed seeing what is growing in the PNW at this time of year.
Such a firework of a Kale and then that fiery sunset, I feel like I've been at a a spectacular event.
ReplyDelete