Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Three Hundred and Counting on GBBD

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.

48 comments:

  1. Janet,
    Congratulations on 300+ posts, and many more bloom days ahead.
    Lisa

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello Janet,
    I 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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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.

      Delete
  3. Janet,
    Grads 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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.
      I am happy the Hellebores are blooming too, there are a few who haven't bloomed yet, last year or this year.

      Delete
  4. 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tina, thanks. I am looking forward to meeting you too! Sorry to hear your dogs have been nibbling on your Edgeworthia.

      Delete
  5. Wow! 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alison, 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.

      Delete
  6. Gorgeous, all of it, including the anole.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wonderful anniversary. Congrats. I thought reaching 100 was a big deal for me but 300 is amazing. I love your spring blooms!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Donna, I am amazed the anniversary came so quickly...seems like just yesterday.

      Delete
  8. Janet, 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.

    So glad you're going to Asheville, too; I'm so looking forward to meeting so many friends there!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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!

      Delete
  9. Just 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lona, 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.

      Delete
  10. Congrats 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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VW, 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!

      Delete
  11. Goodness 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!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Janet, 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.

      Delete
  12. way 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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Daricia, 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?

      Delete
  13. Looking good Queen!!!! Congrats on the 300, look forward to more.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Happy 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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Scott, Thanks a bunch. Hope you enjoy the Daphne, such a great shrub.

      Delete
  15. HAPPY THREE HUNDRED!!! Love your flowers in bloom. I do love seeing the plants awaken in the spring.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NCmountainwoman, thanks! I enjoy spring a lot, examining each plant for signs of new growth. Special time.

      Delete
  16. That is a lot of posts! I never even looked at mine. :)
    The 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rosey, It is a lot, though it is spread out over a few years. Hope spring comes to your part of the country soon.

      Delete
  17. You have a lot in bloom! I bet those Tea Olives smell wonderful.

    I agree with Randy that the little blue flowers look like Bluets.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sweetbay, thanks for help with the ID. I am so happy we have Tea Olives in the yard...what a wonderful plant.

      Delete
  18. Congratulations, 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marguerite, thanks! It is a lot of posts. I am always adding to the collection.

      Delete
  19. We 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Diana, 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.

      Delete
  20. You 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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tammy, 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.

      Delete
  21. One 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....!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hard 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.

    What a great idea for your backyard umbrella. I know you will share a photo or 2 when your vision comes true.-

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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.
      The umbrella trellis is really filling in well. Stay tuned!

      Delete
  23. Congratulations on your 300th post, Janet!
    You certainly have more blooms than we this time a year. Daphne is one of my favorites, but even those purple weeds look lovely now!.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Tatyana, thanks so much. I really like these little purple weeds...have some in the front garden bed..and they are staying!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Looking forward to the next 300. It's amazing that some annuals here are surviving winter - like never before.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Swimray, thanks! Appreciate it. Yes, winter has been quite mild.

      Delete

If you use "Anonymous" please sign your name so I know who you are...there is a lot of spam out there. Thanks for visiting today. The Queen would be pleased if you left a comment...... :-D thanks! I do respond to your comments, you can click on the email followup comments to have it in your inbox.

I am now moderating all comments. Too much spam is coming through. Sorry folks.