Gladiolus ‘Pink Lady’
Well at this time of year for GBBD with a lot of hot humid weather the Glads are one of the flowers doing really well. They last a week in the house as the flowers open one by one.
Glads on the inside with one of the early Dahlias beside the glads
Gladious inside
Just a few days before it was time for the Surprise Lillies
Surprise Lily (Lycoris squamigera)
In the house we have the similar-flowered Rain lily relative which comes out of the greenhouse.
Habranthus robustus
The front garden bed has some very nice Butterfly Milkweed
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
And in the back garden there is a small Crocosmia starting up.
Lucifer Crocosmia
In the back we also have a spreading installation of Mirabilis that needs to be seen at just the right time of day to appreciate the open flowers.
Four o’clock Flowers (Mirabilis jalapa)
Nearby is the Cestrum which flowers all summer long.
Cestrum ‘Orange Peel)
In the vegetable garden we have an abundant supply of annuals
Annuals galore
And on the hillside we have on of several Crepe Myrtles in flower.
Crepe Myrtle
I should also point out that for us it’s not just the flowers.
Harvesting – Veggies and Peaches
Harvesting – Peaches and Raspberries
The Contender Peach has yielded some of the best tasting peaches we’ve ever had and a good many of them are completely free of brown rot.
Lastly let me close with one shot of the berries getting ready for Fall.
Viburnum wrightii
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day June 2025
Bishop of Llandaff
Well it is a very late GBBD for me this month. My excuse is that I was off to Wyoming and Colorado enjoying their wildflowers. More on that if I can get myself organized. In the meantime things have been growing abundantly here in Maryland as illustrated by the Dahlia shown above. This plant has overwintered for the last six years even though it’s not really supposed to be hardy here.
Speaking of hardiness I’ve been reading that the Ismene that I grow in the greenhouse may actually survive outside here so I may split off some of the bulbs to see if that is the case. The flowers are always very striking.
Ismene x festalis
Another product of the greenhouse is the Habranthus robustus, sort of a giant rain lily.
Habranthus robustus
Meanwhile the yard is full of flowering plants right now. I can’t help but compliment the Corydalis lutea that simply blooms from Spring till Fall with lovely clover-like foliage.
Corydalis lutea
It is of course lily time. And I can share a few of those.
Lilium ‘Istanbul’
Lilium ‘Purple Marble’
Lilium ‘Pink Perfection’
The blueberries, raspberries and strawberries are just about done for local dining, but I can see we may well get some good apples this year.
Apple ‘Esopus Spitzengurg’
I can also share at least one image from the West as my excuse for being so late with this posting.
On the trail to Emerald Lake
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day March 2025
Prunus mume ‘Matsubara Red’
Well I’m very late in posting this month. Let me note for GBBD that it is definitely spring here, both on the calendar and outside where it’s been weeks since our last frost. A particular highlight for me is the first blooms on our flowering Apricot as shown above.
Prunus mume ‘Matsubara Red’
This little tree has been in the ground since 2022 and was initially bothered by deer in the front yard. But now it is getting big enough to actually bloom and it will be a special bell-ringer for spring from now on.
All the normal first highlights of Spring are showing up now, but most especially the daffodils.
Daffodils planted here over 50 years ago
Narcissus ‘Little Gem’ in the woods
Narcissus ‘Sunnyside Up’
Daffodils in the house
There are of course hundreds of daffodils to come in the next 6 weeks, but at the same time the Hellebores are providing their expected showy blooms.
Helleborus hybridus ‘Kingston Cardinal’
Helleborus x ‘Berry Swirl’
Hellebores in the kitchen
Among the many other species providing springtime delights right now I am absolutely delighted by the Hepaticas. I think they are really looking outstanding this year.
Hepatica nobilis
Hepatica nobilis blue
Even in the woods in a much more difficult environment the Hepaticas are spreading.
Hepatica in the woods
Some other special contributors at the moment are the Fritillaria stenathera
Fritillaria stenethera ‘Cambridge’
This is a rarity that you rarely see anywhere in the U.S.
And a particularly nice Pulsatilla is in bloom at the moment.
Pulsatilla ambigua
This one came from Edelweiss last year.
And while the focus is outside right now it would be a shame to pass by the greenhouse which has a number of beautiful flowers to share.
Ixia maculata
This last was from the Pacific Bulb Society last year.
And then the Clivia are putting out many flowers right now, both orange and yellow.
Clivia miniata v. citrina
And I can see big buds and first flowers on the Peruvian Scilla.
Scilla peruviana
Scilla peruviana flowers
Note that this wonderful flowering plant is neither Peruvian nor a Scilla but that is a history lesson all in itself.
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day February 2025
Adonis Fukujukai
Well, it’s Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day again and while there are many more blooms than we had last month it’s clear that winter is still with us. We spent most of the last month enjoying the warmth of California and returned home to find many of the bulbs trying their best to get started despite the distinctly unusual cold weather this year.
As always at this time of year, it is the Adonis that offer a sparkling bright yellow invitation to Spring. I’ve noticed that although we have several varieties of Adonis it is always the Adonis Fukujukai that leads the way.
Adonis Fukujukai Clump
Unfortunately all sources of this plant have dried up or disappeared so I’m thinking about splitting off a piece of this clump to make sure it spreads further. It’s a sterile hybrid so I suspect that’s why it’s hard to come by. There is a very good writeup on BotanyCa that explains why it’s so hard to obtain Adonis.
Another early starter is Crocus Korolkowii
Crocus korolkowii ‘Lemon Tiger’
This one is way ahead of our other Crocus with a bright yellow that catches the eye.
Another yellow for this time of year is Winter Aconite.
Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis)
We have a number of these scattered in the woods. Not only are they super hardy, but they increase in number every year. I assume that insects contribute to the spreading of the flowers because I’ve found them in places where I know I did not plant them.
Of course another early yellow is the Witch Hazel.
Witch Hazel coming into bloom
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis mollis) first straps showing
We have several Witch Hazels but this is always the first one to greet the Spring.
And when we are talking about yellow we have to share the first Daffodil of Spring.
Rinjveld’s Early Sensation
For early flowers there are also the snowdrops.
Volunteer Galanthus elwesii in the grass
The remarkable thing I’ve noted the last couple of years is that this particular snowdrop is happily spreading into the grass.
Along the front fence I see the Edgeworthia plumping up.
Edgeworthia
I almost think they are prettier before they actually flower.
On the side of the hill I see the first evidence of Colchicum getting ready for a burst of green leaves.
Colchicum
In the greenhouse I spied a single flower from a high alpine buttercup that was planted last year.
Ranunculus caliandrinoides
And I’ve moved into the house a pot of hybrid Cyrtanthus that is particularly showy.
Hybrid Cyrtanthus
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day January 2025
Greenhouse in January
This is one of the very few postings where there are no GBBD photos of flowers on the outside. The reason being extreme cold and snow blanketing the hillside.
Snowy hillside in January
The best I can offer are flowers in the greenhouse that are actually quite nice and well worth bringing in the house.
Cyclamen graecum
There are actually some orchids that I am keeping in the greenhouse at the moment. And some lovely Cyrtanthus on the way.
Orchid and Cyrthanthus in the greenhouse
Meanwhile outside all you can see are some early daffodils patiently awaiting their turn.
Rinjveld’s Early Sensation showing tips.
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day December 2024
Princess Flower (Tibouchina urvilleana)
Well there is not much outside for this Garden Blogger Bloom Day. I see some burnt-off Camellia Flowers and there are just a couple of early snowdrops in the woods, but mostly we are finally seeing some evidence of winter with temperatures down to the mid-20’s. The most colorful flowers I can share at this point are in the greenhouse like the Princess Flower up above. I expect that it will continue to flower all winter long.
There is an absolutely lovely Greek Cyclamen from Edgewood Gardens which just continues to get bigger every year.
Cyclamen graecum
This year we bought a very nice Cyclamen persicum from Abernethy & Spencer in Virginia
Cyclamen persicum
This will definitely never be an outside plant but they are easy to care for and flower for a very long time. I had one that lasted for over 20 years in a windowsill in my government office at one point.
One of the bulbs I’ve gotten from the Pacific Bulb Society many times is Freesia. Very easy to grow and always nice to look at.
Freesia
One of my favorites in the greenhouse are the Nerines from South Africa. This particular one came via Far Reaches. It has particularly large and long-lasting flowers.
Nerine ‘Pink Triumph’
And then finally I would note that I do see the Adonis on their way with nice fat buds.
Adonis buds
I expect to see early flowers next month.
Garden Bloggers Bloom Day November 2024
Camellia x ‘Yume’
Well I have to say that camellias dominate the local flower landscape for this GBBD. We had a dry and very warm Fall. All of the Camellia sansanquas and hybrids are in bloom as shown above and below.
Camellia sasanqua red
Camellia sasanqua red
Camellia sasanqua ‘Double Rainbow’
Camellia sasanqua ‘October Magic’
But in addition several of the Spring blooming camellias are showing flowers.
Camellia japonica red
Camellia japonica double pink
As I said it’s been unusually warm. One of the surprising things I’ve noticed is that the Loropetalum, which is only marginally hardy in this area has grown substantially this year. It is literally creeping up the house.
Loropetalum almost ten feet tall
And even more amazing it has flowers showing already.
Loropetalum chinese var. rubrum ‘Zhuzhou fuschia’ in flower
Elsewhere in the yard there are seasonal signs
Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
Corydalis lutea flowers until frost
Daphne × transatlantica ‘Eternal Fragrance’
This Daphne flowers almost all the time.
We were threatened with frost this week but it didn’t really happen. We ended up moving most of the fragile items into the greenhouse, but to make room we had to take a very large Elephant Ear out.
Alocasia ‘Sumo’
And then we ended up putting it in the entryway to the house where it makes a definite statement.
Alocasia ‘Sumo’ in the entryway
Also in the greenhouse is a nicely flowering Nerine
Nerine undulata
and a very early Freesia
Freesia fucata
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day October 2024
Dahlia ‘Mai Tai’
Well it’s another month of flowers and I am very reminded by GBBD that accounting for the flowers in bloom during October brings the dahlias very much front and center. Each year we think we will more carefully label and support the dahlias and each year we have them sprawled all over a row in the vegetable garden with no support at all. Nevertheless we pick and enjoy the flowers and swear will do better by them next year. They are certainly worthwhile.
Dahlia ‘Taboo’
Dahlia ‘Maui’
Dahlia ‘Excentric’
Dahlia ‘Pooh’
Dahlia ‘Picasso’
Dahlia ‘Garbrielle Marie’
You can see the use of these dahlias in the center of our new kitchen.
Dahlias in the new kitchen
Next to the Dahlias we always have a sequence of gladiolia in the garden.
Gladiolus ‘Black Cherry’
Of course there are many other flowers in the garden for fall, especially some of the annuals.
Tithonia ‘Mexican Sunflower’
Nasturtium
And some of the reliable perennials
Toadlily (Trycyrtis ‘Sinonome’)
Crocus Rose
Aconitum carmichaelii ‘Arendsii’
Cestrum ‘Orange Peel’
Crocus Fall -speciosus
But the other thing that happens in this season is that we begin to see the first of Camellias that will contribute to the yard for the next 6 months.
Camellia sasanqua ‘October Magic’
Camellia x ‘Survivor’
There are also a few greenhouse plants that worth sharing.
Nerine ‘Peppermint’
Nerine Zinkowski hybrid
Oxalis hirta ‘Gothenburg’
Plectranthus
And one last thing I wanted to mention. We planted a Heptacodium two years ago and it flowered for the first time this Fall. What was striking to me was not the flowers but the red leaf bracts which follow afterwards. I can see how this is going to be lovely small tree.
Heptacodium miconioides ‘Temple of Bloom’