Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Bloomday, February 2011

Doesn’t February’s Bloomday just seem sweeter than the rest? Following on the heels of Valentine’s Day and kicking off the beginning of serious spring fever it seems like everyone should be celebrating blooms today! Luckily I have a few to share… Grape Hyacinth is an old-fashioned favorite. As is the Japanese Andromeda, or Pieris japonica. And completing the trio of bell shaped florets (?) is a new Arctostaphylos (waiting to go into the front garden) labeled as ‘Austin Griffiths’, although these are definitely white and everything I read about ‘Austin Griffiths’ says pink flowers. A pair of Hellebores, Helleborus foetidus. And an unknown (tag lost long ago) purple Hellebore. Euphorbia rigida inside the “greenhouse” is blooming its heart out. While the Euphorbia characias wulfenii outside inch ever closer to full spring bloom splendor! That’s it for blooms in my February garden, if you would like to visit more garden blogs celebrating flowers on February 15th visit May Dreams Gardens where Carol corrals all the participating blogs in one location, thanks Carol!

If you are a seed lover (as most gardeners are) this quick note may be of interest...I received an email last week from Kris at Berry Botanic Garden regarding a seed-bank they are starting at Portland State University. As Portland locals may know the Berry Botanic Garden (6.5 acre estate garden in Portland) has closed and the land is up for sale. However the legacy of the gardens is living on in their conservation program, which collects the seed of endangered plants, grows new starts and reintroduces them into their native habitat; they also collect seed from native Oregon plants as insurance for the future. They currently have over 3 million seeds representing over 350 of the region’s rarest and most endangered plants. Their seed-bank project recently received a generous gift from local a philanthropist, and through March 1st he will be matching their fundraising efforts up to $25,000. If you would like to learn more and possibly donate visit their website at http://www.berrybot.org/.

17 comments:

  1. That Hyacinth is gorgeous! And I like the shape of that andromeda! May have to add those to my someday list... thanks

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  2. Very pretty! Grape hyacinths are an old favorite of mine too...

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  3. February bloom are sweet indeed. You have some lovelies here.

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  4. It is so nice to see the blooms with color in the garden in February. I too like the Muscari and hope to see some in s couple of months - along with the hyacinth and tulips, at least those the squirrels left. As long as snow does not persist.

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  5. It is amazing how far ahead you are in the PNW. Grape hyacinth doesn't bloom here until April. I am in snow-covered Pennsylvania, but the temperature suddenly shot up and I managed to find some flowers outside. Happy GBBD, Carolyn

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  6. Interesting what a difference between town and out here. No sign of our hyacinths yet, and just generally less to look at for bloom day.

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  7. You've got quite a lot of bloom happening for February! The muscari are beautiful. Interesting about the color of those Austin Griffiths flowers - both mine have been distinctly pink-flowered. I wonder what the story is?

    And thanks for passing along the BBG seed-bank support info. I was a former member and so sorry when it closed.

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  8. Grape Hyacinth blooms just make one smile. Hard to beat that intense color.

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  9. Thanks! We needed that!!

    Wyatt and Stanzie

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  10. Damn ! How come your Muscari is blooming before mine ??? And your Euphorbias too...mine are on the cusp.

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  11. Loving all of the pictures! Thanks for sharing with us! Grape hyacinths poop out here in FL...

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  12. That is a luscious Hellebore, and your first photo brought a memory of the great smell from Grape Hyacinth.

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  13. i love muscari... mine are barely poking their heads up now...

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  14. Mary, I have grown to really love them (the Andromeda)...although it appears they must have been a bargain at the nursery years ago...all my neighbors have them too!

    Hanni, thanks for stopping by Hanni.

    Darla, I love the cornflower bud picture in your blog header!

    gardenwalkgardentalk, those pesky squirrels! Don't they know how much we need those bulbs to brighten our spring!?

    Hi Carolyn, happy GBBD to you too! Thanks for stopping by.

    Ricki, I cheated. The Hyacinth were looking so chipper at Fred Meyer (and cheap) a couple weeks ago I bought them and put them in containers on the front porch.

    MulchMaid, I would suspect that someone may have accidentally changed the tag on the Austin Griffiths but it's attached to the plant! Maybe a mix up at the nursery? Or just a plant with an identity crisis?

    RBell, agreed!

    You are welcome Wyatt and Stanzie!

    ks, see above...I cheat! (and the Euphorbia is in a warmer location and benefiting from it).

    RFG, Grape Hyacinth poop? huh?

    Les, isn't it just wonderful? I love walking into a nursery full of them, overpowering! (but in a good way).

    dirty girl, they are one of the few bulbs I like...I think it's their small foliage, not as disturbing when you have to watch it die back.

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  15. The pieris looks really exotic compared to a lot of the plants I see around me. And that a very cool little muscari! Of the many traditional spring bulbs, it's one of the few that came back reliably for me...until a concrete foundation got poured over where they were planted. Time for more I guess, and I promise to treat them better next time.

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  16. Love the blooms and makes me more than ready for spring.

    Cher
    Goldenray Yorkies

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  17. Lovely flowers. I especially like the grape hyacinth and the purple hellebore. I didn't know pieris is also called andromeda. That's one of the things I like about Bloom Day, it's a great opportunity to learn.

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