This post is my 300th posting. It is hard to believe I finally hit the 300 mark. Since we moved to South Carolina I missed two anniversaries. I started this blog in early December 2008, so am into my fourth year. It has been a great adventure and I am really glad I started blogging. The wonderful friends I meet every day in the blogging world are just amazing.
This coming spring I will get to meet many of the garden bloggers at the Garden Bloggers Spring Fling! It is like getting to meet a penpal face to face.
Today is the 15th of the month and that means it is Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, please make sure to go to Carol's blog. She has been hosting this great gathering for a long time! I just checked her sidebar, GBBD has occured 81 times! wow.
So let's see what is blooming in South Carolina -- First is my favorite spring weed. This was taken along the roadside while walking the dogs. (Three dogs, a camera, and holding my jacket as it was warmer than I thought) These little flowers have four petals, ranging from lavender to dark purple. I have checked my sources and I do not have a firm ID. I think it is in the Houstonia family, but it is blooming in February! Any ideas? Bloom day in the winter wouldn't be complete without another shot of my lovely Daphne odora. Her blooms are few now, but I have great expectations for winters to come!
The Muscari I planted last year are starting to bloom. They are circling a sundial next to the driveway. If you look closely you can see some black ears...my shadow, Newton.
I believe this is Narcissus 'Foresight' blooming now. I have three daffodil blooms open right now...but just wait a month!!
The red flowering Quince has some swelling buds. Can't wait for them to pop open.
Over the last two years we planted eight Osmanthus fragrans, Tea Olives. These guys have been blooming since last fall! Their fragrance is out of this world.
Coming into the backyard you find the Edgeworthia chrysantha. I shared the close-up before, but I wanted you to see the shrub in its lovely naked winter glory. I love this plant. In the summer the leaves are large, oval, kind of velvety, and blue green, shading the ferns under them.
Many of the hyacinths are coming up. I have pink and dark pink.
Here is another view of the Edgeworthia,(there are two) along with the Sarcococca hookeriana, soon the Sarcococca will be blooming. Right now the buds are plumping, getting ready to open. I made this photo larger... see the umbrella looking thing in the background? It houses some Carolina Jasmine and a native honeysuckle. Can't wait for it to be covered!
Also under the Edgeworthia is my Hellebore 'Pink Frost', almost open.
Lower in the garden towards the water are the other Hellebore, they are really blooming a lot more than last year.
One plant that hasn't done gangbusters, yet, is my Pulmonaria longifolia 'Diana Clare'. She is full of buds this year and one is open.
While I was walking around the garden I noticed I had some company. These little anoles will rustle the leaves and I think somebody is walking up on me. They are fun.
Blooms that you don't think about as 'blooms' are on my shrubs. This is the Myrica cerifera, Wax myrtle.
And this is the Cryptomeria japonica 'Black Dragon', busting with flowers.
Some forsythia in our area are blooming and mine, well, one of the buds is just about open. Spring is on its way.....
Thanks for joining me on this Bloom Day. I appreciate all the comments you all share. This blogging experience has been a wonderful trip...here's to 300+ more!!
©Copyright 2012 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford.
words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.
Janet,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on 300+ posts, and many more bloom days ahead.
Lisa
Lisa, Thanks a bunch. It has been fun.
DeleteHello Janet,
ReplyDeleteI love all the buds you have - things just waiting to burst open!
I saw some tiny little flowers like those in your first photo, but I don't know what they are. I tried to get a photo, but they are so tiny, I couldn't get the camera to focus. The ones I saw were blue, 4 petals, total size about 1/2 of a fingernail - maybe smaller.
Gail at Clay and Limestone really likes wildflowers. Maybe you could ask her, if none of the GBBD participants ID them.
Congratulations on your 300th post!
Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!
Lea
Lea's Menagerie
Hi Lea, thanks, the little bit of rain we had has helped get those buds closer to opening. Those little blooms are really hard to get a good picture of.
DeleteJanet,
ReplyDeleteGrads on 300! I think I have read 90% of those 300 and enjoyed every post. Could your mystery flowers be bluets, there are 3-4 kinds locally if I recall. Glad your hellebores are blooming more. We have several that are blooming less, but also new ones that have never bloomed too.
Randy, thanks a bunch. I think you have been here for most all of my 300 for sure! Will have to read more about Bluets, love their pretty little colors.
DeleteI am happy the Hellebores are blooming too, there are a few who haven't bloomed yet, last year or this year.
Well congrats on 300 posts! I've so enjoyed getting to know you through your blog and FB. I'm looking forward to meeting you in May. You have some awesome edgeworthias! I have one but between the dogs eating it and the recent freeze it is still so small. Mine might be in too much shade I'm not sure. They sure are pretty in all their glory.
ReplyDeleteTina, thanks. I am looking forward to meeting you too! Sorry to hear your dogs have been nibbling on your Edgeworthia.
DeleteWow! Congrats on 300 posts, well done. I am fascinated by the Edgeworthia flowers, they are so different. You are going to love the Fling. It is great to meet so many cool bloggers! I went to the one in Seattle, but I think I will pass on Asheville.
ReplyDeleteAlison, You ought to give Edgeworthia a try. Wonderful fragrance. I am really looking forward to the Fling. Sorry you won't be there....maybe another year.
DeleteGorgeous, all of it, including the anole.
ReplyDeleteNellJean, thanks! I love these little anole.
DeleteWonderful anniversary. Congrats. I thought reaching 100 was a big deal for me but 300 is amazing. I love your spring blooms!
ReplyDeleteDonna, I am amazed the anniversary came so quickly...seems like just yesterday.
DeleteJanet, I think I should get a cup of coffee before I read blogs--when I saw your title, I thought it was the GBBC (bird count) and that you must have seen 300 birds:) I was pretty amazed at that, but I'm just as happy to see all the signs of spring in your yard and garden. The Daphne's blooms are so pretty; I've been afraid to try one here, because I've heard they are fussy, but yours looks very happy.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you're going to Asheville, too; I'm so looking forward to meeting so many friends there!
Rose, Hahaaa...yes, coffee is in order before reading AND before writing. Think for the Daphne the key is good drainage. I look forward to seeing you in Asheville!
DeleteJust look at spring popping up all over your garden.I love you umbrella trellis! Your Daphne is just so lovely along with all those pretty hellebore's.The Pink Frost is my favorite. And your Diana Clare is blooming! Wow, mine is just growing a tad now. I adore it.
ReplyDeleteLona, Spring is really on its way here. We have had such a mild winter. I hope Pink Frost gets going a little better, seems to be in a suspended state. Need to go down to the back of the yard and check on Diana Clare.
DeleteCongrats on the anniversaries! You have a lot going on in your garden, how fun. I'm glad you're going to the spring fling. I won't make it this year, but maybe by next year I'll be able to break away and make it . . . it sounds so fun!
ReplyDeleteVW, thanks a bunch. I do have a lot going on in my garden. You have a lot going on this year to be able to go to the Fling. Though hope you come sometime!
DeleteGoodness Janet, 300 posts! Congratulations. I love your Edgeworthia, particularly in the shot facing towards the lake, the stark outlines against the water are beautiful. I do like the way there always seem to be a couple of extra brave narcissus blooms, that come out before their brethren as if to test the waters. They promise so much to come. Enjoy your next 300 posts!!
ReplyDeleteJanet, thanks so much. I love my Edgeworthia...glad I have a couple. Great plant. Since we have had a little rain there are more daffodils popping.
Deleteway to go with the 300 posts! and yours are all pretty meaty, too. i'm inspired by your edgeworthia and hoping mine looks that cute at some point. right now it's a stick with one flower cluster at the tip. i love the branching and overall shape of your plant. the flowers of my one little bloom are opening and i think i am going to love the scent as much as you do. nice!
ReplyDeleteDaricia, amazing isn't it? Thanks, appreciate the 'meaty' comment. I hope your Edgeworthia will grow and be a neat full shape. How's the scent? Heavenly right?
DeleteLooking good Queen!!!! Congrats on the 300, look forward to more.
ReplyDeleteDarla, thanks! There will be lots more!
DeleteHappy Anniversary...that's quite a milestone! It certainly is looking spring-like at your place! I'm waiting for our neighbor's Daphne to bloom so I can enjoy the fragrance!
ReplyDeleteScott, Thanks a bunch. Hope you enjoy the Daphne, such a great shrub.
DeleteHAPPY THREE HUNDRED!!! Love your flowers in bloom. I do love seeing the plants awaken in the spring.
ReplyDeleteNCmountainwoman, thanks! I enjoy spring a lot, examining each plant for signs of new growth. Special time.
DeleteThat is a lot of posts! I never even looked at mine. :)
ReplyDeleteThe lizard is a cute little guy and your blooms are so pretty. It is good to see things are progressing weather-wise in your part of the country.
Rosey, It is a lot, though it is spread out over a few years. Hope spring comes to your part of the country soon.
DeleteYou have a lot in bloom! I bet those Tea Olives smell wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Randy that the little blue flowers look like Bluets.
Sweetbay, thanks for help with the ID. I am so happy we have Tea Olives in the yard...what a wonderful plant.
DeleteCongratulations, 4 years and 300 posts! wow, that is an accomplishment. and so lovely to see so many plants starting to plump up and come back from winter. You have a wonderful collection there.
ReplyDeleteMarguerite, thanks! It is a lot of posts. I am always adding to the collection.
DeleteWe have so many of the same things blooming in the garden. I missed GBBD - was teaching a 4-hour Master Gardener landscape design class. My quince is in full bloom, but my hellbores show no signs of blooming this spring. I wonder if it was just too warm for them all winter. We only had 1 or 2 freezes here. And it's been rather wet. I love them, so it's fun to see yours blooming. Can't wait to meet you at the Fling. This will be my 5th, and you know it started in Austin. Can't believe it's been 5 years.
ReplyDeleteDiana, Funny that we have so many of the same things blooming. I bet your teaching a MG class would be awesome. I am a novice with the Hellebore...hard to know. Yes, looking forward to meeting you in Asheville.
DeleteYou and I have the same sweetbox shrub. It really spreads!! It will take over the whole bed if you're not careful. I grew jessamine when I lived in SC and am adding it to my garden this year. I miss the little yellow flowers. Your garden is going to be beautiful when everything is blooming!
ReplyDeleteTammy, Hope the sweetbox blooms soon. I didn't notice it blooming (open) last year. It has room to spread...some. Our Jessamine is opening now. I hope to have a big bang of blooms come spring.
DeleteOne more - I was hoping to go to the Spring Fling but it's right in the middle of our end of year standardized testing and my admin would go into heart failure if I took time off. Grrr....!
ReplyDeleteTammy, Wish you could come.
DeleteHard to believe you have crossed the 300 mark, and on Bloom Day as well. Congratulations! I think I passed that milestone sometime this year and didn't even notice.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea for your backyard umbrella. I know you will share a photo or 2 when your vision comes true.-
Les, It is hard to believe. I think I kind of timed the Bloom Day posting ;-). I missed the year anniversaries, so it was good to pay note of this one.
DeleteThe umbrella trellis is really filling in well. Stay tuned!
Congratulations on your 300th post, Janet!
ReplyDeleteYou certainly have more blooms than we this time a year. Daphne is one of my favorites, but even those purple weeds look lovely now!.
Tatyana, thanks so much. I really like these little purple weeds...have some in the front garden bed..and they are staying!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the next 300. It's amazing that some annuals here are surviving winter - like never before.
ReplyDeleteSwimray, thanks! Appreciate it. Yes, winter has been quite mild.
Delete