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.

End of month view - January 2010

I started joining in with Helen of The Patient Gardener's Weblog several months ago to share an end of the month view of a part of my garden. It's been a great way to see what changes could be made or things I really like about this bed.
I've noticed a lack of interest going on in this area over the last couple of months. There are several Heucheras around the edges to provide some color and as much as I like them, they don't seem to provide enough for me. I definitely need to add some more evergreen type of plants here.

I'll be getting out soon to cut back the dried Hydrangea flowers since there is lots of new growth coming now. Pine needles have collected at the base of the shrub and even though it looks a little messy, it gives the birds some great shelter. There are always Juncos and Wrens hanging out in there. More and more bulbs are popping up, in another month there will probably be at least some new flowers blooming.

Winter Daphne (Daphne odora) has the most buds I've ever seen on it. My hope is that it will eventually block part of the hose reel behind it.

This Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis) and another actually came up from roots of another one that I moved years ago. This is one of my favorite Spring flowers, I love the drooping pink and white heart shaped blooms.

This view is walking up from the driveway where lots of perennials are beginning to sprout. The Japanese Maple 'Orido Nishiki' has lots of new red leaf buds on the branches. It's difficult to see how red the ends of the branches are, so pretty right now. This tree is definitely something I love about this bed.

I spent time last night working on a plan for what I'd like to do with this bed. One thing I do know I'd like to add is some perennial type of gold or chartreuse colored grass that I think will look nice with the many Hostas that are already there. Maybe some evergreen ferns as well. As usual for me, the planning is almost as much fun as the planting.

Seems early,...

But I guess it's not. One thing I've loved about starting a blog last year is the way I can keep track of my garden and what's growing when. While I was outside this weekend starting winter sowing I noticed quite a bit of new growth. It seemed early for some things, but as I came in and looked at my pictures and posts from last year it's seems as though most everything is right about on time. Last winter our weather was a lot different, we had a good amount of snow and cold weather. This winter we had icy weather in the beginning of December but other than that it has been fairly mild and very rainy.

More Hellebores (H. orientalis) getting ready to bloom. This one is 'Royal Heritage'. These I know are right on track.

Iris reticulata seemed early, but looking back at my records they are at about the same place they were last winter.

Clematis 'Nelly Moser' as well as pretty much all of the other Clematis in my yard have new growth.

Old fashioned Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra spectabilis) seemed really early to be sprouting, but looking back it's not. All of them are at about the same stage as this one.

Corsican Hellebore has buds that seem to be growing daily, last year they bloomed through the snow. I think they are typically later bloomers than the other Hellebores (H. orientalis), but in my yard they bloom right around the same time.

Variegated Wallflower (Erysimum linifolium) was new last April, but it came in full bloom when I bought it. It has only stopped blooming during the freeze back in December, it's now got quite a few new buds. As I've said before this has been one of my favorite new plants this past year. If you see it and it grows in your zone (USDA 3a - 9b), buy it!

Winter Daphne (daphne odorata) never got a chance to really bloom last year. Hopefully these quickly growing buds will be able to flower before any more freezes.

Winter Hazel (Corylopsis) 'Buttercup' didn't really get a good chance to bloom either last year. It's loaded with yellow and pinkish buds.

This house down the street from me has a tree that has new growth all over it, I can't tell what type of tree it is though and this was the best picture I could get. Any ideas? This house is going to be for sale, anyone want to be my neighbor? :)

Sarcococca is now blooming, but I'm saving those pictures for Bloom Day. They are exactly on time, Grace's are blooming too. The Snowball bush (Viburnum) actually has some leaves beginning to open as well as some of the Hydrangeas. The Hydrangeas worry me though, since one good freeze and I say "goodbye" to all the flowers for summer. Another thing I'm a little concerned about are the pests that seem to be enjoying our mild weather, I've seen both Aphids and Leaf hoppers on my plants. As much as I've loved this mild winter I would really love to get at least one snowfall.