Welcome to Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day for February 2011!
Here in my USDA Hardiness Zone 5b garden in central Indiana, we are enjoying several days with temperatures above freezing after days and days of ice and snow and temperatures well below freezing.
These warmer days gave me hope that I would find blooms outside for this bloom day, unlike my first bloom day in February 2007 and again in February 2010 when the garden was snow covered.
So I went outside and began to look in all the usual places. You can picture me leaning over with my hands on my knees to steady myself, peering through the tops of my glasses and through the bottoms of my glasses, and sometimes over my glasses, looking over every inch of the garden before finally spying some little sprouts of crocuses, as seen above.
I also spied these little sprouts from a mixture of bulbs newly planted last fall.
I’ll have to check my notes to see what these bulbs might be.
I must have gone outside at least a dozen times on Sunday and again late Monday to see if the witch hazel, Hamamelis vernalis, had started to bloom.
Not yet, but any day now, as the warm up continues, I’m sure this witch hazel, which is rapidly becoming the world’s most watched witch hazel, will bloom.
I had hoped to have a few snowdrops blooming mid-month, as I did in February 2009 or a crocus blooming like in February 2008, but with the garden redesign last spring, I think those particular areas might have gotten dug up and the bulbs lost.
Note to self — plant snowdrops next fall.
While looking for tiny bulbs blooming, I stumbled upon a Viola, with two little blooms on it.
This little viola got moved twice last spring, suffered through the drought and heat of last summer, didn’t get weeded out last fall, made it through winter and now has two blooms on it.
Note to self — plant more violas and let them grow in the garden as long as they want.
And that’s what’s blooming outside in my garden on this fine February day.
Inside, just like every year at this time, I’m enjoying hyacinths “on vase”.
It wouldn’t be February without them.
What’s blooming in your garden on this wintry February day?
We would love to have you join in for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day and tell us. It’s easy to participate and all are invited! Just post on your blog about what is blooming in your garden on the 15th of the month and leave a comment to tell us what you have waiting for us to see so we can pay you a virtual visit. Then put your name and the url to your post on the Mr. Linky widget below to make it easy to find you.
“We can have flowers nearly every month of the year.” ~ Elizabeth Lawrence
Happy bloom day, Carol! So glad you're enjoying your hyazinths. I planted a few outside, and they're taking their sweet time.
Stay warm, and thanks for hosting!
Carol, I thought my witch hazel was the most watched along with my winter jasmine. I was sure they would have flowers for GBBD, but no. However, my first snowdrop of 2011 bloomed today at noon plus there were a lot of hellebores that wanted to pose for pictures. Managed to include some nice photos of the March Bank at Winterthur. Thanks for doing this. Carolyn
Happy bloom day Carol. I love the fragrance of hyacinths. We also force them in jars.
It's nice that you can see the ground and the little violas showing up bravely against the winter. And yes, like the other commenters, it looks like the windowsill with the hyacinths must be a wonderfully fragrant part of your home. seems Happy bloomday to you!
Happy Bloom day. I am not familiar with Galanthus sp (snow drops), but checked them out on your older post and they're pretty sweet. You need to plant them. Matti
Happy GBBD! Only inside blooms again this month, but next month spring will be well on its way 🙂 I know we are all ready!!
Greetings GBBloggers! This has been an exceptionally mild winter. I may have to post a garden blooming blog week):- Thank you in advance for dropping by.
Happy Bloom Day again Carol! At least viola is making its way braving the winter soon there will be more heads showing in your garden. Your pink hyacinth is gorgeous!
Happy GBBD Carol. Sorry your snowdrops and witch hazel didn't deliver to schedule. Maybe the latter is shy of all the attention? I've been watching and hoping as various shootes pushed their way up through the cold dank earth hoping they would bloom today, some delivered, some didn't, but thank you again for hosting and making me crawl around in the earth delighting in the few that did make it. And three cheers for indoor hyacinths!
What a coincidence that on different sides of the ocean we are both enjoying the Violas in our gardens, mine jsut arrived and I hope they spread and like it near the hedge. Thanks Carol for hosting Bloomday for us all. Christina
Hi Carol, thank goodness for your plucky viola. Thanks for hosting GBBD,
HM
Happy Bloom Day, Carol!The weather is already so hot here that my blooms are folding up quickly:(
Still struggling with feet of snowpack, we've nothing outside here in CT – love the little violas – they are cheerful no matter what!
The row of hyacinths are lovely.
Rosie
Happy GBBD Carol and thanks as always. I like your most watched witch hazel, and and guess you will eventually be rewarded.
how lucky Carol to find a viola….perhaps by the end of the week enough snow will have melted to see the garden…so I am just reminiscing about the flowers of the past…
My garden looks a whole lot like yours Carol. Not much going on outside. Inside just a remanant of the hyacinths are blooming. Happy GBBD.
Happy 5th year, Carol! Hooray for the little viola. We need it tattooed on our foreheads: Plant more violas!
I am glad you are having a bit of a warm up, we seem to be also. Thank you for hosting another GBBD. Just imagine how different next month's posts are likely to be.
We try to have something blooming all year. Winter we always have a few pansies in zone 7in central NC.
Spring is on the way, yeah!!
Wow! I'm amazed you have a viola blooming Carol! We're thawing out here, but the snow was so deep it will still be awhile before we see bare ground, let alone any blooms. The milder temperatures are most welcome!
Love the hyacinths – I can almost smell them from here. Happy Bloom Day!
Happy Bloom Day to all. Carol this post is such an example of how zone id only tells you so much about climate. We are still buried under nearly three feet of snow. The only blooms are indoors. Your hyacinths are beautiful.
I have joined in with this for the first time today, what a wonderful gathering you host every month. Hope my offering is up to scratch! Belinda
As is Commonweeder, I am still buried under snow. But this is my second year forcing hyacinths, and it is better than the first. Except I have one hyacinth so top heavy it leans over.
I have lots of bromeliads blooming out in the garden now, along with an assortment of other hardy shrubs and flowering trees. It seems in the spring everyone is anxiously awaiting those first few blooms!
I know you are happy to see those signs of spring in your gardens. Thank you for hosting this monthly meme.
Dear Carol, Happy GBBD! How lovely to see those little green shoots and the sweet violas in your garden. I am going to put snowdrops on my fall planting list, too, and hope the chipmunks behave themselves this time. Beautiful hyacinths! Thanks again for hosting this great meme! P x
Hi Carol, Your hyacinths are beautiful! Thanks for hosting GBBD. I have many colors from the tropics to share this round.
Alas, too much snow here to see buds even close to the house. Love the row of hyacinths with the ceramic bowls at the end.
Happy Bloomversary! I'll have to check my violas more closely – yours are a hopeful sign! Only snowdrops in bloom here (that I know of).
A Happy Bloom day from sunny Barbados. I tried many time to grow some of your spring bulbs with zero results. Hope it warms up soon.
Happy Bloom Day, Carol, and thank you for hosting! I'm just amazed at your sweet little viola after all the bad weather you've been having. The hyacinths must be an intoxicating lift for you – every year I forget until someone like you reminds me of their charm. I have just a few, very small things blooming outdoors this month: like you, I hoped there'd be more by now, but we're behind, somehow, in spite of our relatively mild winter so far.
I see hopeful signs in your garden, Carol–how wonderful to see some little shoots of green! It's melting here, too, but just not fast enough to be able to see anything but white in the garden. I don't have any hyacinths blooming indoors either–I think I've watched them as much as you have your witch hazel, but they haven't taken the hint to grow faster:)
Witch Hazel! You have made me curious, must learn more. And oh, the violets blooming! I had not even looked. Thank you, Carol, for your generosity in sharing.
I don't have much to show other than a little hyacinth I bought for my wife. I was hoping to have the Winter Jasmine in bloom but it's being a little pokey. Maybe in a few days!
I wish I had a witch hazel.
I'd be thrilled to have a viola blooming. The ground still isn't visible here yet, but very soon…
Lovely to see the first signs of spring in your garden Carol. Wishing all northern hemisphere gardeners warmer weather just around the corner!
Carol,
How wonderful that you can see your ground! We're under about two feet of snow here in Connecticut–although they promise some melting by the end of the week. Even my witch hazel hasn't performed yet (although I had to slog through knee deep snow to check!) Still an old-fashioned winter gives us something to talk about–and perhaps we won't complain so bitterly about heat or drought next summer! Thanks for the meme!
Karla
There's definitely less in bloom here this February than either 2009 or 2010 ~ must mean that March will make up for it 🙂 Your indoor garden looks most cheery.
Still under a blanket of snow here but it's finally melting! I took my hyacinths out of the garage too early this year and it's stunted the growth of some of them. But, I had flowers and fragrance during the harshest part of winter.
Another bloom day has arrived. I thought for sure today I would be higher on the list. 51 at 9:30am. Wow. Looks like I wasn't the only one that couldn't wait for Bloom Day.
Yay for your viola bloom! I read your comments re your February garden over the years. How lucky you are to have had a blog and all those records for so long. I'm so glad I have my own garden blog now so I'll be able to look back some day.
What fun! I've never played on Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, but it was wonderful to join you today! I took a much-needed stroll through the garden and found a few blooms to share (7b). Can't wait to visit everyone's gardens to see what's blooming! Happy gardening!
Julie
Bloom Day rocks !
I'm so glad you found the viola…it is hope itself springing up!
The yellow and white colors of narcissus are beginning to peek out. I can search under the leaf litter in my gardens to find newly forming buds of perennials and other plants. The fruit trees have been pruned and we are beginning to see bud swell. Things are growing in South Alabama!! Happy Bloom Day!
Can't wait to see that Witch Hazel bloom. It sure does seem like this time of year I start examining my plants every time I'm outside in hopes of a surprise bloom. My garden seems to be a bit behind this year, but I do have some blooms. It must smell good in your house with all those Hyacinths blooming.
Ah you have it a good deal colder than us in the south-west of England it seems. Not that we have too many flowers out just yet either! Plant those snowdrops – they're the main thing keeping me going just now…
My GBBD post is here: http://wellylady.blogspot.com/2011/02/february-flowers.html
Happy Bloom Day!! So excited to have found your blog and see what is blooming in blogland! I can't wait for spring and gardening, but for now I have my lovely oxalis, begonias and such making inside like springtime!
Couldn't get in , the garden gate was locked earlier. I see it's open now so here I am. My post is up .
I'm so eager for spring — and eager to see what others have growing, while my snowbanks melt. Still, we do what we can on Blooms Day. Thanks as always, Carol!
I have always wondered how those Hyacinth "on vase" stay upright!? Their blooms are so heavy, and they love to lean toward the sun it just seems like you would always be turning them so they don't flop over! They are beautiful, and I bet the smell is divine, Happy Bloomday!
I am thrilled to have found Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, and I have added my first addition. It will be fun to go tour through everyone's gardens, and to share my camellia bud this month. I could imagine walking through your garden, on hands and knees, looking for those sweet viola blooms.
Happy Bloom Day from The Netherlands! My second February Blooms Day, and I have flowers! Yey! Crocuses, snowdrops, pansies and some Helleborus foetidus. Small and colorful jewels in an otherwise bare garden.
Happy bloom day. There is nothing more thrilling for a gardener than to see new life poking thought the soil and violas too. They are such pretty little blooms. I have a few which weathered our horrible cold but I forgot about them. Most died.
Happy, happy Bloom Day! I am thrilled to participate this month as I have been lurking for a while now. 🙂 I can almost smell your hyacinths!
Happy Bloom Day. I must add hyacinths to the bulb shopping list in fall.
Happy GBBD! The sun is shining here in DC-MD-VA. After yesterday's warmth and winds, the chill has returned, but spring is not far away.
I don't see my comment above. Now I forgot what I said!
Somebody needs to tell Beth of South Alabama that her links go to her facebook profile from which it is impossible to find her OR her Bloom Day post.
Those Hyacinths are just the ticket to cheer everyone up in the winter!
Thanks for hosting GBBD!
Carol, I'm really impressed that you have crocus coming up and violas in bloom outside. I love your hyacinths. Somehow I didn't get any for indoor blooms this year, but they should be up outside in the garden in a few weeks. Meanwhile, I'm enjoying the cheerful yellow blooms of forced forsythia. -Jean
I wish you could post the scent of those hyacinths!
Re: snowdrops… I've had better luck getting them to estabish when I've moved them when in bloom rather than when they were dormant! All you need is a friend with lots of snowdrops (the best kind of friend to have!).
Spring is really springing here in Georgia, despite last week's snow and an unusually cold winter. The Witch Hazel and Wintersweet are in full bloom, the earliest Crocus and Narcissus are shining their bright yellow faces, and the very first Hellebore buds have opened.
Makes me appreciate southern california and few blooms I have right now!
I am enjoying these almost spring days when the flowers are just beginning to awaken here in the central valley of California. This is my first Feb Bloom Day and I'm enjoying seeing everyone's beautiful blooms!
This is my very first time participating in Bloom Day!(thus the typo when entering my name in the Mr.Linky). I am so thankful to find other gardeners out there and to see what's blooming around the world!
NEVER have I had such a pathetic showing on Bloom Day. Please ask Dr. Hortfreud how I deal with the Head Gardener's bad attitude about this!
Happy Bloom Day! It is SO exciting to say this in February and see sprouts and the beginnings of petals, especially your violas–what hardy little plants! Yesterday in the DC area (zone 7a) we had an unexpected spring-like day, and it really chased the mid-winter blues away. Looking forward to another season of bloom days!
Happy GBBD Carol! Witch hazel is new to me and I'm looking forward to seeing your blooms!
What fun I've had this morning, finding and posting my Bloom for Bloom Day. Can't wait to see what next month brings!
Happy Bloom day! My first entry here, good to see what blooms in the other part of the world.
What a difference location makes. Spring has arrived in California. Thanks for hosting. I find February one of the most interesting bloom day months, with so much contrast between the different gardens.
Garden Bloggers extraordinaire- Here in the rainy and cold Northwest we are experiencing a weird limbo where strange and out of season plants are trying to leaf out months early and other things that should be going more full speed are not!
I'm so excited to see that variety of what's happening in everyone else's garden's this particular February since it's so weird out there! 🙂
I'm so jealous that you're already warm enough to even be thinking of things blooming outside!
My Honey gave me a new camera for Valentine's Day! http://wolfdancercreek.blogspot.com/2011/02/bloom-day.html
Please stop by and say Hi!
Happy Bloom Day! I am so jazzed, I could POP!
>^,,^<
Hiyo. Here in Chicago, the ground is still covered in snow, but the snowbanks are steadily melting. Still, we don't get the first snowdrops until at least March 1, so all I have to offer are indoor flowers.
Forgive me for linking twice, I used my name instead of blog name. Thanks again for hosting GBBD.
Lucky #100! Hoping that I'll have an outside sprout to show on next month's GBBD…
I've just come back from a garden show in London to add my Blooms Day offering which went up whilst I was out.
The gardens are most definitely waking up here in the UK, but we have the possibility of snow at the end of the week. Winter and spring are definitely locked in battle!
Happy Bloom Day! The crocuses must have heard it was bloom day, because three bloomed this morning! That doubled the blooms I have to share, because the only outdoor color before that was a hardly jasmine.
http://wordhoarder.wordpress.com/2011/02/15/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-february-2011/
Happy Bloom Day! Thank you for being our hostess. This was my first Bloom Day ever and I am so excited to be a part of it. It was enlightening to step out into the garden and see nature at its best!
I was about to add an adorable little crocus to my list–the first crocus to bloom–but then, I found it in my 5-year-old's hand. Grrr… (Ah well, at least he likes flowers!) 😉
Your hyacinths in vases are lovely, Carol. Looks like what you have outside would be better suited for Foliage Follow-Up tomorrow! I have only one thing in flower, and it's practically cheating to mention it since I just planted it. But I did anyway.
Happy GBBD Carol! Five years, how brilliant this is still going and getting stronger too ;-D
I love those Hyacinths too, You've reminded me I've got jars just like that in my shed too. I should use them also 🙂
Wishing you a great week, Congrats and thanks for continuing to host GBBD 😀
Happy Bloome Day! Still not much to show this month, but I'm happy to participate in my favorite bloggers' meme.
Happy Bloom Day! This is my first, and I featured a series of California wildflowers that I found on a hike today in Laguna Beach. My dog and I also encountered another surprise…
I am happy to report on the presense of hundreds of Bloom Daydrops.
My post is up with the February flowers. I think next month should be a good one for me as I see swelling buds.
Jan
Always Growing
Happy February bloom day. You've got snowdrops on your list for next year; I've got hyacinths in vases on mine. Bet they smell amazing!
Oh my first bloom day! hurray! I only have some indoor plants blooming on my sunporch – 2 planters full of overgrown geraniums and a primula plant.
Hi, Carol! Thanks again for hosting Bloom Day! It's so nice to see things starting to happen again in the garden! 🙂
I do love violas. In Austin they are usually quite a dependable winter bedding plant. This year…not so much. The last two weeks have convinced me that Austin should leave winter weather to the experts–we certainly don't know what to do with it.
I cheated a little this month. I promise not to use borrowed blooms next month! 🙂
Wow, that viola is definitely a keeper-what a trooper! Gotta love those hyacinths too-I bet they smell amazing.
Happy Bloom Day! I saw my first daffodil blooms this weekend and hunt every day for the crocuses. My heart is lifted to see Spring blooms!
I'm lucky to live just south of Miami where everyday is Bloom Day. I think this is such a cool thing to share!
Thanks again for hosting this, it's such a great motivator. I'm really looking forward to seeing your posts heat up, and really want to see the witch hazel when it's blooming, it's a plant I use all the time, but it doesn't grow where I live. From Wendy, aka the Lazy Composter.
I have a very small witch hazel that is practically buried in snow right now! Hope it grows taller this season. I'll have to check in to see yours in bloom! Cannot wait for spring and enjoyed your sneak peeks.
This year I had to look almost as hard for blooms as you did, Carol… also with thanks to genus Viola. My GBBD post for February is now up – the 5th time we're posting for February!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Thanks for hosting Carol! Looks like it is still quite chilly there but the table set with blooming Hyacinths warms the heart! Cheers!
I am so ready for spring! My post shares the potted red tulips my husband gave me for Valentine's Day. The garden is still dozing. But soon! ~~Rhonda
I wish I'd taken the time to force some bulbs. Not even the African violets are blooming this February. Have a happy GBBD anyway!
ugh!! nothing here, Carol! Good for you, things are starting to pop for you!! I cannot believe how much this has grown for you… Awesome!
Hi Carol,
I enjoyed your signs of spring and lovely indoor blooms. My post is a day late, and pathetic this time, but I did come up with a few indoor blooms.
Hi Carol…just knew this from Donna (gardenwalkgardentalk). Hope not too late to join others here. My first time joining this bloom day. I enjoyed so much and thanks for hosting. Happy GBBD!
Last but not least, I hope! But this was blooming yesterday…!
Happy GBBD, Carol, and thanks for hosting. This is my first time and I hope I am not too late to the party. Your blog is very interesting, I am glad I have found it.
Some year I've got to try indoor hyacinths. My grandmother always did. They are a nice reminder that spring will come.
It looks like there are lots of promises of blooms in your garden, Carol. My snow drops haven't bloomed yet here either, neither have the freesias – they have been up and out of the ground for a couple of months now.
Dear Carol,
I was a bit naughty and copied your idea, but for a in German written bloom day! I hope this is o.k.!?
I´m not sure either if there anybody will share, because my blog is very young and it seems I have more contact with English speaking bloggers…
Please let me know, if you dislike and I´ll close it!
Have a nice evening!
Gesine
Happy Bloom Day dear friend. Yes, let's both plant more snowdrops this fall. We'll remind each other. I do have a lot of violas, but I didn't make it to Bloom Day. So sorry I missed it.~~Dee
Yes, I can see you looking for those bulbs! I found numerous bulbs coming up this weekend and I kept saying to myself, "I don't remember planting anything there!" Must be old age, ha!
I'm glad to see these early blooms. I'm sooooo looking forward to Spring any time now!
Wow, I love your hiacynth vases. So far I got two in my living room. Hope to get some more. They bring spring to these cold days.
Thank you as always Carol! I am super late but couldn't miss GBBD. I look forward to it too much!
Carol, fantastic the many comments you have here. In my terrace Crocus Pickwick just opened and they are bringing color to february!, I will post a picture soon. Lula
Just a bit ahead or you here in Southern Indiana,Carol. 6 days of mid-winter warmup and I now have witch-hazel in bloom,snowddops and winter aconite.
More details on my blog at Shade Solutins
http://www.munchkinnursery.com
Gene
I am late but I'm so glad I can still participate. Thank you very much to Carol for hosting GBBD!
Here I am, posting late again! 🙂 I can't believe you already have blooms in your garden!! Lucky you. We had a thaw too, but now we're covered by almost 20" of snow again! Whew. Love your hyacinths! I will be getting some forced bulbs from the store soon. I love the smell!!
Amy
better late than never and of course the snow and cold are back—
Carol, I hope I'm never this late again with my Bloom Day post, but I'm happy to be here and have one done, albiet a short one!
My hubby went into hospital with pneumonia on the 15th and that, as you can well imagine, put the kybosh on my Bloom Day post. He's on the mend and hopefully will be home on Monday.
Lucky you to have Hyacinths!
Spring is just around the corner 🙂
Finally! I bet no one has been this late before. Looks like you still have plenty of hyacinth enjoyment to come.
Better late than never, I guess. And I messed up with the autocomplete on your post. Oh well. It's really amaryllis (not mason jar macro) and it's really here: http://remarc.com/craig/?p=1182
It's blooming like crazy here in California! My first post on bloom day.
Preparing for my first Bloom Day!