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Saturday, February 15, 2014

GARDEN BLOGGERS' BLOOM DAY FEB 2014

The hard winter has left Texas gardens far behind how they would normally look at this time of year. It is a time when structure takes over from planting.


However there are signs that spring is on the way and with temperature in the 70s and 80s this next week it is going to come quickly. It is likely to be here sooner than we think.


Viburnum 'Spring Bouquet' is about to burst its buds. WIth its evergreen foliage, undamaged by many freezing nights it is a welcome addition in the winter garden.


A clump of paperwhites, always the earliest of the spring flowers.


With an 80° day promised these daffs will be open before the end of the day.


A pot of violas is a welcome splash of color. I planted these in November and left them to the elements. They needed no pampering.


My last flower is a patch of alyssum in the gravel of the vegetable garden path.
Is your garden still under snow? Do you see crocus and snowdrops pushing their way through? That will be a sure sign that a new gardening year is on the way. Please join Carol, at Maydreams for another Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day.

21 comments:

  1. My upstate New York zone 5b garden is indeed under a blanket of snow (and it's snowing right now). Just thinking of 70's and 80's - I can't wait. And to think of a place where you can grow paper whites out doors - here, they are an indoor forcing flower. Happy GBBD.

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    1. Spring will soon be with you and just think of all that great moisture in the soil.

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  2. No snow here in the PNW right now, but we did have some last week. I really should do pansies next winter, yours are so pretty!

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    1. I love pansies too but favor the violas because they don't flop quite so much a s pansies.They are such hardy little plants.

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  3. Beautiful, beautiful blooms!
    My daffodils poked their noses up two weeks ago, but decided it was still too cold to bloom. Hopefully more moderate weather next week will bring out the flowers. If it weren't for the Hellebores making buds, I would have nothing to show.
    Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!
    Lea

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    1. Lea, I would love to grow hellebores but they don't seem to like my soil. SUch gorgeous blooms.

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  4. Thank heavens for daffodils & the viola family - and wish my Spring Bouquet hadn't croaked because yours is going to be lovely. Happy GBBD, Rock Rose.

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    1. It is a beauty Annie but it requires some major pruning each year and now it is so big it is hard to get into the center. Still I love the buds and I love the flowers.

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  5. You have such a well-designed garden with lots of structure that I enjoy a chance to get a peek at it without the distraction of your beautiful plantings.

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    1. Thanks Ms Wis. When the plants die back it is good to have a solid structure. I think the structure is my favorite part of design.

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  6. Violas and Alyssum -- so dainty and fragile looking, but tough as nails.

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    1. You are right there Jean. I'll be watching out for snail though because they like them too.

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  7. Your garden looks great even without its usual blooms! We're a bit ahead of you in SoCal - our temperatures have already launched up into the 80s and spring is well underway here. Happy GBBD!

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  8. That viburnum looks lovely. Jenny, you have fantastic structure in your garden. I wish I had some of your blooms, especially the alyssum. I love its sweet smell. I have a few blooms, but nothing like last year.

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  9. Your paperwhites are so pretty. I've never had luck with them, but it seems like they're happy with other gardeners. The viburnum is lovely too.

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  10. Looks like you have pruned back last year's growth and are ready for spring. I did a little pruning in my garden today and will get the rest of it over the next couple of weeks.

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  11. Yes, my garden is still covered in snow--in fact, had a fresh layer added yesterday. So it's such a treat to see your blooms; it gives me hope that indeed spring will arrive one of these days. Sweet violas!

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  12. I'll add my voice to the chorus of envy and appreciation for the structure in your garden spaces. The photos minus the distraction of blooms are a good reminder that structure has to come first. Though many of us can include "more structure" only as part of our longest range plans, it will always be well worth the effort. expense, and the wait.

    I got out yesterday and began a series of cautious pruning exercises out back. I'm guessing we have at least one more freeze left so don't want to over-expose certain areas. Unfortunately there are several yuccas and agave that are mostly mush in the front beds, so my next few sorties are cut out for me! Thanks for the inspiration.

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  13. Your garden has such good bones, it looks good, even bare.
    I only have some pansies and violas. And, they're not looking all that good.
    I've spent days, getting Rye Grass out of the beds. Our fall flood brought all the seeds down from the newly seeded golf course. Makes a lovely lawn. Just not crazy about it in the beds. :)
    And, I have LOTS of dead, frozen stuff. Ugh....
    I always think of planting daffs, when it's too late. Maybe I should set a calendar to remind me.
    Enjoy this great weather...

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  14. Isn't this weather crazy? Enjoyed reading the your posts on your travels!

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