Looking for some warmer weather...

 I know it's still winter, but I'm sure ready to see a little sign of spring from our weather.  It has been so cold lately.  We're used to the rain (although I'm tired of it right now), but it's the cold that's really getting old to me.  Our average high for this time of year is 51 degrees, we're barely getting above 40 right now.  I don't mind getting a little wet while I garden, but wet and cold is just no fun.  Between rain showers I decided to take a look around the garden and see how everything was looking since it snowed.  We spent so much time working in the front yard that I've hardly noticed anything else.
I found that the plants are trying to grow.  I think it'll take a couple of warm days and then there will be lots of new growth.  Peonies are sending up their bright red new growth, Clematises are all starting to leaf out and the buds on the pear trees are fattening up.

 Corsican Hellebore (Helleborus argutifolius) is just beginning to bloom.  It has flopped all over the ground it's gotten so big.

 I love how the leaves on this Saxifrage 'London Pride' look all wet.  This was given to me last year by Linda.

 Ribes sanguineum 'Kind Edward VII' has it's first flower bud showing!  This one was new to my garden last spring.  Last year at this time my other Ribes was already blooming.

 A few of the Snowdrops I planted last fall are blooming.  I expected them to be small, but are they really this teeny tiny?  From the ground to the top it's about 3 inches high.

 I moved Hellebore 'Red Lady' out front by a Hydrangea 'Preziosa' that I just moved during our front yard make over.  'Preziosa' still has leaf buds growing so I think it survived the move, now I hope it'll bloom.

 Tete-a-Tete Daffodils are so close to blooming, last year at this time they were in full bloom.

 The Crocus are closed up tight from the cold.

 And this pile in the shed keeps growing and growing just waiting to get planted.

 The garden is definitely behind from last year.  At this time last year I had Winter Hazel, Camellias,  the cherry tree, Muscari, Bleeding Hearts and several other plants blooming on March 1st.  I know they are getting close, they just need a little warmer weather, just like me!
All words and photos in this post are property of A Gardener in Progress.

February Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.

It's hard to believe we're half way through February already and it's time for another bloom day post.  With all the work we've been doing in our front yard I've barely had a chance to look at anything else in the garden.  I did look back at last February's bloom day post and saw that Camellias and Daffodil Tete-a-tetes were already blooming.  Quite a few plants are behind right now.  We've had heavy rain and wind the last few days and now there is the possible chance of snow this week.  It seems as the snow is starting to melt on the East coast that it's now getting colder and wetter on the West coast.  Next week is when we hope to make lots of progress on the front yard and I sure hope the weather will cooperate, but I guess there's not a lot I can do about it.

 Hellebore 'Red Lady' blooms in a wine barrel.

 Iris reticulatas caught me by surprise even though they are right on time.

 Pulmonarias will be blooming for at least another month.  I love everything about this plant.

 Crocuses also surprised me.  I moved lots of them as I rearranged the front bed, they are in a much better spot now instead of under plants and behind trees.  These purple ones are the only ones blooming though so far.

 This poor Anemone blanda has gotten quite beat up by all the walking over/on it.

And of course Pansies are blooming all over the place.

Also blooming still are the Sarcococcas, double Hellebores, Primroses and Violas.
Join Carol at May Dreams Gardens to see what she and other gardeners around the world have blooming today or to join in with your own blooms.

Last Fertilizer Friday of February.

It's hard to believe it's already Friday, what a busy week it's been with an even busier weekend coming up. I had really wanted to get to the nursery and pick up some more seeds. I'm hoping to get some indoor seeds started in the next week. We did get some Sweet Peas started outside a few days ago and I'm trying them in pots this time like I saw Joanne do in her garden last year. The place I used to have great success growing them is where I now have the Blueberry bushes, which also love the spot. Plus I thought the other advantage would be that I could move them to the deck when they bloom and we can really enjoy their scent that way.

This is the last Fertilizer Friday of February and I feel lucky to have more blooms to share:

Old Fashioned Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis) is probably one of my very favorite Spring flowers. I have several in my yard, but each Spring I feel like I need to have more. I never get tired of the heart shaped flowers. They are perfect for putting in little Spring bouquets.

Tete-a-tete Daffodils were almost covered in snow this time last Winter. The little clumps throughout the yard have been multiplying nicely.

Navelwort (Omphalodes cappadocica) 'Starry Eyes'. I can't wait until I can spell this one without looking it up every time! My other plants are finally getting larger, but they are in too shady of an area to get good pictures of.

The first Snowflake (Leucojum) is blooming under the newly moved Dogwood tree.

A freshly planted pink Pansy in the front yard, dirt and all.

Hellebore 'Red Lady' (H. orientalis) which was just planted last year has it's first couple of flowers just opening.

The Corsican Hellebore (H. argutifolius) has flowers opening left and right. It actually started blooming a couple of weeks ago, but I just think it's so pretty I had to post a new picture.

Hellebore (H. x nigersmithii) 'Ivory Prince' was bought on clearance last Spring. I was a little worried it wasn't going to bloom.

Muscari blooms are just popping up.

This is probably the thing I'm most excited about though. Our tiny Meyer Lemon Tree has got several of these tiny lemons forming. They are about 3/4 of an inch. It might not sound like much, but it's the first time we've gotten them. Guess our hand pollinating worked! Now we just hope they continue to grow.

Fertilizer Friday is hosted each Friday by Tootsie at Tootsie Time. Visit her to join in or see who else is "flaunting their flowers."
I hope all of you in the Northeast getting all the snow and wind will be safe. From what they are showing on the news here it looks like it's quite a storm you're getting. Hopefully this will be your last round of snow!