Sunday, February 15, 2009

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day - February

I really had to hunt to find some actual blooms for this month's Bloom Day. Luckily, the first flower that popped to mind was the bulbine, both bicolor and yellow, blooming in a fairly sheltered sunny spot. They're flowering more than I've ever seen them flower right now. Once the mesquite tree leafs out, the bulbine/agave bed will be in filtered shade, and the show will pretty much be over until next winter.























Due to the lack of flowers, foliage has been keeping things interesting. Here are a few leaves of the Tropicana canna, which I've been covering during freezes since I planted it so late in the fall. I had green and yellow variagated Pretoria cannas right next to the Tropicana, but alas, the ROUS ate them in the dead of night.























And speaking of foliage, I thought the colors and textures of this cold-burned agave were kinda cool.

























Every year, I plant some blue pansies. These are this year's selection.
























After last week's rain, the wildflower seeds I sowed in the side yard are finally, finally taking off. Here's the first to bloom, white alyssum.
























The only rose in the garden right now with blooms is the Rainbow Knockout, and even those are well past their prime. Instead, the Rainbow Knockouts are really shining right now with their bright red hips.
























My absolute favorite thing in the garden right now, Pandora's Box pansies from Barton Springs Nursery. I couldn't help myself-- I got an entire flat and planted them all around the backyard. I only wish I had some luck with pansies reseeding. These are my favorites of all time. Look at those colors!



















The first bloom of 2009 on the Homestead Purple verbena. Usually, the Homestead varieties of verbena are the first to really go crazy blooming in the spring, followed by the magenta blooms of an ice plant I picked up at Walmart years ago. The front bed should be covered in these purple blooms in a week or so.



















Finally, some daffodils! Here's the first bloom on Narcissus tazetta 'Grand Primo.' The blooms aren't as showy as Ziva, but boy, oh boy, do they smell better.
























A promise of things to come...the bluebonnets are starting to take off!  Maybe next month we'll have some more blue in the garden.






















Thanks to Carol at May Dreams Gardens for coming up with Bloom Day.  And check here for a list of more February Bloom Day posts!

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lori, good show! Those pansies definitely are gorgeous, as are the daffodils. I can't wait to see the bluebonnets - and I just realized that sowing them with the white Alyssum should make for a beautiful display in a few weeks. A bit more rain would help, wouldn't it?

Jan said...

You do have some lovely blooms in your garden! It looks like you've adapted to your new garden just fine!!

Anonymous said...

My bulbine is not blooming at all, but then it is in an exposed area. The Pandora's Box pansies are lovely. I can see why you bought a whole flat.

Carol Michel said...

Lori, I think that's a good showing of blooms for February! Thanks for sharing it all with us.

Carol, May Dreams Gardens

sweetbay said...

The Pandora's Box pansies are beautiful -- I love the colors. I've been wanting to buy some Grand Primo daffs after reading about them in Scott Odgen's book. Lovely Bloom Day post!

Anonymous said...

I love those Grand Primos. I'm going to add to my list of bulbs to try.

Anonymous said...

Hi Lori.
Wow, the colors on that Canna leaf are staggering. All mine went under the blade of my hedge pruners a few weeks back.
I have had a bumper year of bulbine blooms this year, note to self: must get the plain yellow variety.
Great pics.
ESP.

Diana said...

You have lots a beautiful blooms, Lori. That Bulbine is just stunning and the pansies are so perky -- they really do brighten things right when we need them, don't they. A whole flat? That's a lot of work! Happy Bloom Day~

Cindy, MCOK said...

Lori, you and I think a lot alike! That blue pansy is one of my faves, too: I planted a few Morphos in a bare spot just so I could enjoy their wow factor. Pandora's Box are one of my other favorites and I'm a sucker for the Antique series in peaches & pinks. I also like Psychedelic Spring Viola ... the colors are similar to Pandora's Box.

ron st.amant said...

I can't wait to take some shots of blooms to show you...sadly I don't think that's going to be for a while still...we're blooming some more snow today though...just when I thought we'd catch a break :(

Annie in Austin said...

You have so much in bloom, Lori! The orange and yellow bulbines look so pretty together - same way oranges and lemons look good in the same bowl.
My yellow bulbine lost all the bloomstalks to cold but new ones are on the way. Blue pansies everywhere - yes, yes!

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Yolanda Elizabet Heuzen said...

A very colorful display. My father used to grow Alyssum from seed every year, he still does. Love your bulbine such a cheerful color on a grey day like we're having today.

garden girl said...

Hi Lori, you have lots of blooms! Those daffodils are beautiful, and I love the canna foliage!

It's exciting to visit gardeners south of us on snowy, wintry days like today and know that it won't be much longer before spring makes it to our area.

ConsciousGardener said...

You've got a lot going on! Hope we get some more rain soon...Looks great:)

cheap viagra said...

Gorgeous orchids someday I will have a garden full of these fancy flowers, thanks for the photos sweety

Julianne said...

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