Mixed Hellebores
The first Hellebores are coming into bloom for this Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day. That striking green contrast is provided by Helleborus viridis.
Our weather is flirting with winter and spring as the days go by. The snowdrops don’t seem to mind either choice as illustrated by the the exotic Blewbury Tart.
Galanthus nivalis ‘Blewbury Tart’
In addition to it’s multiple tepals the flower is outward facing, not doing the normal droop of snowdrops. See these Galanthus nivalis for comparison.
Galanthus nivalis
The other interesting flowers at this point are the Adonis. They open only in the sunshine and by late afternoon are already closing.
Adonis ‘Fukujukai’ in shadow
There still only just a couple of open buds on the Adonis amurensis ‘Chichibu beni’.
Adonis amurensis ‘Chichibu Beni’
Eranthis are abundantly open at this point, including the soft butter yellow Eranthis hyemalis ‘Scwefelglanz’.
Eranthis hyemalis ‘Schwefelglanz’
There is one plant of Jeffersonia dubia that is way ahead of the other Jeffersonia. It has a ton of buds just opening.
Many Jeffersonia dubia buds
And one plant of Cyclamen coum is cautiously opening.
Cyclamen coum
In the new alpine bed, we have the first buds showing on a little draba that I put into Tufa last fall.
Draba hispanica in tufa
It seems to be quite happy growing in the rock. The plant was from seed planted last January (2016) as part of the NARGS seed exchange.
And the Fritillaria stenanthera Karatau that I shared recently is putting out its first blossoms.
Fritillaria stenanthera Karatau
In the greenhouse many Oxalis continue in bloom. One that I like especially is O. obtusa.
Oxalis obtusa MV6341
Notice the striping from the rear.
Oxalis obtusa MV6341 from the back
And an absoute charmer is this bulb from the PBS exchanges. Actually that’s where the Oxalis came from too.
Hesperantha paucifolia
Hesperantha paucifolia
Unlike many of its kin, the flowers seem to be hanging around. It’s been in flower like this for more than a week.
More on the Verge of Springtime
Adonis amurensis ‘Chichibu Beni’
Another of the Adonis is making the first steps toward Springtime. It’s not as big and showy as the yellows but somehow that orange color is arresting at this time of year.
The yellow Adonis ‘Fukujukai’ continues to be the big attention getter in the yard with its near perfectly shaped flowers.
Adonis ‘Fukujukai’
But we also have the Winter Aconite stepping forward, in fact creeping forward into the lawn.
Eranthis hyemalis spreading into the lawn
Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis )
I’ve even seen the first crocus showing up in the lawn.
First crocus in the lawn
What could be a better sign of spring. Unless perhaps it’s the Jeffersonia about to open its first bud.
Jeffersonia dubia in bud
The korolkowii crocuses continue to flower in the Alpine bed.
Crocus korolkowii ‘Agalik’
This fine weather (except for a minor reversion to colder weather today) has allowed me to get loads of compost in from the local landfill and begin top dressing the gardens.
Compost from our landfill operation
It’s so good to work in the soil again.
Meanwhile in the greenhouse the little Thlaspi rotundifolia has been spreading a honey sweet fragrance way beyond the size of the flowers.
Thlapsi rotundifolia
And a splendid Hesperantha that came from last year’s Pacific Bulb Society distributions is just coming into bloom.
Hesperantha paucifolia
What a great start to the year!
Intimations of Springtime!
Adonis ‘Fukujukai’ opening up
When the Adonis light up the yard I always feel like a light bulb has been turned on for springtime. Yes, I know that there are still snowy days in our future but the Adonis can usually tolerate that and in the meantime they take full advantage of today’s 50 plus temperatures. When I see them, I have to ask the rhetorical question ‘why doesn’t everyone plant Adonis’? Of course slow-growing, expensive, and not easily available are parts of the answer. But sometimes the good things take patience. The March Bank at Winterthur is full of Adonis. And has been for over one hundred years.
Adonis are part of the ranunculus family and have all the sturdiness that implies as well as the brilliant yellow that runs in the family.
Adonis ‘Fukujukai’
Apparently although Fukujukai is often listed (as I have done in the past) as a cultivar of Adonis amurensis it is actually a naturally occurring sterile triploid hybrid between Adonis ramosa and Adonis multiflora. That would explain it’s vigor and early flowering.
There are other indicators of spring today. The Chinese Witch Hazel is very much in flower as well.
Chinese Witch Hazel (Hamamelis mollis)
And the Winter Aconite is not far behind.
Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis)
Even the Jeffersonia is showing buds that it may wish to reclaim after the next cold snap.
Jeffersonia dubia in bud
I was surprised to see the newest of my Fritillaria from Augis’ Bulbs rising up in the Alpine Bed.
Fritillaria stenanthera Karatau
This should be interesting indeed.
Of course the Red Camellia still has no sense of the season. I should end this posting with that out of character plant.
Red Camellia Japonica starting early