A (very) brief visit from the sun.

 Right now while other parts of the country are enjoying temps 30 to 40 degrees above normal, us here in the Pacific Northwest are "enjoying" temperatures about 10 to 15 degrees below normal along with endless rainstorms and wind.  It's hard to believe that spring is just a few days away.  They are still forecasting snow and rain mixed for next week.  I decided that since the sun was out for a few minutes I would see how my soggy garden was doing.

 The birds are sporadically working on nests in the birdhouses.  I found sticks all over the deck after the last wind.  I think it was part of a nest because I also found a dead baby bird under a tree - it almost looked like some type of woodpecker.  Made me sad that the poor birds are even struggling with this weather.

 Tete-a-tetes splattered in mud.

 I'm so glad I built up this bed recently.  The dirt next to it is so soggy I'm not sure the plants would survive.

 Bleeding Hearts are slowly but surely coming up.

 Hellebore 'Cotton Candy' raised it's face to the sun.

 One Camellia 'Marie Bracey' is open, the rest of the buds are tightly closed.

 Winter Hazel 'Buttercup' survived the move last fall and is starting to bloom.

 Grape Hyacinths are coming up everywhere.

 Flowering Currants are behind right now.  They are usually in full bloom with hummingbirds fighting over them.

 The variegated Rhododendron still has flowerbuds, hoping it will finally bloom this year.

 A lone daffodil thinking about blooming.

 Pieris and Violas blooming despite the weather.

Blackthorn was anxious to get out of his hutch and play for awhile.  He loves being pet and flops all around his hutch looking for attention.  Poor guy has barely had a chance to get some exercise.

I know I'm not the only one beyond ready for some dry days.  The ground is soggy no matter where you walk and constant gray days can really get you down.  So, for as short of a while that the sun pops out and no matter how windy it is while it's out, it does feel good to go outside and soak up what there is.
All words and photos in this post are property of A Gardener in Progress.

It's just a matter of time.

Not too long I mentioned how behind the garden was getting from all of the below normal temperatures we'd been having.  I knew a few days above 50 would inspire the plants to get growing.  Along with some warmer weather (50 degrees feels warm right now) we've had lots of rain and wind.  Yesterday we set a record for rainfall.  I'm not sure I've seen it rain that hard many times before.  In one day we received half the average rainfall for March.  But, it's hard to complain when the plants seem to be getting revved up for a nice big spring show.

The Blueberry Bushes are loaded with buds.

Camellia japonica 'Marie Bracey' is finally starting to show a little pink.

Ribes sanguineum or Pink Flowering Currant is usually in bloom during March.  It looks like it won't be long now though.

Tete-a-tete daffodils are behind too, they sure got beat up by the rain.  I love how bright and cheery they are.

Marsh Marigold has one tattered bloom.  I also saw that the Water Hawthorne in the pond is starting to bloom.

These Daffodils seem to be on time, they bloom after the Tete-a-tetes are finished.

This Pulmonaria was a seedling that surprised me a couple of years ago.  I think this will be it's first year blooming, it's got lots of buds on it.

Crossing my fingers that this Magnolia 'Vulcan' finally blooms.  We had a late frost last year that killed the buds.

The Weeping Cherry tree is starting to bloom.

This might not look that exciting, but to me it's great news.  I dug up and moved this Peony a few weeks ago, just before the big freeze and snow.  I was hoping I hadn't killed it.  I'm doubtful it will bloom, but still hoping it might.

I found this the other day at a little antique mall near us.  I can't wait to plant it.  I'm trying to decide whether to make it a small water garden or a container garden.

I spotted this Bewick's Wren in the Snowball Bush with a little tuft of what looks like dog fur.  I couldn't figure out where he was going with it.  Early today I noticed sticks on our deck under the Pine tree and wondered where they were coming from.  Were the school kids throwing them over the fence?  (You'd be surprised at what they throw over).  They were not Pine tree twigs.  After seeing this wren with it's nesting material I remembered that a few years ago Crows built a nest in the Pine tree and I found the same types of sticks on the deck.  The wind must have knocked them loose.

I probably won't be around much the next several days since we will have company staying with us this weekend.  Hopefully the next time I post some of these buds will have opened into flowers. 
All words and photos in this post are property of A Gardener in Progress.

February 2010 Bloom Day.

It's hard to believe we're halfway through February already and time for another Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. I looked back at last February's bloom day and saw that I had several of the same things blooming then as we have now. The Sarcococca ruscifolia is still blooming, as are the Primroses and Hellebores just like last year. But, I also remember we had snow for March's bloom day, so I think before I feel like Spring really is early here I want to see what March brings.
When I was out taking pictures I could feel how saturated the ground is with all of the rain we've had. With each step I took I could feel it squish beneath my feet.

Tete-a-tete Daffodils are popping open left and right, these are definitely a little early.

I might be jinxing myself by posting blooms of the Winter Daphne (Daphne odora), but I can't help it. The smell of just the first few blooms open already carries halfway across the yard. This is right on time for this shrub to be blooming.

Lots and lots of Hellebores blooming with more on the way in other parts of the yard. The annoying Bishop's Weed is already coming up in this bed. I've been working on removing it for the last 10 years from this area, but it comes back every year.

A closeup of one of the pinkish flowers.

Pansies that have been blooming since they were planted in early Fall.

Hellebore 'Mardi Gras Double' fully opened. I think she'd get lots of beads at the real Mardi Gras.

Camellia japonica 'Marie Bracey'. I love the bright pink of these against the glossy green leaves.

Pulmonaria just starting blooming. You can see the blooms starting to change color on some of the flowers. They start pink and eventually turn purple. I've found that these self seed as well as form clumps that are easy to divide. I started with one and now have 6 plants, all but one of the seedlings from last year even have buds on them. This plant was also blooming last year in February, and will bloom for a couple of more months.

Carol of May Dreams Gardens hosts Garden Bloggers Bloom Day on the 15th of each month. Visit her to see what she and other bloggers around the world have blooming.

A rainy Fertilizer Friday.

This week just flew by for us, it's hard to believe it's already Friday. We've had a week filled with Valentines and parties for the girls at school. Luckily for us Valentine's Day is still an innocent day, mostly looked forward to for the candy and cards from friends.
Love must be in the air though, because I've noticed a pair of Bewick's Wrens going in and out of birdhouse that I moved into the path garden late last fall. Seems a little early, but they picked a house not too far from the house which will be a good place to watch them going in and out.
Going outside for pictures meant grabbing the umbrella to keep the camera dry, it's back to rainy and soggy here.

Corsican Hellebore (H. argutifolius) just starting to bloom. This Hellebore blooms differently than Lenten Rose (H. orientalis) types. Instead of the buds coming up from the ground they bloom at the end of stems with clusters of blooms. They also have a more jagged leaf edge. These types seem to be able to handle more sun, although this one is blooming under a large rhododendron.

I love the lavender color of these Pansies.

A Primrose waiting to be planted. Other Primroses that have been in the ground are blooming as well, but the slugs seem to have been finding them before I can get their pictures.

Raindrops on the pond. Here a couple of Water Hawthorn (Aponogeton distchyus) are blooming. The pointy looking things coming up from the water are what their flower buds look like.

Tete-a-tete daffodils are about to bloom. I have several clumps of these that seem to be spreading really well. The true test of daffodils for me though will be if the other daffodils I planted last fall will have flowers. I've never had a flower come up from a daffodil other than these Tete-a-tetes, all I get is foliage. I'm pretty sure they're planted correctly, other bulbs such as tulips and lilies bloom for me.

And this really caught me off guard. Camellia japonica 'Marie Bracey' has this nice big flower open. This does not usually bloom until April. I found at least one other bloom beginning to open as well.

I know there's been a lot of crazy weather for many people right now; from rain to wind to snow or a combination of them. Hopefully it will start to return to normal soon and before long we'll all be outside working in our gardens and sharing pictures of Spring flowers.
Visit Tootsie at Tootsie Time to see what other gardeners from around the world are sharing or to join in and share yours.