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Flowers are blooming in my garden

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It’s amazing how much everything in my garden has been growing this week.

I know for a fact that some of my plants have grown several inches in just three days. Perhaps it’s all the rain we’ve had in as many days that’s caused the accelerated growth or maybe it’s just because it’s finally warming up a to the temperatures that we’re supposed to have at this time of year – at least in the last day or two it has anyway .. I’m sure it will be freezing cold again soon.

During a break in the rain yesterday afternoon, when the sun was shining if you can believe that … I snuck outside with my camera and took a few pictures of some of the flowers that are in bloom.

Have a look at what’s blooming in my garden this week:

Blue Glories of the Snow

Blue Glory of the Snow 15

These are lovely flowers that grow in clumps. I have both Blue, White and Pink varieties. They make a nice addition to the spring garden beds.

Hellebore (Christmas Rose)

Hellebore 2

My Hellebores are just starting to bloom. Their flower blossoms are shy .. with their heads hanging down so you can’t see their pretty blooms very well at all.

Dwarf Iris

Dwarf Iris 5

I usually don’t get to enjoy seeing the Dwarf Iris for very long because most years, once they make an appearance it often warms up and the flowers really seem to hate the heat so they wilt and die down quit quickly, but this year with it being a bit cooler than normal the dwarf Irises have been around for a little longer so I’ve had a chance to enjoy them.

Snow Drops

Snow Drops 6

The Snow Drop is another flower that I usually don’t get much of a chance to enjoy. They usually bloom quite early … in early March sometimes and die down as it warms up. But this year we had snow for most of March so they didn’t come up through the snow and once they did come up I could see them and enjoy them.

What’s blooming in your garden this week?






Spring has Sprung

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Ok I know that Spring doesn’t officially arrive until Friday, but it sure seems like Spring outside! Even some of my plants think so!

Over the weekend and earlier today I took a walk around my tiny front yard and the backyard garden and much to my surprise I found several plants either greening up or developing leaf buds.

Several roses in both the front and backyard have some leaf buds on them and the lower branches on some are starting to green up too.

My Hydrangea in the backyard still seems lifeless (I didn’t dig down through all the leaves surrounding it so it might be showing signs of life at ground level), but the Blue one that I planted in my front garden bed last year already has several leaf buds on it. One of my hellebore’s (perhaps the only one I have left) has green leaves that appear to be full of life now too.

I don’t have any Crocus’ yet, but I believe I saw some of their grass like leaves coming up in the lawn so it won’t be long before they make an appearance, likewise my snowdrops. Other plants like my German Iris appear to have some green leaves as well … and two Dianthus that I had in a hanging basket that I forgot to take down last fall are coming back to life as well – talk about harsh conditions hanging in a basket in -20 Celsius weather and still being alive!

I’m pretty sure I’ll have a few flowers (crocus and snowdrop) my next week!

It’s been a nice March so far, but my gut tells me that even though there are clear signs of spring all around that we’ll probably get at least one more snow storm before the end of the month. Let’s hope it’s a small one. Either way it will melt fast! Anyway, that’s why I didn’t give in to start doing a bit of yard work earlier today when the urge hit me … might as well leave some of the dead leaves on the ground as extra protection against the cool night air and possible snow before the end of the month.

Are the plants in your garden or yard starting to show signs of life now too?

Dreamy Hellebores

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Hellebore

In about a month or so my Hellebores will start to emerge from their long winter slumber. Along with the crocus’ and my chives the hellebores are often one of the first flowers to emerge each spring. This flower is sometimes called the Christmas rose because in some areas it will bloom in late December. In this area, or at least in my garden it emerges in March, but doesn’t usually bloom until April.

There are approximately 20 species of Helleborus. The flowers have five petals (sepals) surrounding a ring of small cup like nectaries. The sepals remain on the plant rather than fall off as petals would on most flowers. Sometimes the sepals remain on the plant for many months.

Unfortunately many helleborus are considered poisonous. Now that we have a puppy who will more than likely enjoy the backyard frequently we might have to get rid of our hellebores. Of course we always keep a careful eye on our pup and if by chance we can train her to stay out of the garden beds we might be able to keep some of our more risky plants, but I’m not sure I want to take that chance.

Do you grow Hellebores?

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