Rolling On....

It's so fun to go outside and see what's new...I think we're at least two weeks ahead, possibly more.

I wasn't sure for a long time if this variety was indeed February Gold, but it does look like the other pictures on daffseek...


Because I always like a close up...


Still waiting on the new February Gold purchased last year from a different source...

Newly opened Cassata...will turn all white with time...



Also just opening is Arrowhead, a Cyclamineus type that will recurve as it matures...


My dwindling Easter Bonnet...growing amongst the tree roots and being shaded out by azaleas...


Other flowers....Pink Roman Hyacinth...quite the vigorous bulb, unlike its blue cousin...


Cyclamen Coum...


Iris reticulata...this one blooms in the foliage, not an attractive trait...


A better picture of Galanthus Viridapice (no wind)...


One of the Golden Lotus Strain hellebores...


And...the worst for last....beware daffodil virus (these will be removed tomorrow)....remember, no mercy!

More on Snowdrops

I placed my order for some new special snowdrops and already two are sold out :(

This year, I'm not planning on adding very many new plants, so the snowdrops failure was a bit disappointing. Sort of. I mean, they're kind of cool to collect and I like having something bloom when little else is...and I really like their tough nature in such a small plant...but....

...as I walked around today looking at the ones I have blooming, I've got to say (should I say this?), it's pretty dang hard to see the differences. Well, obviously a double would be way different, I just don't have any doubles blooming right now and they've, as a group, been a bit more difficult for me.

It's very enjoyable looking at pictures that an internet friend in the UK puts up of hers (need I say she is also a daylily person...haha). With hers, I see many differences and I'm fascinated. Of course, it goes without saying, the selections over there are way way beyond anything we can find here. So, maybe that's it....I just don't have any of those cute ones...(grin)...

Perhaps one day I'll make a visit over there since the bloom season for snowdrops is so agreeably not when daylilies are blooming (or most of the garden period)...that is, when I can figure out how to bring some back...grin...legally, of course. And, when air travel is not so annoying...sigh...

Anyway, here's what I found outside....just a little while ago. We're having this marvelous weather that mimics spring. You gotta enjoy it...all the while knowing that some wicked storm is probably waiting in the wings to zap all those silly plants that dare to think it might be spring when the calendar so clearly tells us we're in winter.

And, yes, I did see that the new zone map is out. No change for me here (7A) which I have no quarrel with. In my experience, we have weather cycles of all sorts here but woe to the person who fails to plan for a very cold winter...which will happen...in some years. See all those snow posts...lol...

Okay, no more distraction...

Here's a newer one, Mrs. Thompson, from a few perspectives...


(yes, it is windy...)


Bertram Anderson



Winifred Mathais


Don's Big Seedling....


Limetree....


S. Arnott...



So, are you with me?? Do you see much difference? There's probably some height difference, blossom size and maybe even color (of leaves...e.g., greenish vs greyish) on established clumps, so we'll have to give them that...

Now, how's this for irony? I've got my precious little fancy ones, all labeled, etc.... when, what do I see?? Bear in mind that I have (before the collecting started) bought for years generic snowdrops, most of which never even bothered to emerge...there, over there, in the midst of massive weeds (yes, I'll show you...I have no pride)....look here:


Seriously?? Now, I can see a difference in this one...a totally unknown thing. Sigh. By the way, that's some massive chickweed (and oxalis). It must have roots ten feet down (ha), but I did attempt a modest cleanup....


Whew.....still needs more work, clearly. Anyway, is that Opposite Rule or what?

Gardening...it keeps you humble....

Just because they're nearby (maybe I should venture around and see if some of the others are blooming, too...)...


....off to battle chickweed....

Small Winter Joys

One of life's small pleasures (or is that a gardener's)...


Evolving into a nice little patch, which pleases me.....same ones yesterday not open in the gloom...


Slightly larger, as they are tiny things and it's nice to see them...


Here's Bertram Anderson, all by itself...(in fairness, it just arrived last year)...


And, I'm happy to say...I'm finally working on getting that patch by the doorstep as recommended by H. Lyman of Temple Nursery...


The hellebores have started as well.


The doubles, like above, delight me to such an extent that I am considering removing some of the more ordinary singles...to make room for more doubles, of course.

That said, I still like the simplicity of this single one...


Tastes change and this year, at least, I am not as enamored of the darker singles...or maybe it is just that I have too many. Once, they were the ones I sought first.

Even though it is winter, the garden moves forward. If only the weeds wouldn't...or better yet, they could just plain disappear (in my dreams).

Fun With Hellebores

I know it's daffodil time (pictures coming!)...however, I'm so excited about the hellebores! For several years, I have been trying to add double hellebores. I've only had the one lovely pink I brought back from Hersonwood some years ago that was a dependable definite double. That changed this year!

My luck has been mixed (mostly bad) with the tiny starts of various doubles I've purchased through the years. This year, I am finally seeing some...and these guys have made it through some serious trials.

Enjoy with me....


in bud...


open....





Golden Lotus Strain...


(a lovely yellow, if my photo doesn't quite make that clear)


This one is actually blooming on the other side of the pink clump (above)...I'm guessing I got tired of waiting on it...or thought it might not make it...as these are clearly too close...


It's not as yellow as Golden Lotus Strain....hard to tell from this picture, though....

The one below has its extra petals clustered in the center...


These last ones were 'take a chance' ones...meaning that they were/are seedlings that had a high percentage of doubles (one actually isn't...oh well...no picture as it just a rather common mauve colored one)...


This picture is kinda amusing. It looks like Mrs. Betty Ronicar has been removed....by something....ha. Actually, she went missing (died) some time ago, but there is a lot of mischief in the garden by critters...


We're getting off to a good start here. March brought us more rain than the average, so right now the ground is moist and perfect for pulling all those weeds that grow by leaps and bounds overnight...perhaps I'll actually uncover my back yard one of these days...

Hellebores

The hellebores are getting going. Some are lagging a bit, but that may have to do with where they are sited. I'm hopeful of seeing some bloom this year that haven't before. They've struggled with heavy workmen feet on them in some areas and with erosion in others. The ones that have made it are survivors.

My most favorite double...from Heronswood....when it was still in Washington State...although, I think the nursery had been bought (just not moved...yet)...


Here's another double, probably a Pine Knot Farms one...


A generic spotted one...


Some stippling on this one....I especially appreciated the up turned face...not typical of hellebore blooms (although they are probably hybridizing for them)....


Here's what I mean....a different one, but you can see the bloom so much better...


Closer, as this is a particularly nice one...


Finally, for today, a very green centered one...

Hellebores and Happy Crocus

Still working on capturing the hellebores...


Here are the two seedlings I showed the other day...now we can take a little look inside...


The one above is a little more green in person.


My pride and joy double pink...from the 'old' Heronswood and my one visit out there...


I really have to get a better picture of it...especially when it covers itself with blooms. I keep adding doubles (small plants) and so far, I haven't had much result from the them. It can take hellebores a while...plus, my learning curve...I did learn more last year about how to grow some of these very small starts of hellebores we usually get sent...from a very helpful vendor on Dave's...


This one is not quite so red...just caught the light coming through it...



This white one had a hard winter, but it is pouring out the blooms...it's still struggling out of winter, so there's some damage...


I had been wondering where this iris was...yearly, I have a nice little group of them....at last, it shows itself...and we see the problem(s)...the creeping phlox and the sedum have taken overtaken it...


These crocus remind me of a chorus singing...


Here, a few 'singers' stand out...




There weren't planted by me (below), but it does make you wonder...


It's kinda fun finding them popping up here and there. Could be all kinds of 'help' at work.

Tiny nivalis...


****
The weather was wonderful yesterday. I took some advantage and got a few things done. Among them...don't laugh...some lingering daffodils still in the garage. We shall see what they do...better than a total loss, I hope.

(Laughing to myself) I think I take some of these same pictures every year. I never tire of them...each spring, I so look forward to everything...changes, some new additions, but often the comforting reassurance of the sameness. I like faithfulness.