February 2019, Bloomday

We sailed through November, December and January without any sign of winter, I was a very happy gardener. Then February happened. We had an inch or so of snow overnight on Monday the 4th, then overnight on Friday the 8th between 2-3" fell here (depending on where I measured). The lowest low in my garden was 23F... neither the snow or the cold are all that remarkable. Just enough to remind me that I live in the PNW, where anything can happen. I have to admit that looking at photos of my friend's gardens in Seattle, I'm feeling a little PTSD. I look outside and see green, but I'm having flashbacks to the ice and snow of winter 2016/17. Seattle has been hit hard, I'm feeling very lucky here.

So, that's all to say we were on track for an early spring, but then things went on hold. Helleborus argutifolius was already blooming when winter arrived.

Helleborus argutifolius

THis Helleborus NOID is doing some interesting things with a couple of green petals.

Helleborus x ballardiae Pink Frost had been fairly upright until it was buried under the snow.

It's flowers are dirty now.

Helleborus 'Ice 'n Roses'

Helleborus x ‘Golden Sunrise’

I picked it up for a close-up (above), but then it stayed upright. I found the different shades of yellow intriguing.

Helleborus 'Black Diamond

NOID Helleborus  Helleborus  'Rio Carnival' I bought earlier this year, I have the tag, somewhere. It's very interesting with those dark bits exposed within the creamy petals. I'm curious what it will look like when open.

Helleborus x hybridus 'Jade Tiger' is the bloomiest. I love this plant!

Arctostaphylos x ‘Austin Griffiths' lost most of its flowers in the snow and wind.

I tried to snap a photo of the ones left on its branches but every single photo ended up blurry, like this one.

Grevillea miqueliana, old bloom.

Grevillea miqueliana, new bloom.

One of six Echium wildpretii I religiously covered each night during the week of cold, and uncovered during the day. I am hopeful they'll reward me with towers of pink blooms later this spring.

Abutilon Nuabtang looks a little worse for the wear (ditto for A. Nuabyel), but it's going to be putting out fresh new blooms soon, I'm sure of it.

Mahonia x media 'Marvel' is such a pretty yellow bloom.

A reminder of how cool the Aucuba japonica ‘Longifolia’ berries are...

Ceanothus 'Dark Star' is covered in buds, soon there will be flowers.

Euphorbia rigida

Flattened by the snow it's still on track for some amazing blooms.

Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Nanjing Gold' didn't miss a beat while covered with snow.

Normally I love photographing these flowers against a blue sky, but a cloudy one also gives an interesting perspective.

Although a green background shows off color much better.

It's a nonstop hummingbird performance if you're at that window, looking out. Sometimes they stop and rest just inches from where I am, on the other side of the glass.

Stachyurus salicifolius is another of the "almost" flowers. Obviously I can't resist sharing those during a bloomday post.

Indoors there are Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Rainbow' flowers. I cut branches to bring inside for a vase weeks ago, and the flowers appeared just a few days ago. Outside there aren't even buds on the branches yet.

And in time for Valentine's Day yesterday the Amaryllis burst out in luscious red...

Thanks to Carol at May Dreams Gardens for hosting the Bloomday fun once again! If your're curious about how this tradition began read her "a brief history of A Brief History of Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day" which appeared on her blog yesterday.

Weather Diary, Feb 14: Hi 43, Low 36/ Precip .28"

All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.