Hamamelis x Intermedia ‘Diane’
Just a quick post for the month with the least flowers on display. Our Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day finds that the winter has been mild but most plants are just fattening up there buds for the months to come. There are a few exceptions. The Witch Hazel shown above is joined by several others on the hillside but none are as spectacular in bloom as ‘Diane.
The snowdrops are popping out. Even a few that have migrated into the lawn.
Galanthus elwesii
And the first of hybrid Hellebores is now in flower (not counting ‘Jacob’ which appeared a month ago)
Helleborus x ‘Winter’s Song’
There are othe plants just on the verge
Adonis amurensis ‘Fukujukai’ just opening
And I can see colorful buds on the Peonies.
Paeonia caucasica buds
The cyclamen are also noteworthy for the lovely patterns they create as they continue to spread in the yard.
Cyclamen hederifolium leaves
And in the house we have steady stream of flowers from the greenhouse (especially Cyrtanthus) and some new orchids that arrived as Christmas and birthday gifts.
A new orchid for the house
Finally I should point out that we did plant the Christmas tree last week to provide a future landmark in the pasture.
Xmas tree planting for 2023 (Canaan Fir)
This is also the month for planting the seeds obtained from the NARGS seed exchange.
Planting the NARGS seeds
As always there are great expectations.
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day December 2022
Flowers over the fireplace
I’ll begin this seasonal GBBD post with an image of the Christmas greens and flowers over the fireplace. The Japanese quince has been flowering on and off again all Fall. The the red Camellia sansanqua continues to provide a regular supply of beautiful blooms.
This is what the full plant looks like.
Camellia sasanqua red
and the individual flowers
Camellia sasanqua red
Nearby is another fall Camellia that we brought home from Camellia Forest some years ago.
Camellia x ‘Yume’
In the front yard (risking deer damage) is another fall bloomer.
Camellia sasanqua ‘October Magic Orchid’
There are only a few plants in flower besides the Camellias and the Quince. One is the first of the Hellebores (also known as Christmas Rose).
Helleborus niger HGC® ‘Jacob’
I noticed in walking the yard that some of the plants in bud are well worth thinking about as we wait for Springtime. The Edgeworthia is almost better in bud than in flower.
Edgeworthia in bud
And there are several other plants starting to bud up
Cyclamen coum flower buds
First Daffodil buds (Rijnveld’s Early Sensation)
Paeonia caucasica buds
But it is December so one of our seasonal events is to buy a balled and burlapped Evergreen for our Christmas tree. In this case a Canaan Fir seemed to be the most attractive in our size range.
Canaan Fir
After our Christmas elves finished their handiwork it really looks quite splendid
Our Christmas Tree
It will head for the forest in January.
Also inside right now is a pot of Cyrtanthus (like miniature Amaryllis)
Cyrtanthus mackeni
Besides prepping for Christmas the other thing that goes on this time of year are the various seed exchanges. On December 15th every year the North American Rock Garden Society releases the listing of seeds available through the seed exchange. This year there were 2400 different seed varieties available and the contributions came from all over the world. In my case the seeds I’ve requested came from contributors in the U.S., Canada, England, Scotland, Finland, Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic. If you have any interest in growing unusual plants from seed I highly recommend exploring the NARGS seed exchange.
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day March 2022
Fritillaria stenanthera ‘Cambridge’
It is two days late for Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day, but I need to keep up my records. There have been sooo many flowers and activities around our house that it’s hard to account for everything that is happening. The daffodils are off to a fine start and all of their friends and neighbors are coming too. I’ll focus on some of my favorites in the interest of getting this post out at least by St. Patricks Day. The Fritillary pictured above is a reminder that some Fritillaries are willing face the viewer rather than nodding toward the grass.
It’s hard not to focus on the Hellebores for this time of year. They are everywhere.
Hellebore x hybridus PDN Double White
Helleborus x hybridus ‘Kingston Cardinal’
Helleborus x ericsmithii ‘Winter Sunshine’
Helleborus x hybridus ‘Peppermint Ice’
There is even a black one that I’ve forgotten the name of…
Hellebore black
There are several unnamed seedlings to be found in our woods since they don’t seem to be fancied by the deer.
Hellebore growing in the woods
And in the yard and the woods we find a classic primrose
Primula vulgaris
Out in the front yard the Edgeworthia is announcing the beginning of Spring.
Edgeworthia in full bloom
Edgeworthia chrysantha
And then there are the classic spring bulbs
Iris histroides ‘Major’
Crocus tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant’
Glory of the Snow (Chionodoxa)
And yet more out in the woods
Narcissus ‘Jack Snipe’
Scilla bifolia ‘Rosea’
A nice surprise for me was to discover this rock garden plant that I put in two years ago after a Yuzawa Engei order from Japan. It’s original home is in the high mountains of Morocco so I’m glad it has chosen to flower here.
Ranunculus calandrinoides (High Alpine Buttercup)
I always feel good when little Saxifrages are willing to flower in our garden troughs.
Saxifraga ferdinandi-coburgi ssp. radoslavoffii
Saxifraga ‘Allendale Charm’
You can just barely see the little piece of tufa that Wrightman’s Alpines provides.
Another first time flowering for me is this little Clivia that I got from seed via the Pacific Bulb Society back in 2013.
Belgian hybrid orange Clivia (2013)
It has a few years to go to catch up with our normal Clivia. But I’m more than willing to watch it try.
Clivia
Clivia miniata
And since I began the last GBBD post with the first Adonis image of the year, I thought it only fair to end this post with another Adonis posting, this time of the very special orange one (even though this image is from three weeks ago).
Adonis amurensis ‘Chichibu Beni’
I was afraid last year that I had lost this planting it was down to just two flowers, but it came back strongly this year — and I intend to take some seeds.
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day February 2022
Adonis ‘Fukujukai’
Adonis is one of my favorite flowers. It comes so vigorously at a time of the year when we have almost forgotten the joy of spectacular flowers. I have seen it flower even before this year’s mid-February showing but it’s very appropriate to have it kick off a Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day. I have every expectation that over the next couple of weeks there will be a number of Adonis appearing at our early Spring party. It’s been a long, long January into February so let’s see what else is here today.
Daffodils have a strong connections with Spring and for us this is the first one
Narcissus ‘Rijnveld’s Early Sensation’
And in the front yard I found one lonely crocus.
First crocus
Last week I found a rare Eranthis blooming in the cold frame
Eranthis pinnatifida
I noticed today that there is now a baby showing in that same pot. Even more importantly I think I see buds for the same Eranthis showing in one of the outside beds.
At the same time the more common Winter Aconites are popping up all over the yard.
Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis)
Last year I took some of these out to the forest and now they are showing in the woods as well.
Winter Aconite in the woods
At the same time I’ve been growing some of the more unusual cultivars.
Eranthis hyemalis ‘Schwefelglanz’
Eranthis hyemalis ‘Orange Glow’
It is surprising to me that the Cyclamens are also players in the early flowers game.
Cyclamen coum
And even before the flowers show up the Peonies are starting to show color.
Paeonia caucasica in bud
And the heather that I featured last month is still flowering. Cold weather does little to damp it’s winter enthusiasm. Also the Camellias that were so prolific in December are starting up again. They are simply wonderful.
Camellia japonica red
Of course when we turn to the trees, we need to take note of the Witch Hazels.
Chinese Witch Hazel (Hamamelis mollis)
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’
We also have several contributions from the greenhouse
Cyrtanthus flanaganii
Babiana framesii
Lachenalia aloides
That’s about here for mid-Maryland in this year’s February. I think there is a lot coming in the next few weeks.
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day April 2021
Rhododendron carolinianum
All the usual suspects are in bloom now for this April Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day. Daffodils everywhere, first azaleas, dogwoods, peonies opening up, and spring bulbs of every sort. I’ll focus on some of the things that catch my attention on a morning walk.
It’s hard not to notice the Kwansan double-flowered Cherry when you walk out the back door.
Kwanzan Cherry in first bloom
In the backyard the Epimediums are special right now. There are two in particular that came as mother’s day gifts from Garden Visions years ago and are now quite substantial in size.
Epimedium x rubrum ‘Sweetheart’
Epimedium x rubrum ‘Sweetheart’
Epimedium grandiflorum ‘Lilac Seedling’
Epimedium grandiflorum ‘Lilac Seedling’
Another Epimedium that I like a lot is the Wushanense variety with its red leaves and white flowers.
Epimedium wushanense ‘Sandy Claws’
There are also several instances of Erythronium cultivars that add to the explosion of Trout lilies that surround the deck.
Erythronium californicum ‘White Beauty’
There are several spots where we have lovely clumps of star flowers
Ipheion uniflorum ‘Tessa’
In addition to the Peonies that are imitating being in flower because of the falling quince flowers, there are other Peonies almost in flower.
Peony with imitation red flowers
Paeonia caucasica
The first of the Arisaema and Podophyllum are poking through the ground.
Flower buds on Podophyllum delavayii
Especially nice was to see a return of the very rare Podophyllum x inexpectatum which I thought we had lost to animals.
Podophyllum x inexpectatum
The Camellias continue to dominate the flowering landscape
Red/white camellia
So many camellias
A new addition is the Loropetalum (marginally hardy for our area)
Loropetalum newly added to herb bed
I should not forget the Adonis vernalis which wraps up our Adonis flowering
Adonis vernalis
And the Iris tuberosa which has a nice flowering this year
Iris tuberosa
One of my favorite small troughs features a very nice dwarf Daphne
Daphne in one of the small troughs
Daphne detail
If we go back to the alpine bed the reliable Armeria is nearing peak bloom growing out of tufa rock
Armeria maritima ‘Victor Reiter’
And back in the forest there are many daffodils and the first of the Jack-in-a-Pulpit
Narcissus ‘Chromacolor’ in the woods
First jack-in-a-pulpit in the woods
In the greenhouse it is Spring in South Africa
Tritoma crocata
Ferraria divaricata
It’s also worth mentioning that because we made an early start on the season in the basement this year we have been eating green salads for the last 6 weeks and the plants are even happier now that they can come outside.
Salad greens brought from the basement
We’ve also put the first tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants in the garden
Tomatoes from basement
There are flowers on the fruit trees, strawberries, and blueberries. Life is good…
Flowers on the blueberries
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day March 2021
Helleborus in profusion
Well there has been an explosion of flowers over the last two weeks. We are back to a more wintry cold and windy day today, but we have had some stunning sunny days which have moved us well into Spring. Perhaps nothing captures the change for Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day so much as the Hellebores. The variety of shapes, sizes, and colors is remarkable. Here are a few examples
Helleborus ‘Kingston Cardinal’
Helleborus Ice N’ Roses Red
Hellebore white/pink double
Helleborus x lemonnierae ‘Walberton’s Rosemary’
A little plant of Helleborus thibetanus is not to be missed.
Helleborus thibetanus
The Camellias are all in fat bud or flowering at the moment.
Double Pink Camellia japonica
It’s also the time for the daffodils to begin all over our hillside. One of the pleasures of each year are the small clumps in the woods.
Narcissus ‘Little Gem’
Also in the woods are couple nice Scilla that are fun to come upon.
White Squill in the woods
Scilla bifolia ‘Rosea’
Like the Daffodils they are not bothered by the animals and are gradually expanding.
There are a number of Iris histroides in flower now.
Iris histroides ‘Major’
Iris histroides ‘Finio’
This last is a new addition from Odyssey Bulbs.
The cyclamen coum have been a real pleasure this year. We had never had spring cyclamen before.
Cyclamen coum
The first of the Hepaticas is out in bloom.
Hepatica x media
The first Glory of the Snow are also making their appearance
Chionodoxa forbesii ‘Pink Giant’
They run wild in our pasture and there will be many more on the way.
Back in the alpine area I was pleased to see the Dionysia make a very early appearance
Dionysia involucrata
In the same trough is a Saxifrage that is not far behind.
Saxifraga ‘Valerie Keevil’
On the sunny side of the alpine beds the Draba hispanica is moving rapidly through flowering
Draba hispanica
Right next to the Draba the Aubrieta is beginning to flower with many buds visible as well.
Aubrieta ‘Royal Red’
And the small Asphodelus that I acquired from John Lonsdale is coming into flower as well.
Asphodelus acaulis
And in the greenhouse there are rampant pleasures as the plants imagine that we live in the tropics.
Amaryllis Green-Red
Scilla peruviana
Lachenalia unicolor
And then finally a spectacular Ferraria
Ferraria crispa
It’s Spring — Finally!
Adonis ‘Fukujukai’ in the snow
Last Monday the sun finally broke through and the temperatures started rising. And the Adonis needed only the slightest hint to start opening their flowers. By Wednesday they were fully on display — at last!
Adonis ‘Fukujukai’
Adonis ‘Fukujukai’
The thing about the Adonis is that they are not easy to find and take forever to spread. Since they are sterile you can’t rely on seeds for them to spread and the slow propagation seems to make them unappealing to nurserymen. So if you find them, buy them. They are the first reward for the end of winter.
Of course there are other good signs that we are moving into springtime. Winter Aconite are another of my favorites steps to springtime and the first to show up this year are the slightly paler German version
Eranthis hyemalis ‘Schwefelglanz’
I was also please to see that a more another Winter Aconite cultivar was also appearing already.
Eranthis hyemalis ‘Orange Glow’
But even more special was a little flower poking up in the cold frame.
Eranthis pinnatifida
This is particularly stunning little flower that I had outside a few years ago and it disappeared. I’m not sure I have the confidence to take this one outside of the cold frame yet.
There are also several crocus popping out.
First Crocus
In addition I’m pleased to see that the snowdrops are moving into the lawn.
Snowdrops moving into the lawn
Of course the witch hazels are happy to tell you that it is springtime also.
Hamamalis x intermedia ‘Diane’
More surprising is to see the first flower on the primula vulgaris.
Primula vulgaris
I also saw a Northern Flicker at the bird feeder and that never happens in wintertime for us
Northern Flicker at the feeder
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day January 2021
Camellia sasanqua red
Well the fall camellia next to the garage continues to be our most reliable bloomer for Garden Blogger Bloom Day and the wintertime. It’s hard not to imagine the backyard without the camellias. They are such a continuing delight. The hybrid that I picked up from the camellia society a couple of years ago has been blooming all winter long as well, but the flowers are starting to decrease in size.
Camellia hybrid white/pink
Meanwhile the first of the spring camellias is blooming again.
Camellia japonica red
Some of the other flowers around the yard are pretty reliable participants in the late winter/early spring bloom.
1st Snowdrops
Japanese Quince
Helleborus niger HGC® ‘Jacob’
But it’s worth noting that we have never seen this red heather blooming persistently over the winter.
Krarmer’s Rote Heather (Erica x darleyensis)
It’s also worth noting that I’ve never seen flower buds on the Cyclamen coum in January.
Cyclamen coum flower buds
I wanted to include a picture of the buds on one of the other Hellebores as well. This is a particularly dark foliaged plant with dark red flowers as well. It looks like it wont’ be long till this one is in bloom.
Helleborus ‘Ice and Roses Red’
In the greenhouse we have more Narcissus showing up. This is a particularly nice one (note the buds yet to open)
Narcissus romieuxii ‘Atlas Gold’
We have also decided (in response to Covid) to upgrade our basement lighting and get an early start on the planting year.
New LED light added for starting seeds
And as a result here are the little plants from the seeds that I planted last week on my birthday…
First seedlings for 2021