Adonis amurensis ‘Fukujukai’
Is it just me or has spring been incredibly slow in arriving this year…
Anyway, with a few warm days it looks like all the normal players are contributing to the daily walk around interest in the yard. Key for me are always the Adonis which got a little bedraggled from the back and forth of snowstorms and freezing ground. But even the special Sandanzaki is beginning to bud out.
Adonis amurensis ‘Sandanzaki’ just opening
The little species crocus have been popping out in the lawn where I scattered them years ago
Small mixed species crocus in the lawn
And there is an especially nice tommassinianus that I would recommend to anyone.
Crocus tommasinianus ‘Roseus’
Just today the little histroides iris that has been threatening to bloom since December has finally opened up.
Iris histrioides ‘George’
Another standard for the early garden is the primrose that dots the spring pastures in England.
Primula vulgaris
With things starting to pop outdoors it is ironic that some of the most fascinating flowers right now are in the greenhouse. There’s a spectacular Moraea that opened up today.
Moraea elegans in bud
Moraea elegans
And a little Romulea that is the first of its clan to flower this year.
Romulea monticola
A couple of years ago (thanks Dick) a friend gave me some peruvian scilla bulbs that I potted up for the greenhouse. Mine were in the outside garden and have since perished from two really cold winters in succession. Anyway these squill have chosen to flower out of the pots this year and they are spectacular. There are 5 bulbs in each pot and this what just one of them looks like.
Scilla peruviana
There’s a another Oxalis that I got from Brent&Becky last fall.
Oxalis adenophylla
It has lovely crinkled foliage and is said to be hardy as well (I put a few in the flower bed so we shall see).
We have three good sized Clivia and they are flowering now as well. Nice enough that they earned a spot in the house.
Clivia miniata
Everyone should have clivia, they are so carefree and reliable.
And last but surely not least the first of my Ferrarias has come into bloom.
Labeled as Ferraria uncinata but I think it is more likely one of the crispa forms
Starfish lily is another of the names that the Ferrarias go by. It is hard to imagine a more complex curling of the flower petals (claws) than on the Ferraria. This was another acquisition from the Pacific Bulb Society’s Bulb Exchange. I don’t know of any other way to get these little jewels. Can you picture what a field of these looks like in South Africa?
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day February 2016
Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis)
A few days ago it looked we were finally overcoming the 40 inches of snow that absolutely clobbered us at the end of January. You could see finally see little spring delights like the Winter Aconite peeking through. The first daffodil was unhappy but it was at least about to open up.
First Daffodil (probably Rijnveld’s Early Sensation)
But such was not to be for very long. We got more snow this weekend and once again the flowers are pretty much hidden. Even the redoubtable Hellebores are looking pretty shopworn for this Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day.
Hellebore in the snow
Some things look pretty good in the snow like the holly and the witch hazels.
Blue Holly in the snow
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’
But I can see lots of damage from the volume of snow. Several small shrubs (camellias and daphnes) have badly broken branches just from the weight of that snowfall.
You can imagine flowers like this snow covered Clematis seedhead.
Clematis ‘Waterfall’ seedhead
But once again we turn to pots in the greenhouse for more colorful flowers. The potted daffodils are continuing to flower and the lachenalias are all coming into bloom right now.
Lachenalia namaquensis
There is a very pretty little star flower that blooms right now.
Ipheion uniflorum ‘Charlotte Bishop’
And a wurmbea that I think is flowering for the first time for me.
Wurmbea stricta
And a Tritonia that flowered in February last year as well.
Tritonia dubia
Dubia for those who wonder about such things means ‘doubtful’ as in not conforming to standard. Anyway, it looks pretty nice to me. It’s another South African native that looks like a miniature glad.
Lastly, another plant flowering for the first time for us is a little Scilla from Turkey that has the most marvelous dark purple stamens. It is said to be hardy in Michigan so it will probably go outdoors this year.
Scilla ciicica
All of these five plants from the greenhouse came from seed distributed by the Pacific Bulb Society in 2013. They constitute a pretty good example of what you can obtain by joining the Pacific Bulb Society. Despite the name, the society is inhabited by bulb experts from around the world and they are most generous in sharing their seeds, bulbs, and expertise.