Happy Bloomday! Before heading out to take some pictures I looked back at what was blooming in my garden on Feb 15th of 2012, 11, and 10. Wow, things are very sleepy this year! In 2012 my Euphorbia were close to blooming, the Acacia pravissima was covered with yellow puff balls and the Arctostaphylos densiflora ‘Sentinel’ was in full riotous flower. Not this year. Heck even the stand-by Pieris japonica is still only in bud. I chalk this up to our very cold January, not that we had extreme temperatures it's just that it never got warm resulting in one of the coldest January's overall on record. Thank goodness for the Hellebores…
Helleborus foetidus
Helleborus x ballardiae Pink Frost
And my ever struggling unknown purple Hellebore…which is going to get a happier home this year before the hydrangea is dug out. Oh and speaking of the hydrangea that’s it up top, since I still haven’t cut back its faded flowers I figured it deserved one more moment in the spotlight before it goes away.
Arctostaphylos ‘Austin Griffiths’ with just one tiny little cluster of flowers that has started to open.
Euphorbia rigida…not quite blooming but hey I’ll take it!
I picked up this blooming aloe at Digs last week; sure it already had the blooms and no it’s not in my garden it's in my house. See what a cheater I am?
The Grevilleas...clockwise from the left G. 'Neil Bell,' G. juniperina ‘Lava Cascade’ and G. ‘Poorinda Leane’...
Even more cheating…not even a flower! But it kind of looks like one don’t you think? (give a girl a break okay?) Sedum confusum…
That’s the February floral fantasia from my garden, click here to be transported to a magical land called May Dreams Gardens where you’ll find the links needed to travel the blog-o-sphere in search of blooms.
Haha I love it! I felt the same way. It is slow this year. But we're almost there!!!!
ReplyDeleteIndeed we are. After today (gorgeous) I'm having a hard time excepting that it's only mid February and any thing is still possible.
DeleteSome people are never happy. ;-) I'd be glad to see a single thing blooming out there right now!
ReplyDeleteI love that purple Hellebore bloom, and I think I like dried Hydrangea blooms better than live ones -- sometimes at least.
The purple hellebore got moved today, I hope it's gonna be okay. And those hydrangea flowers...all gone! What a day...
DeleteOh, that Euphorbia rigida! So pretty.
ReplyDeleteI've stopped at two nurseries now planning to buy another (7-Dees on Powell and PDX Nursery on Division...I was out that way) and there wasn't a single one in sight. Damn.
DeleteI just love that pink hellebore. Only a very few indoor plants for me in Mass.
ReplyDeleteMe too. I never would have purchased it (pink...not my thing) but I do love it. Thanks for visiting Commonweeder!
DeleteYour purple hellebore is just gorgeous. And I love the euphorbia rigida, too. This winter has been colder than the past two years here, too. But it has warmed up faster, it seems. But - the weather is always odd, no matter where one lives!
ReplyDeleteYes indeed...weather is odd and just getting odder. Overall our winter has been mild, no freak cold snaps (knock on wood) so I really can't complain.
DeleteYou're right, it's been a slow year. Usually there are a few more things happening outside by now but I'm happy with our mild winter and it'll just mean that we'll be able to enjoy some things a little longer this year. Grevilleas make me fall more and more in love with them each year because of their bloom time! Your blooms are all looking swell!
ReplyDeleteI need to stop buying grevilleas...but they are so darn pretty!
DeleteSome nice cheerful shots there Loree.
ReplyDeleteSpring is coming, albeit slowly.
I am a big Hellebore fan and I am ever so slightly jealous of the way yours are flowering, they must be very happy. I have a purple one that has dark purple stems as well as dark purple flowers, it's very attractive.
I discovered a white hellebore today that I'd completely lost under the big hydrangea. Granted it's not blooming (see all my hellebores aren't happy) but it's alive (I looked back through old Bloomdays to discover it blooms white). Hopefully it will be happy where I moved it to. Dark purple stems and dark purple flowers sounds lovely!
DeleteYou always have something delicious to show us. Oh, to have hellebores. I think they like more rain.
ReplyDeleteRain we've got. Even though we're "behind" the soil is still very wet.
DeleteI like your purple hellobore and blooming aloe. You could have gotten away with it-looks like it is outside with the stones! Anyway-love your succulents! Happy GBBD!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Lee!
DeleteI was thinking the same thing...in spite of the mild winter, things seem a bit behind schedule.
ReplyDeleteMaybe today is the beginning of that changing? A girl (and a boy) can hope!
DeleteDG, such a lovely Hellebore collection! It's nice to enjoy something blooming this time of year :) Happy GBBD ~ Jenni
ReplyDeleteJenni you seem like a gardener who would have a nice collection of hellebores. Guess I better click on over to your blog and see for myself (assuming you posted for Bloomday)
DeleteWell, Spring may be creeping into your area more slowly than mine but I think you still have some beautiful blooms. I've yet to have much success with Hellebores and I absolutely covet that Euphorbia rigida.
ReplyDeleteYou could grow the Euphorbia in your area couldn't you Kris?
DeleteLovely blooms, and foliage, too!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week-end!
Lea
Lea's Menagerie
Thanks for stopping by Lea!
DeleteMy Hellebores are currently buried under about a foot of snow but I have a feeling once it melts off they will come to life and start blooming quickly. Hydrangea flowers offer an amazing period of garden interest. I look forward to see what you do with the space after removing yours.
ReplyDeleteHappy GBBD!
And I look forward to seeing your Hellebores, maybe next Bloomday?
DeleteIf it's cheating to show indoor blooms, I guess I'm cheating too. Your 'Austin Griffiths' and mine are on exactly the same schedule. Portland is late and cool this year, despite Friday's teaser sun.
ReplyDeleteI like the Euphorbia, enough to see if I can grow it. My garden is confused at the moment, we have had enough warm weather to push the garden into bloom, but only to be nipped by regular temps in the 20's.
ReplyDelete