Fragrant on The First-- March

How did it get to be the first of the month already?? Wow, guess all the wishing for spring to come helps.  The blooming fragrant plants in my garden are similar to what was fragrant last month with a few additions.   Walk with me around the yard as we see what is fragrant in my garden.

First, along the driveway, still blooming, Narcissus 'Grand Soleil d'Or', the yellow paperwhite.  What a nice long bloom period!

Walking toward the house the next fragrant (though only slightly) is my yellow crocus, Crocus chrysanthus 'Advance'.   None of my other crocuses have bloomed, yet.  

My poor little Hyacinths are still holding on, some have been eaten from below, so I enjoy the ones remaining.  Hyacinth 'Jan Bos'

As we head past the house and walk toward the backyard, the fragrance of the Edgeworthia is heavy on the breeze.  This is the prime time for Edgeworthia chrysantha.  You can smell the scent from up on the deck all the way down to the water.   How many of you have purchased an Edgeworthia this year??  My work here is done.  

A new plant to add to the list of the fragrant blooms is Daphne genkwa, Lilac daphne.  I read a number of reports that this pretty little shrub is slightly fragrant, though, I don't get any fragrance from it.  I will include it in my monthly post, but can't vouch for its scent.  

This is an unknown Narcissus from a multi-pack of daffodils.  It has a slight fragrance and really not very appealing.  I can't wait for some of my really fragrant daffodils to bloom.  

Coming back around the house and heading back toward the front, I have a number of Viburnum tinus compacta 'Spring Bouquet'.  This pretty bloom's fragrance is fleeting.  I remember last year finally getting a chance to experience the fragrance.  Some plants give off more fragrance at certain times during the day.  Maybe I miss this one more than I catch its scent.

In the front yard by the shed is one of the Daphne odora aureomarginata, Winter daphne.  It has a lemony fragrance, another great winter fragrance that keeps on blooming.  So glad both my Winter daphne are doing well.   

Finally, Osmanthus fragrans, Tea Olive, is still blooming and super fragrant.  This evergreen shrub blooms from late summer through fall and winter into early spring.  I have eight of them around my garden.   They can reach heights of 20 feet or more.  Imagine a shrub that size full of blooms -- heavenly!!

What do you have fragrant in your 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.

Fragrant on the First- February

I know many of you have had freezing temps, snow, and plain ugly weather.  Here in the Upstate of South Carolina this winter has been really mild.   Fragrant blooms in the garden are continuing to shine, so without further adieu, here is my presentation of February's fragrant blooms.

Daphne odora aureomarginata

Close up of the VERY fragrant blooms, Daphne odora aureomarginata

I have two Daphnes, both were the small size when I bought them....now the one in the top photo is about a third larger than the one in the second photo.

Hamamelis vernalis, Ozark witch hazel

This witch hazel is a new plant, only about 24 inches or so tall.  Can't wait for future years to have a nice large clove-y fragrant shrub along the driveway.

Narcissus 'Grand Soleil d'Or' yellow paperwhites, now along the driveway, happy after the recent rainfall

Osmanthus fragrans, Tea Olive, has been blooming since early fall

Rosmarinus officinalis, Rosemary,  great shrub if you have the room

Now for some photos of last month's bloom -- it is growing more and more fragrant as more of these little tubular blossoms open.  Oh how I wish there was Smell-O-Vision.  I love this plant so much I bought another for an area by the front door in a large container.  The front door has a small alcove, the fragrance greets you as you go in or out....heavenly.

Edgeworthia chrysantha

Edgeworthia chrysantha

Edgeworthia chrysantha

And finally, some of my Hyacinths are starting to bloom.  In one area the Hyacinths have multiplied to a nice clump, can't wait for them to bloom!

Hyacinth 'Jan Bos' 

  What do you have blooming on February 1st?
©Copyright 2012 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.

Great Nights and Lovely Mornings

We have been having some gorgeous sunsets. There are some great angles of the sun as the vernal equinox gets closer, bringing spring.  

The phase of the moon gives that Cheshire Cat look in the tree.  I am glad we didn't have too much cloud cover, hiding the moon.



Clear nights are leading to foggy mornings.  We didn't really have rain, it was just heavy dew.   Some mornings we can't see the water.   The water droplets hang like little jewels on the spiderwebs.

There is something magical about the foggy mornings.  Love how the Edgeworthia's fragrance it still on the breezes.  All the buds are open now...

This morning is looked as if the garden fairies had had a party.  These little webs were everywhere.

 See how they are all over the floor of the woods?  

Guess we have a lot of spiders in this part of our woods.  It was funny that other spots in the area were less web filled, ours must be a great place to find dinner.   Later I went across the street to check the blooms in the drain-field.  I noticed some movement as  I walked around.  Looking down, expecting a little lizard/anole, I was surprised to see this guy..hiding in his den.

We are getting closer and closer to spring.  I enjoy finding new blooms open each day.  

A new Narcissus in my drain-field, Narcissus 'Grand Soleil d'Or', a Paperwhite.  Think next year it will bloom earlier.  It is a sweet little bloom.  I think I should have planted this one closer to the walkways or street.  It is up in the field.  Didn't think about the blooms being so tiny.  

 The Quince has opened.  What a great delicate salmon colored bloom.  The daffodils behind it are open as well.

One of the daffodils I brought with me from Virginia is N. 'Cum Laude' a lovely peach ruffled corona.

I have two different varieties of Hyacinths.  'Jan Bos' bloomed earlier and now 'Pink Pearl' is blooming.

The Pulmonaria longifolia 'Diana Clare' is opening more and more every day. Love how the blooms are different colors as they mature.

 How are things coming along in your 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.

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.