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

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Out and about in the yard today.

Winter break was over yesterday and during it I hardly saw the outside. We spent almost everyday busy working on tiling the bathroom shower and I'm extremely happy to say, "We are done!!" It turned out really nice, but it was a lot of work. I'll post a picture of it soon, today I just wanted to focus on my yard. Even though it was misty and gray today it was refreshingly mild and felt so nice just to wander around the yard for a bit.
The front yard is showing lots of promise that there may be a bloom or two for Bloom Day next week.

Hellebores (H. orientalis) keep sending up more flower buds. I love the maroon color these will become.

In the same bed the white Hellebores are also sending up lots of flowers. In this bed there are about 6 large Hellebores. I notice every year that this one has the most flowers and another plant is always much later and has fewer flowers. I think the difference is the sun, the one that gets the most sun is the one with the least flowers.

This Magnolia tree 'Vulcan' caught my eye as I pulled in the driveway today. I caught a glimpse of the green and of course had to come over and check out all the new growth. We just planted it last year and it didn't get a chance to bloom. I hope it has lots of flowers this Spring.

Around the backyard a view down the path shows how gray and wet it is. I did see Bluebells coming up along with more daffodils. More Hellebores down the path have buds on them and the Sarcococca rusicfolia has many little white flower buds that should bloom this month.

One of my very favorite early Spring bloomers is the Pink Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum). The hummingbirds get very territorial over the beautiful pink flowers. There is lots of new growth along the branches of this shrub now. The Winter Hazel (Corylopsis) 'Buttercup', another early Spring bloomer also is getting quite a bit of new growth.

Next to the pond the Japanese Blood Grass has aged to a most beautiful rusty orange color, in fact the same color as the underside of the leaves of the Heuchera 'Marmalade' right next to it.

While I was by the pond I decided to clean the pump after the recent Heron visits (yes, it was back again!) really stirred up a lot of silt on the bottom of the pond. The great news is that I noticed that in addition to the 5 or so little fish he left, there were 2 very tiny fish that must have been hiding all this time. I hadn't seen them at all until today. They looked like baby Shubunkin, which are a type of goldfish that are white with a speckling of black and orange spots.
Yesterday Darla from Family and Flowers challenged us to end our post on something we are grateful for. I'm grateful for the time I get to spend in my garden and the feeling of rejuvenation that it gives me.
Pin It

44 comments:

  1. Wonderful post! I agree the garden is such a rejuvenator..well said!Great photos..such beauty in every season!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's great to see the hellebore buds plumping out again Catherine :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Catherine,

    I just knew you would have blooms for January's GBBD! I can't wait to see them. I always look forward to visits in your garden and can't wait for spring to arrive.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Catherine,
    I am so jealous of your ripening buds. Currently, my garden is sleeping peacefully under 2 feet of snow. It is about this time that I begin to tire of the snow, and long for the greenery and flowers. I look forward to your Hellebores and Bluebells in full bloom!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. WOW... buds of spring for you already.... My lentin roses are long gone to bed for a few more months. Great to see so much color alive else where.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I haven't looked in a couple of days, but I don't think my Hellebores are sending up buds yet. Isn't that funny? The ones with the least sun have more flowers. With most it's the opposite. So glad you have some fish left!
    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow, you have quite a bit happening in your garden even in winter. It must be exciting every year to watch things gear up for spring.

    My gardens make me feel grateful also.

    FlowerLady

    ReplyDelete
  8. Refreshingly mild sounds right next to heaven, Catherine! Your hellebores are loaded, what a show they will present soon. We were glad to see your Corylopsis, bought one online last year on impulse and it is tiny but seems to have buds. Hooray for baby fish, and the promises of spring. :-)
    Frances

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your garden is so far ahead of mine and looks most wonderful. Congrats on the new baby fish.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Beautiful backyard, looks like mine!

    regards fram Spain

    Ratus

    ReplyDelete
  11. Those hellebores definitely are loaded with buds! Wow. It's going to be quite a show and SOON. I agree with Frances, mild sounds wonderful right about now. Congrats on getting your bathroom work done. That always feels good, doesn't it?

    A big thank you too for your beautiful card, butterfly stickers and most wonderful seeds (in my favorite colors) for the Gardening by Letter project. I am in heaven getting the pink columbine seeds especially. You are so thoughtful to remember how I lusted after them on your blog last spring! Peony poppies are another fave of mine ~ you can never have too many in the garden, can you? Thanks a million for everything ~ you were very generous to me.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Catherine I am so glad not all of your fish were eaten.
    You are going o have so many blooms on your hellebores! Can't wait to see the new tiling job.

    ReplyDelete
  13. A lovely post Catherine! And I'm so glad that ther are still fish left in your pond / gittan

    ReplyDelete
  14. Even a little bit of color is a welcome site right now. Your Hellebores are so pretty and I can't believe all the buds you have. Glad you the other fish showed up.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I agree there is something refreshing about being in the garden Catherine. Once again a great post. You know what? With this freezing weather that we have my gardens look like mush...

    ReplyDelete
  16. I can't believe that there's someone out there with flower buds!! I'm still dreaming ..... not of a white Xmas (because we obviously got that); I'm dreaming of snow disappearing and green beginning to show itself again.

    I'll have to live vicariously through you for a few months I guess.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Gosh signs of spring with the hellebore buds and we still covered in snow

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Catherine~~ I'm always inspired by your posts, how you walk us around your paradise to see what's going on. I really should take my cues from you and do something similar. Such a drizzle today but at least it's mild. I love the Ribes too. The strong color is just what the doctor ordered for these miserably gray days. Okay maybe not miserable but you know what I mean. Your hellebores look extremely healthy and full of promise. I enjoyed your sidebar slide shows, especially the seasons of the pond. More inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  19. You really are having early spring out there already. I did not know that you had such a good winter. We won't be sprouting up tulips for another three months. Our arctic cold is going to slow all of that down. We do have a beautiful snow today on top of all our old snow. I really need to see all that green. Thanks for sharing it.
    Larry

    ReplyDelete
  20. I was amazed at how many flowers you have on your hellebores - they must be very mature plants

    ReplyDelete
  21. You have a lot of great winter and early spring flowers! I'm envious of your Currant and Winter Hazel.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Beautiful pictures, you're so lucky to have green growth and flower buds. I'm quite envious, but it's very enjoyable to see things growing somewhere.

    ReplyDelete
  23. PS The violet-colored flower in the winter video is Blue Speedwell, Veronica umbrosa 'Georgia Blue'. It was found in the country of Georgia. It likes cool weather and may start blooming here in Dec. some years and continues until hot weather begins in May.

    ReplyDelete
  24. It's a small world, I'm tiling a bathroom at the moment.

    Well your garden looks ahead of mine. It's been unusually cold for a month in western europe.

    Your Hellebores inspire me.

    Rob

    ReplyDelete
  25. I fully realize jealousy is very unattractive, but I must say, I just can't help it when I see your photos so full of green and flowering promise! Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go shovel the driveway (waaahh!) as it has been snowing all day....

    Cheers from Alaska,
    Christine

    ReplyDelete
  26. Wow, your Hellebores look amazing. How old are they? Mine are 3 years old now and look tiny compared to yours.

    Ellie

    ReplyDelete
  27. The hellebores are gorgeous. I just love your garden, if I lived there I'd be outside 24/7.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I love a day like you describe where I can just get lost "looking" over everything and finding surprises in the garden. It really gives you an excitement about the next few weeks and months!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Vulcan is one of my favorite magnolias. You may find the color a little "off" for the first year or so but it settles down as it matures. I actually rally liked the off color. It looked like a watercolor painting.
    Our Hellebores are coming up too, but I'm finding I have some problems with fireblight.
    Bummer.
    Cindee

    ReplyDelete
  30. Catherine I can't believe you have that many lenten rose buds. They are going to be so pretty when blooming.

    Glad to hear you found a couple more little fish in your pond.

    I haven't walked around in my backyard in I don't know when. It's just too cold here. We're expecting snow tonight.

    ReplyDelete
  31. rejuvenation, ah, what a perfect word, I had New Year's day off, and instead of cleaning house, I went out in the mild weather and puttered around. Pure rejuvenation.
    Love you photos, such beauty, and promises of more:)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thank you for all your nice comments! I actually found a couple of Hellebores open when I went out later today!
    The Hellebores in the pictures have been there for probably 6 or 7 years. I've gotten lots of seedlings from them and they are actually the ones blooming in the backyard.

    ReplyDelete
  33. What a great backyard you have! Well planned, etc. Perhaps this will make you feel better about being able to work outdoors at this point in time: We are getting More Snow tonight! - Spring won't be here until mid-April. We can still get snow in March and up to the middle of April. But that's okay. I'll be setting out the seeds that need striation very soon. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  34. Hi Catherine - I love your paved pathway with the arch - lovely and your flowers! so pretty...It is a pleasure to see something other than snow. We are totally snow covered. But, I know there is a garden sleeping. Gloria

    ReplyDelete
  35. Today was my first day without a fever from my flu. I was so thankful that it was sunny and warm up here so that I could get outside for a bit. We're usually above the fog line in case you're wondering how I got sun when you had gray mist.
    I like hearing about how your garden is doing because it's like getting a preview of what is to come in my yard.
    Glad to hear the tiling went well. That kind of job can sometimes go horribly wrong. You're a brave woman. LOL I know we all look forward to seeing the pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  36. It sure does look like spring where you are. Here I am in PA in the middle of the coldest temps yet. We have a few months to go...(sigh). Nice photos as usual!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Hellow Catherine, it's my first introduction to Hellbores, very nice plant.....thanks for the post :)

    ReplyDelete
  38. It's looking really good in your garden and those pink hellebores are gorgeous already!
    I can't wait to see what emerges from under the snow (eventually!) in our garden. It's been so cold that I expect a fair few casualties. (it was -6 overnight here, it's warmed up to -4 now though!)

    ReplyDelete
  39. Catherine how nice that you still have so much going on in your gardens. And I'm very glad to hear you found a few more fish. I'll bet the girls were happy about that too.
    Nice mild weather we're having - As much as I'd like to be outside I had lots to do in the garage that I got done. Hope it stays mild like this for us.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Hallo
    Sensationelle Bilder.Gruss Sandra

    ReplyDelete
  41. Hi Catherine, I left a comment here from blotanical the first night of your post... this one has vanished as another on someone else's blog. I love this post and especially your hellebores. I noted the lovely walkway next to your old pine (i think). I am amazed at the volume of your hellebore... I need to give mine a few handfuls of manure. Lovely post. Carol

    ReplyDelete
  42. HI Catherine

    You sure are gonna have some blooms for the 15th - those hellebores look incredible now in bud. Oh I dream of seeing some soil - all my hellebores are still under a blanket of snow

    ReplyDelete
  43. Amazing to see all your hellebore buds. I love hellebores and have lots of them somewhere out there under all our snow!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Looks wet but beautiful, we could use some rain down here...maybe next week. I love those Helebores & Heuchera. I am grateful for warm weather.

    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.