While the rest of America watched the Superbowl, I spent a few hours in the garden, pruning and scooping up some of last year's stems and foliage. I'm seeing signs of spring and while I'm thrilled to peaces, I'm also a little leery of what February might bring. I'll keep my eye on the weather forecast and keep my boxes and blankets handy just in case (God forbid) we get a repeat of last year's February freeze.
I'm happy to report that my winter bloomers are performing beautifully.
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| Sorry for the blur but I had to share a closeup of my deliciously fragrant winter honeysuckle blossom. (Lonicera fragrantissima) |
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| My Wintersweet looks and smells better than ever. (Chimonanthus praecox) |
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| Viburnum bodantense 'Pink Dawn' is also a happy camper. |
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| Bridal Wreath Spirea is starting to bloom. (Spiraea thunbergii) |
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| The Helleborous foetidus blossoms are still shy but beautiful nonetheless. |
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| Early daffies are about to pop, except for that one that the slug ate. Stupid slugs. |
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| The Galanthus are making a valiant effort. |
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| And the Magnolia stellata catkins are plumping up. |
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| Sobaria sorbarifolia is always an early arrival to the spring party. I love the pinky foliage. |
Aren't you glad January is over and we're that much closer to spring? I sure am.
I am so glad also. But it will still be awhile before we see color. But the skies are the bluesrt today that I have seen in awhile!!! So great to see. I will have to live flower wise through your photos. (or look through mine as I have been doing) Thank you for posting yours though. It is so nice to see some parts of the country have spring happening!
ReplyDeleteIt always seems like you have things blooming earlier than I do 40 minutes away. I bet it is really smelling lovely back there! Yeah! I worked in the yard a bit yesterday, as well. A new neighbor brought over several large clumps of daisies (he's moving from country property that hasn't been listed yet) into town, and apparently has lots of daisies out there that he has grown from seed. So he brought over several clumps, plus a large bag of seeds. Yeah. I think I will put them on the outside of the garden area, as they are deer resistant.
ReplyDeleteI love honeysuckle and can get a whiff just by looking at your photos. Your bulbs are growing much faster than mine are. I too am hoping we don't have another hard freeze this month but I wouldn't bet on anything with South Texas weather. Great photos as usual that always make me happy!
ReplyDeleteWow, you really do have a lot going on in the garden this time of year. So pretty. Mine is still a train wreck. I REALLY need to get out and do a clean up.
ReplyDeleteBloody hell! What part of the world are you in again? 20cm of snow last night and -17C with -24 windchill today! Only buds visible are on my Tricolour beech and they are months from opening! But I still love your post..... things to look forward to!
ReplyDeleteYour winter bloomers are fantastic.
ReplyDeleteAs always another enjoyable post about your lovely gardens.
FlowerLady
Oooh...that last photo is so so cool!
ReplyDeleteThat sobaria sobariafoglia is like a party all by itself! Like a Brazilian dancer maybe!?! I've never seen such a happy early bloomer. I'm encouraged by your white Spirea to give it a try...I can only imagine what yours will look like in April. Gorgeous and delicate. Lucky you, not having watched the Superbowl. You didn't have the see the craziest mistake by the Hawk's managers in football history! Not kidding...
ReplyDeleteThat sobaria sobariafoglia is like a party all by itself! Like a Brazilian dancer maybe!?! I've never seen such a happy early bloomer. I'm encouraged by your white Spirea to give it a try...I can only imagine what yours will look like in April. Gorgeous and delicate. Lucky you, not having watched the Superbowl. You didn't have the see the craziest mistake by the Hawk's managers in football history! Not kidding...
ReplyDeleteThe foliage on the Sorbaria is gorgeous, but boy I hear they get enormous. Stupid slugs!
ReplyDeleteCool! The garden season is beginning in your part of the country! I love watching the progression as it gets closer and closer to us in SE Nebraska.
ReplyDeleteI'm seeing signs of spring here too but, despite our warmer weather, you look further along than we are. No daffodils are near close to making an appearance here!
ReplyDeleteHello Grace
ReplyDeleteIn France, winter has arrived, frost, snow, nature will continue her sleep
Spring is not far away and it's nice to see the days lengthen
Good week
Christine
Oh how I wish I could garden during the Superbowl....so much blooming in winter there.
ReplyDeleteSo much green! I could care less about the Super Bowl, too. I really wish I had room for a sobaria. Such beautiful foliage.
ReplyDeleteThis is the time of year when I really envy you. ;-) Blooms outside? In February? Nice. Your Wintersweet is so pretty.
ReplyDeleteYour winter bloomers are wonderful. Because it was cloudy/rainy here on Groundhog day, he couldn't have seen his shadow so spring is on its way. No more winter for us!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your winter blooms! We are under a blanket of snow here.
ReplyDeleteOMG Gracie you are rubbing salt into my cabin fever blues !!!
ReplyDeleteI am knee deep in snow and only getting higher with our storm forecast ... here you are posting blooming pictures ?!!!
BIG sigh .... they are beautiful of course .. I just don't get the crazy people with the Super Bowl thing ... but then again even my Garden PA watches it.
I would be in the garden if it was in this condition too !!
Joy ;-)
Grace, your gardens are always a source of inspiration!
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