Here We Go!

This wacky winter has turned into a surprisingly early spring. The calendar may still say its winter (and, of course, there could...shudder...still be some weather ahead...) but the plants outside aren't listening (or is that reading? ha).

The daffodils are beginning, the earliest since I started keeping records ('06) and I suspect since we came back here to stay ('99). And, like every year, I get all excited about the snowdrops and crocus. Really, (smiling) these would all get lost in the explosion of late spring to summer flowers so I always applaud their cleverness in being such early bloomers.

Before I forget, the two sold out ones from Temple (as of Jan. 17) are Blonde Inge and John Gray. With that, below are pictures of Scharlockii and Viridapice which look similar to me except...and it's kind of a big except...Scharlockii is a tiny little thing at 5" (I don't even think mine are that tall) and Viridapice is larger at 8". However, they do look quite a bit different from the other snowdrops I have...

Scharlockii...


Viridapice...


Fragrant shrubs are doing their thing...it's glorious if I do say so myself...all my daphnes are blooming now, the two in the back as well as the front one, Alden's Regal Red...pictured below...


Even my S.C. tea olive is getting in the show...


Those tea olive blooms are mighty tiny, but mighty powerful in fragrance...so wonderful to have it and the daphnes going....

Always a very reliable early bloomer, my Pink Dawn Viburnum is going strong...


Another diminutive flower, iris reticulata....


One more note before I end with the obligatory crocus pictures...I've removed four varieties of daffodils from my garden, sadly stricken with daffodil virus. As those who have been with me for a while know, I collect daffodils. Listen, listen, listen...only buy from trusted sources. These were all rather common varieties, so, thankfully, should I decide to replace them, it shouldn't be too hard. Actually, I think have most of them duplicated, already, now that I think of it. Let me just say that should you most unfortunately see this in your garden...be ruthless! Do not hesitate...because it will spread. I have had to learn this lesson twice: first with my oriental lilies and now. I'm optimistic that I've got it under control and will watch very closely a couple other varieties that are somewhat near where I removed these from. If I see any sign, out OUT OUT they will go. No mercy.

So, here we go....




The above ones are a named variety, Lilac Beauty.

With that, we should see Cream Beauty, yes? Cream Beauty is usually the first one to bloom here...

Blooming in September....

...and will continue until frost is Kleim's Hardy Gardenia...



Although it doesn't exactly cover itself in blooms like I would like, it is certainly nice to have a gardenia make it here. The first few years were iffy, but it's now a pretty good sized shrub. It's in a bit of a protected location but also endures less sun than it probably would like.

This one and the gardenia Chuck Hayes are the only two of several that I have tried to persevere here. Chuck Hayes suffered greatly this last winter (which wasn't a particularly harsh winter) and I lost about half of the shrub. It's doing okay. I think its problem is the late freezes we can have here...it pops out with its new spring growth too early and then really suffers.

I'm Thinking White...

Clematis Armandii...soooo fragrant...actually makes weeding in the backyard pleasant...

Looking at it down...


....and up....(say hello to Kobe, above left, as he shares the view...)


...my deck stairs

....snowy in color, white creeping phlox....


This is a new-to-here clematis, Taki...


Growing near the new(er) gate, this is Clematis 'Guernsey Cream'


Delaware Valley Azaleas...


No longer at peak bloom, but still looking good, Bridal Wreath Spirea....


Each little flower is intricate....too bad I didn't take this picture a few days earlier...


Let's see...I think there are daffodil pictures coming up next....

Early March Blooms

The ever faithful Pink Dawn Viburnum...


Winter Daphne...


One of the camellias...


A couple more views...




Taken on an overcast day, the crocus are all closed up....waiting for the sun...


A few more of the Iris Reticulata from the other day...


Anticipating blooms soon on the Virginia Bluebells which are just emerging...


We had a very rainy day yesterday. Last night, I happened upon this frog...not something I often see/find with two cats...

I'm just guessing as I don't know frogs...after a search for frogs in Virginia...I'm thinking this one is a Southern Leopard Frog as there isn't any water nearby and I saw him on the driveway under the garage light...

Spring....

....is here! This year the saucer magnolia takes my breath away! I can't think of a single year...so far...and I'm a bit worried about mentioning it right now...(knocking on wood)...where the bloom has been so....WOW....I mean, there are usually hard frosts which turn the blooms brown, shortening their life, etc., etc. Fortunately, this one continues to pump out intermittent blooms so all is not lost...but, this year....woohoo!


Stepping back....


It's simply covered in blooms...and the pruning has really helped it have that lovely vase shape... Another stunner which frequently suffers from the same frost prone end-of-show worries, but not this year, is the magnolia stellata...




The other day I had someone over to give an estimate on some work that needs to be done on ye olde house and as he came around from the back, he exclaimed, "That smell! It's so nice!" ...and turned around and stuck his face into...


...Pink Dawn viburnum...I often post about its early bloom as it starts showing off before most things....and I think I often mention its fragrance....but, just in case you forgot, I thought I'd share with you someone else's reaction... Just beginning are the camellias....here's one of the first...

It's not all pink or pink/white, though...




Reliable (and oh-so-common) Ice Follies are in bloom in a bunch of places in my yard...the group below has a couple of solid yellows joining in this year....


This is probably not February Gold (below)....still pretty, don't you think?


It seems most of my early daffodils are not-what-they're-supposed to be....one day I'll reorganize them...one day.... This is supposed to be Hollywood, but I'm not sure that it is...such a fun bloom, all upright and facing the sky...


Now for a few that are what they're supposed to be... Sideling Hill...


First picture of this one (excuse that horrible foliage...yikes...gotta get that out/off)... Minor Monarque...


Loch Hope...



Easter Bonnet...



Sweetness...very faithful....produced a ton of bulbs last fall....most of which just got planted recently (oops)....however, this picture is from the fall replanted group...and why they're blooming on time...

Cum Laude...blooming in two spots....the first where I apparently failed to dig them all up....ha...and the second where they were all moved to...



One of my favorites, Cum Laude, is worth two pictures!....There are some other things going on, like a little mix of iris reticulata....


Some of the very small bulbs...Glory of the Snow or Chionodoxa...one of two colors blooming right now...


....and, last but not least, just getting going (if you look very closely)...Brunnera variegata...