Mid-February Garden Blogger Bloom Day 2020

One of the blogging memes that has been going for a long time is the Garden Blogger Bloom Day. I haven't participated in a long time but am jumping back in. Every month, on the 15th, is Garden Blogger Bloom Day, or GBBD. The meme is hosted by Carol Michel at May Dreams Gardens. Be sure to go over to Carol's blog and see what's blooming in other areas.

One of my new pet peeves is blogs not saying up front where they are located. I don't mean your mailing address but what is your zone, what state do you live in? That said- I live in the Upstate of South Carolina, zone 7b- 8a. I am right on the line. Living on the lake helps moderate the temperatures so I am claiming 8a.

On to the blooms.

We have had a very mild winter so far and many plants are saying, "hello".  I went outside this morning with new camera in hand to get some shots- after a few photos the battery light was blinking red. Bummer. The cell phone came out. The photos are a mix of both.
Starting with the daffodils- there are so many blooming right now. Some varieties are known, but not all.

Narcissus 'Carlton'

N. 'Barrett Browning'

N. 'Ice Follies'

N. 'Erlicheer'

possibly N. 'Avalanche'

N. 'Barrett Browning' and N. 'Carlton'

One of the nice things about our Garden Blogger Flings is the wonderful sponsors who share tools, products, plants, and seeds with us. The above daffodils were swag from Colorblends a few years ago. They sent you bulbs based on your location. I received 'Gritty Southern Mix' and they have done great!
Another bulb that I kept looking for and didn't see emerging. Snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis. All of a sudden, there it was!!

Iris reticulata, a sweet little iris

Let's move along through the garden- so many blooms!!
Another spring favorite are Helleborus. Some named, some pass-along plants- all great!

Helleborus orientalis 'Brandywine Series'

H. orientalis 'Brandywine Series'

View from the deck- Edgeworthia with Helleborus under planted

H. ballardiae x 'COSEH 710' 'Pink Frost'

Next up are the trees and shrubs that are in bloom.

Viburnum tinus  'Spring Bouquet'

Edgeworthia chrysantha 

Forsythia x intermedia

Lean in and take in the fragrance! Osmanthus fragrans Tea Olive

Flowering quince Chaenomeles sp.

Magnolia 'Jane'

Loropetalum chinese 'Ever Red'

"Close to the ground" group-

Iberis sempervirens, Candytuft

Violet, Viola walteri 'Silver Gem'

And last but not least- Gaillardia, it is a sporadic bloomer during the late fall through early spring. Once summer comes, it is in bloom full force.

Thanks for stopping by to see my blooms for GBBD. Be sure to stop by Carol's blog to see more gardens. 

©Copyright 2020 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.

A Warm and Balmy January Bloom Day

This winter has been so mild for those of us in the Upstate of SC.  Today I was able to plant two crabapple trees, Malus 'Red Silver' and M. 'Golden Hornet' and two Spirea van houttei that I ordered in November.  While working in the yard I was happy to see my Daphne odora 'aureomarginata' was starting to bloom.    I thought I would walk around the yard and get a few photos of all that is blooming today.  Carol from May Dreams Gardens has the Garden Bloggers Bloom Day each month on the 15th.  Be sure to check out what is blooming from other bloggers.

Ozark witch hazel -- fragrance of cloves
Hamamelis vernalis

This is the first year to have this one in my garden (note the dog hair!)

Osmanthus fragrans still blooming and fragrant

Drain field-  see the Paperwhites?

Here they are, Narcissus 'Grand Soleil d'Or'
They are so small, will move them along the driveway soon.

Distyllium myricoides is starting to open, a member of the witch hazel family

Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide' has been blooming since October!

Daphne odora 'aureomarginata' Heavenly scent

Helleborus x ballardiae 'HGC Pink Frost'

Edgeworthia chrysantha with a visitor

Bee in midflight

See those orange bundles of pollen?

Paperwhites with Ajuga 'Black Scallop'

Rosemarinus officinalis in bloom

My new garden art with blue bottles, adding a little color to the shady part of the garden.

From another view.

Thanks for joining me to see what is blooming in my garden.

©Copyright 2012 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.

It Is Garden Blogger's Bloom Day

It is always nice to walk around the yard and document what is blooming each month.  Some of the flowers are waning just a bit, but there is still a lot of color.  Walk with me as we see what's blooming.  At the top of the pathway in the backyard are three Russian Sage, Perovskia atriplicifolia.  All summer the bees have enjoyed this great purple bloom.

Sages on the right, and recently planted on the left, Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Longwood Blue'.   The stamen look like long eyelashes.  I have wanted a Caryopteris for a while and lucked into a few at the end of season sale at Park Seed.   Mine are now blooming and  I am really glad to have some more purple/blue in the garden.

At the bottom of the pathway are a couple more new plants.  These are recent purchases.  They are taking the place of a couple Helenium 'Mardi Gras' that had to be removed because of aster yellows.  After a repeat planting of another batch of Helenium earlier in the season, I decided to change the type of plants.  Don't you just love the color of this one?  Agastache 'Heatwave'.   The hummingbirds have been checking this one out.  Hope it comes back well next year!

 Another replacement for the Helenium is a Black and Blue Salvia, Salvia guaranitica.  Have/had a small one that came with me from Virginia.  I finally conceded it wasn't in a good spot, moved it, and now it has disappeared.  Glad I bought a new one! You can see my 'helpers' in the background.  They wanted to be in each photo or on top of whatever bloom I was taking photographing.  Some got stepped on...a lot.   Rotten dogs.

 Continuing to the bank along the water, I have two Abelia x grandiflora 'Kalidescope' flanking the steps.  They are both in full bloom and doing well.  Love these red stems.

 Remember I mentioned that  I bought a few Caryopteris?  Well, on the bank there are three Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Sterling Silver'.  Love silvery foliage against the yellow of my Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Gold Threads'.

Here is another shot of the silvery foliage.  

Also on the bank is a nice stand of Catmint, again with the silvery foliage and blue/purple blooms.  There was too much activity with a certain dog and a blue ball, so we left the area before a good picture was taken.  Just above the Catmint are three rosemary bushes, in bloom.  Going with the blue blooms again...just love it!

In the woodland area my Cyclamen hederifolium are blooming. Such sweet little blooms.  I bought five corms and last year only three showed up.  So far this year only two have blooms.  The clumps are getting larger which is nice, just wish the others would show up.

In the family garden Clematis 'Prince Charles' is continuing to bloom.  This one has bloomed on and off all summer long.  Right now it is entwined in the gardenia bushes.  

My Pluchea camphorata is still blooming.  This dusty rose color is really nice against the woods.  When it goes to seed I will be gathering some of the seeds to scatter elsewhere.

And finally, please indulge me another photo of the toadlily, Tricyrtis formosana 'Gilt Edge'.  This is such a cool looking bloom, the desire is to get "THE" picture of it.  

This brings our stroll to a close, thanks for joining me.  Please go over and visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens for this month's Bloom Day.



©Copyright 2012 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.