Adonis ‘Fukujukai’ in the snow
Last Monday the sun finally broke through and the temperatures started rising. And the Adonis needed only the slightest hint to start opening their flowers. By Wednesday they were fully on display — at last!
Adonis ‘Fukujukai’
Adonis ‘Fukujukai’
The thing about the Adonis is that they are not easy to find and take forever to spread. Since they are sterile you can’t rely on seeds for them to spread and the slow propagation seems to make them unappealing to nurserymen. So if you find them, buy them. They are the first reward for the end of winter.
Of course there are other good signs that we are moving into springtime. Winter Aconite are another of my favorites steps to springtime and the first to show up this year are the slightly paler German version
Eranthis hyemalis ‘Schwefelglanz’
I was also please to see that a more another Winter Aconite cultivar was also appearing already.
Eranthis hyemalis ‘Orange Glow’
But even more special was a little flower poking up in the cold frame.
Eranthis pinnatifida
This is particularly stunning little flower that I had outside a few years ago and it disappeared. I’m not sure I have the confidence to take this one outside of the cold frame yet.
There are also several crocus popping out.
First Crocus
In addition I’m pleased to see that the snowdrops are moving into the lawn.
Snowdrops moving into the lawn
Of course the witch hazels are happy to tell you that it is springtime also.
Hamamalis x intermedia ‘Diane’
More surprising is to see the first flower on the primula vulgaris.
Primula vulgaris
I also saw a Northern Flicker at the bird feeder and that never happens in wintertime for us
Northern Flicker at the feeder
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day February 2021
Adonis amurensis ‘Fukujukai’
Well it’s Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day and the picture above is NOT what our garden looks like. The picture is from the same day last year. This year you have to search really hard to find flowers amid the ice and snow. We are probably 2 weeks behind last year in flowers. Here is the same set of Adonis this year.
Adonis in bud
February has been super dreary with low temperatures, cloudy days, and intermittent snow. What follows is my attempts to find some flowers for this Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day. First of all we must give credit to the snowdrops which persist no matter what.
Snowdrops continue in blooming
And then there is that first hybrid Hellebore which started flowering in December.
Helleborus niger HGC® ‘Jacob’
Likewise the Heather hybrid that started flowering in November just continues to ignore the crummy weather.
Krarmer’s Rote Heather still blooming
The Camellia’s have hung in there too, although I know they would like warmer weather.
Camellia sasanqua red still in bloom
A glimpse of Camellia japonica red flower
Double-Pink Camellia japonica wants to bloom
Usually I would expect to see the first witch hazel blossoms by now, but I must say they are much smaller and more beaten back than usual
Chinese Witch Hazel (Hamamelis mollis)
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’ (Witch Hazel)
Aside from those instances in the outside world we have to turn to the greenhouse plants. This Lachenalia came from Gettysburg Gardens last year.
Lachenalia aloides
It is multiplying rapidly in the greenhouse.
There is also another Cyrtanthus which I think I have identified based on descriptions on the Pacific Bulb Socity site.
Cyrtanthus flanaganii Baker
And then lastly, a very cute little false yellow crocus which provides it’s own grassy leaves and bright yellow flowers for multiple weeks.
Nothoscordum sellowianum