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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day February 2017

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day is hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens on the fifteenth of every month as an easy and fun way for garden bloggers to keep a journal of what's happening bloom-wise in their gardens throughout the year and as a way for gardeners around the world to peek at what's blooming in different areas of the planet.  Click here to see what's blooming in her garden and to find links to posts from other participating bloggers.

In my zone 8 Tacoma, Washington garden, winter blooms continue despite a week of temperatures in the teens last month.   Camellia japonicas paid no heed to the cold and just kept on blooming.



Camellia sasanqua. 

The first of the Helleborus orientalis is up and blooming.

Helleborus argutifolius has been blooming for a month now and looks like it intends to keep going for some time.


Cyclamen coum. 

Inherited snowdrops are now all over the garden as they get moved a lot when transplanting other plants in the summer.

Viburnum × bodnantense ‘Dawn’ blooms from October to June and has a beautiful fragrance which it shares freely.

 Garrya 

Lonicera fragrantissima is a favorite but does best in full sun.  Sarcocca is also blooming but I forgot to take a picture of it.

One of the Arctostaphylos whose name I've forgotten.  This is the one that had beautifully variegated foliage for several years.  No more variegation.

Chimonanthus praecox (Wintersweet) bears another fragrance that is worth experiencing. 

I was surprised to see the first of the Crocus tommasinianus are blooming in the hell strip.  Looks like they're going to spread around a bit.  Hooray!

Meanwhile, in the greenhouse Schlumbergera x buckleyi, the true Christmas cactus has been in bloom since the holiday.  All of the Schlumbergera in the greenhouse bloom a bit later and last longer than those in the house. 

Finally, some of the wintering Abutilons are spitting out blooms. 



Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!

23 comments:

  1. We're about to have 10 days of above normal temps which means I might see a snowdrop by the end of that spell, which is laughable looking at your wealth of blooms. I don't think I had quite realized your actual zone! At this time of year I see all those plants I read about and lust after for spring flowers and fragrance but that's only going to happen if I come visit you some February. Just a gorgeous assortment of things blooming in your garden.

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  2. You have a lot blooming right now - the camellias are especially nice. I had a few buds but no blooms.

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  3. The snowdrops peaking out from the winter garden floor make a gorgeous picture.

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  4. Happy Bloom Day! I don't know why my garden doesn't like Camellias. I can't seem to get one to flower. Maybe they just need longer to mature? I have no sign of any bulb foliage, not even snowdrops. It's disheartening seeing it in everyone's Bloom Day posts.

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  5. Glorious series of captures. Thank you so much for sharing.

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  6. Lots of blooms in your garden and greenhouse! You've reminded me of an Abutilon I purchased at the Cistus "tough love" sale. It's been shuttled between the house and SPG, I wonder if there are any flowers on it? Must go check...

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  7. Your post left me considering the vagaries of the weather and its effects on our respective gardens. As our average temperatures creep up, our Camellia blooms are on the way out but, in contrast, our hellebores haven't produced a single bloom (although I do have a single bud!). Snowdrops, of course, refuse to even consider setting up shop here.

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  8. Peter, by looking at your garden and greenhouse blooms, one wouldn't even think it's winter, as you have an abundance of color. Happy Garden Blogger Bloom Day!

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  9. Wow, I love everything you've shown here.

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  10. I don't recall ever seeing one of your bloom day posts without an abutilon in it. They must flower all year. What's your secret?

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  11. A great showing for bloom day, especially the camellias which I am extremely jealous of. Thanks for sharing all of them with us for bloom day1

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  12. You have lots of blooms. Not much blooming here now.

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  13. A beautiful showing!
    Love the Christmas Cactus!
    Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!

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  14. Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day! I love the Christmas cactus!

    Greetings, Sofie #26
    http://sofiecreates.blogspot.be/2017/02/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-february-2017.html

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  15. So many lovely flowers, it is a wonderful time of year with everything waking up. Your Abutilons are amazing!

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  16. You have many wonderful blooms this month! The camellias, especially, are lovely. I love the Arctostaphylos and Garrya, too.

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  17. You have some nice blooms for February Peter. Your Camellia japonicas just seem to ignore the winter cold as they keep looking beautiful! The snowdrops are a welcoming sight as well. Happy Bloom Day!

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  18. I obviously must concentrate more on early bloomers. In the meantime, I sure do enjoy yours.

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  19. So, so beautiful! I don't know where to start. It looks like spring is/will be early for most of us this year.

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  20. Seeing your Abutilons made my heart skip a beat... I left mine outside, and I bet they are toast! :( Other than that, you have so many lovely blooms in your garden - it's an absolute feast for the eyes!

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  21. Your camellias are early, they are lovely. All your outside blooms are at the same stage as mine. And at last we have milder weather here so everything is getting going. E
    What a joy your greenhouse is with lovely things in bloom all year round. I always admire your abutilons.

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  22. Lovely Camellias. I admire how your Snowdrops have naturalized so nicely.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.