BEE MINE! Helleborus foeditus is source of nectar
The sun is out this morning, coaxing buds from their slumber. Just in time for Valentine’s Day and Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day–there’s some color in the landscape.
Hellebore volunteer soaks up the sun
Some of the Hellebores are farther along than others. Those in more sun have fully open flowers, others are just budding.
The foliage of spring bulbs is pushing through the soil and leaf layers, but the only ones in bloom are the snowdrops.
Amongst the signs of life, patches of Viola odorata with tiny purple blossoms, the little pink bells of the winter heath and of course various primroses, these red-pink ones given to me originally by a friend.
The Sarcoccocca has been in shining for a month; its powerful, tiny white flowers perfuming our garden.
Speaking of perfume, the Abeliophyllum distictum, or Korean Forsythia is starting to bloom on bare branches.
A closeup peek into the foliage of Azara microphylla reveals wee yellow buds getting ready to open–more heavenly scent awaits us.
Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’, or Henry’s Lauders Walking Stick features male flowering catkins alongside pink female flowers on its twisted, naked branches.
Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day: http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/
© Colleen Miko, 2011
Well, I’m impressed. I guess I had this prejudicial misconception about your area having almost nothing in the way of flowers in February. Most of the blooms look like subtle little surprises in the garden, but I’m sure they’re appreciated all the more this time of year. I hope you had a good Valentine’s!
It does take some plant searching to have flowers in the garden here in February, but it’s not as harsh here in the winter as people sometimes assume. All our water helps keep the winters somewhat mild. I make a point of searching out things that bloom in fall and winter to round out the garden out and feed the pollinators–a mini-mission for the garden to have little off season surprises. And you’re right–most of the flowers fall on the side of “charming” rather than “knock em dead”.