• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Carol J. Michel

Award winner author of gardening humor books

  • About
    • Contact
  • Blog
  • Books
    • Shop
    • Gardening Humor
    • Children’s Books
    • New – The Halloween Hare
  • Speaking
    • Upcoming Speaking Engagements
  • Social
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
  • Gardening Humor
  • Children’s
  • All Books

May Dreams Gardens

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – February 2017

February 15, 2017 By Carol Michel 32 Comments

Welcome to Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day for February 2017.

Here in my USDA Hardiness Zone 6a garden in central Indiana the mild winter continues. We speak of it in hushed tones–the warmer temperatures, the lack of snow, the sunshine–as though saying anything about it out loud will cause the snow, ice, and sub freezing temperatures to return abrubtly.

So, let me whisper to you about the blooms in my garden today.

The garden was bathed in full sun when I walked about and took pictures of the blooms. I wore a winter coat but I would have been comfortable in a heavy sweater.

There are crocuses in bloom, of course. I’ve planted so many over the years. Some disappear, some return.

There are still a few gold crocuses nestled in a bed of sedum under a tree in front.  I generally don’t plant gold crocuses in the lawn, lest someone mistake them from afar for dandelions.

Instead, I fill the lawn with white, purple, and lilac colored crocuses.

They are up all over the place. I walk from one group to the next admiring them, remembering them, and marveling at their resilience in the face of winter weather.

The first to come up are those that tend toward the blue side of the purple spectrum, along with the occasional white crocus.

A few days later, these crocuses which tend more toward the pink side of the purple spectrum pop up.

I plan to plant more crocuses, specifically C. tommasinianus, in the lawn  in the fall, to increase the amount in bloom and stay ahead of the squirrels who like to dig them up.

These crocuses are not alone in the garden.

The witchhazel, Hamamelis vernalis, is in full bloom as well.

It has a lovely scent but you have to get right up to the blooms to smell it.

Nearby, the Christmas Rose, Helleborus niger, is also blooming.

It’s like a bit of Christmas decoration that I never got around to putting away last month.

What else is blooming?

The snowdrops, of course.

I do like them but they are tiny and I don’t have enough of them. They come up in singles and doubles here and there but would be much nicer in drifts, don’t you think? I’ll add a few dozen to my next bulb order which I’ll place as soon as the bulb vendors start taking them.

I may also add another favorite to my order, Iris reticulata.

Yes, the first Iris, Iris reticulata, just opened up in time for me to share it on bloom day.

I’m hoping soon it will be joined by the hundreds of other reticulated irises I’ve planted over the years, mostly in the front garden.

What’s blooming in your garden on this lovely February day? Please join us for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day and show us.

It is easy to participate and all are welcome. Just post on your blog around the 15th of the month about the blooms in your garden, then leave a link in the Mr. Linky widget below and add a comment to tell us what you’ve got to show us. As your hostess, I intend to visit each and every one of your gardens, via your blog posts, in the next few days.

And remember always and every year since the first post in February 2007, “We can have flowers nearly every month of the year.” ~ Elizabeth Lawrence

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: garden bloggers bloom day

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening says

    February 15, 2017 at 5:13 am

    It is wonderful seeing all those blooms coming up in your garden. It has been a relatively uneventful winter here as well, except for an occasional (twice) mention of the word not to be spoken. There are Hellebores blooming here on Long Island with some other subtle hints of spring. It will be a little longer until the crocus start coming, but hopefully soon! Happy Bloom Day Carol!

    Reply
  2. Rainy Day Gardener says

    February 15, 2017 at 5:25 am

    Hi Carol, Your crocus blooms are very inspiring. I really admire them in lawns. I need to add more in clusters in my garden beds. It's been unseasonably cold here in the PNW..all the plants are behind. I'm looking forward to returning to our normal, mild weather. It's felt like a long winter here.

    Reply
  3. Unknown says

    February 15, 2017 at 7:46 am

    Isn't it wonderful to see these little early blooms? I particularly like the Crocus in your lawn. I am a huge fan of Crocus tommasinianus – the bees love it! Iris reticulata are wonderful too. I have them in bowls in my kitchen and out in the borders. Happy GBBD!

    Reply
  4. VP says

    February 15, 2017 at 9:13 am

    The crocuses are only just beginning to burst through here Carol, and the snowdrops are coming into peak perfection. I have a new clematis joining them this year 🙂

    Happy Blooms Day everyone!

    Reply
  5. rusty duck says

    February 15, 2017 at 10:46 am

    So envious of all your crocuses. The mice eat mine, the little blighters. Loads of snowdrops though. The bulbs are poisonous apparently! Thanks for hosting Carol, Happy Bloom Day 🙂

    Reply
  6. Alana says

    February 15, 2017 at 11:09 am

    Happy Bloom Day, Carol. I love gold crocuses; there don't seem to be a lot of them in upstate New York where I live. So your post was a welcome treat. And now, will you kindly take winter back from us? The people in Maine, especially, would like you to share with them, too.

    Reply
  7. Lisa at Greenbow says

    February 15, 2017 at 11:54 am

    I just love those little irises. Your crocus planting crusade has paid off with such a delightful display. Happy GBBD.

    Reply
  8. Covegirl says

    February 15, 2017 at 1:03 pm

    Crocus in the lawn. Cool!

    Reply
  9. http://marianstclair.wordpress.com says

    February 15, 2017 at 1:51 pm

    Wow! What a display for February. Happy Bloom Day!

    Reply
  10. Pauline says

    February 15, 2017 at 2:13 pm

    Love all your crocus in the lawn, must try that here. You have lots of beautiful spring flowers looking very pretty indeed.

    Reply
  11. Rose says

    February 15, 2017 at 2:21 pm

    Wow, I just can't get over all the blooms you have, Carol! I see the blades of crocuses and daffodils popping up here and there in my garden, but I think any blooms will be awhile in coming. It certainly does feel like spring, though.

    Reply
  12. outlawgardener says

    February 15, 2017 at 2:40 pm

    Let's hope that your early spring continues as your blooms are looking very happy in the sun. One can never have too many snowdrops! I've never grown iris reticulata but admire their lovely colors at this time of year so may add some to my own bulb order in the fall. Happy GBBD and thanks to you and your garden fairies for continuing to host the party! Is Mister Linky a garden fairy or a blog fairy?

    Reply
  13. Tina says

    February 15, 2017 at 3:17 pm

    So much beautiful spring color. Couldn't decide which is my favorite–the witch hazel or the various crocuses. Regardless, Happy GBBD and thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  14. Kris Peterson says

    February 15, 2017 at 3:44 pm

    February in your garden and mine are very different! I do wish I could grow crocus, and witch hazel, and snowdrops…Thank you for hosting, Carol!

    Reply
  15. danger garden says

    February 15, 2017 at 5:21 pm

    I'm glad to hear winter has treated some gardeners well, because it's been nasty here in Portland, OR.

    Reply
  16. Jean Campbell says

    February 15, 2017 at 6:54 pm

    February is borrowing from March, else we're having a mild winter. Your bulbs are a great show and I agree with ordering more every year. Thank you for being a great Bloom Day host.

    Reply
  17. Anonymous says

    February 15, 2017 at 7:47 pm

    Carol, I'm thrilled by your outdoor blooms in February! Here in Maine, the garden is buried under several feet of snow and we are still a couple of months away from crocuses. -Jean

    Reply
  18. Unknown says

    February 15, 2017 at 8:44 pm

    Witch Hazel is on my "someday" list – unusual and interesting! Love the little iris.

    Reply
  19. Layanee says

    February 15, 2017 at 10:04 pm

    I am looking at a snow covered landscape with not even a fat little bud showing but I know, from looking west, that you will send me that sunshine which will lead to spring blooms. February tests a New England gardener's patience.

    Reply
  20. Lea says

    February 16, 2017 at 2:02 am

    Love the Crocus blooms!
    I think the Spirea you asked about is 'Ogon' Should be good for your zone. Tiny flowers, but masses of them. Pretty Autumn foliage, too.
    Thanks for hosting GBBD!

    Reply
  21. Andrea says

    February 16, 2017 at 2:12 am

    Oh great, this is the first time i saw that color for Iris reticulata. I wish it reaches this country too! Thanks for hosting the much awaited GBBD.

    Reply
  22. Andrea says

    February 16, 2017 at 2:59 am

    Hi Carol, even if this is not in my own garden, it is a tropical plants display, so i joined it in the GBBD today. I hope those in winter climates will enjoy our perennial plants here in the hot tropics. However, this February is the coldest month within the year for us, so giving us lots of bloom.

    Reply
  23. Shirley/Rock-Oak-Deer says

    February 16, 2017 at 3:00 am

    Quite a few blooms for so early in your zone. The iris is gorgeous!

    Reply
  24. Evan Bean says

    February 16, 2017 at 4:15 am

    It really has been mild in your area. The crocuses aren't blooming in my garden yet, and the Galanthus are just about to open. They do look wonderful in large drifts. I have at least two clumps I need to divide which could be spread out into nice drifts. I hope you get your Galanthus and Iris reticulata drifts!

    Reply
  25. Anna K says

    February 16, 2017 at 6:58 am

    Oh, to have a Witchhazel… they are so lovely. Other than that, I can only comment on the obvious – you are further along in Indiana than we are out here in the Pacific NW. Strange times, indeed!

    Reply
  26. Sofie says

    February 16, 2017 at 7:03 am

    Thanks for organizing this wonderful event! You have a lot of beautiful blooms in your garden!

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

    Reply
  27. Amy@SmallSunnyGarden says

    February 16, 2017 at 8:02 am

    Lovely! You can never have too many snowdrops! And the tiny iris is beautiful…

    Reply
  28. Kathy says

    February 16, 2017 at 3:56 pm

    We had a mild winter like that last year, and then got sub-zero temps in April. I hope that doesn't happen to you.

    Reply
  29. Anonymous says

    February 16, 2017 at 5:52 pm

    Thanks so much for hosting; it's good to have this monthly record

    Reply
  30. John says

    February 16, 2017 at 7:44 pm

    Hi Carol, we share a lot of flowers though you seem to be ahead of me with the iris. You might want to give Adonis a try. They are wonderful at this time of year.

    Reply
  31. lula says

    February 16, 2017 at 7:46 pm

    Thanks for hosting, reading all the comments is such an inspiration!

    Reply
  32. Dee says

    February 16, 2017 at 11:07 pm

    In my garden, those Iris reticulata don't come back for more than a year, and of course, I can't really grow snowdrops. I hear that if you buy them in the green they multiply faster. I may have learned that from Kathy. I do have luck with crocus most years. Much love to you this garden bloggers bloom day. I saw four young dear about 1/2 mile from my house. Dear little deer, not.~~Dee

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Updates from Carol Michel

* indicates required
Email Preferences

Categories

  • Blog (3,048)
  • Internal (2)

Blog Tags

annuals Blogging books bulbs dr. hortfreud embrace fairies fall family flowers fruits garden bloggers bloom day garden bloggers book club garden design gardeners gardening gardening geek gardens hoes holidays hortense hoelove houseplants humor indoor gardening insects lawn letters to gardening friends perennials rabbits reviews Secrets seeds shrubs spring tools trees vegetable garden vegetable gardening vegetables weather weeding weeds when a gardener wildflower wednesday winter

The Gardenangelists Podcast with Dee Nash

Gardenangelists Podcast

Footer

Gardenangelists Podcast with Dee Nash

Gardenangelists Podcast

Connect

  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • maydreams icon

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Contact
  • Books
  • May Dreams Gardens
  • Podcast

Updates from Carol Michel

* indicates required
Email Preferences

Newsletter Archive

Copyright © 2023 · CarolJMichel.com · Sitemap · Privacy Policy

Book purchase links are affiliate links and Carol earns a small commission if you make a purchase.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT