Welcome to Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day for March 2011.
Here in my central Indiana USDA Hardiness Zone 5b garden, we welcome back Iris danfordiea, who returns after a three year absence.
Three years!
I planted the bulbs for this little yellow iris in the fall of 2007, enjoyed the blooms in March 2008, and then they disappeared.
Disappeared!
I finally went looking for them in March 2010 and after not seeing anything but foliage, just like in March 2009, I read that they often take several years to re-bloom.
I had just about given up on them when I discovered a bloom on Sunday. It’s just one flower, though, so I won’t get too excited.
For reliable re-bloom year after year, I plant Iris reticulata,
And the never-to-be-out-bloomed Crocuses.
Look, they were showing their pollen in the sun this past weekend.
I was a bit surprised to find a few snowdrops, Galanthus sp. blooming in mid-March.
They seem a bit late but did survive the digging up of much of the area where they were planted and still came back to bloom this year, so I won’t complain. Maybe next year they’ll get back to their normal blooming schedule.
March is a great month for buds, too, some of which will bloom before April arrives, including Narcissus and Helleborus, along with these Hyacinth still nestled down in a cradle of new foliage.
(Yes, of all the buds, I chose to show this one so I could write “nestled down in a cradle of new foliage”.)
Soon they’ll be blooming along with Glory of the Snow, Chionodoxa sp.
And it will all be glorious!
And that’s my garden in mid March.
What’s blooming in your garden?
We would love to have you join in for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day and show 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
Thank you so much for organizing this event once again. I really enjoy reading all the entries. It also inspires me to take a good look at my own garden once a month. This month I have included the Philadelphia Flower Show as well as my own hellebores, snowdrops, and early bulbs.
Congratulations on the re-blooming of your Iris danfordiea! It's so exciting when something you thought was a lost cause springs back to life!
Happy bloom day!
It will be a while before I see a bloom,but at least the snow was mostly gone for today. Your flowers are lovely. Thanks for having us at your GBBD party in March.
You must be thrilled to see these bulbs emerging from the earth! That little stand of crocuses is spectacular. Happy Bloom Day. The months ahead will be amazing.
That's kinda neat about the iris that only blooms every few years (especially if you have room to spare for it). Maybe it's an auspicious sign.
Hooray for outdoor blooms! Your early spring bulbs are beautiful Carol. Thank you for hosting Bloom Day!
Isn't it wonderful how bulbs can stay huddled in the ground and then just burst forth and flower. A great way to announce Spring for you. Happy Bloom Day.
Thanks again for hosting GBBD! I just love those little pollen-showing crocuses and nestled hyacinth buds!! Spring is on its way — there's no turnin' back now!
This is the first time I participate. I love the idea of Bloom Day (around the world) !
Greetings from Belgium !
I love your story and photo of the patient Iris.. It feels so good to post a photo in bloom OUTSIDE! In honor of the cold snow and rain I received yesterday, I chose "Snowdrops!" Thanks for hosting this event 🙂
Three years?!?! I think I would have given up! Loving your Springy blooms!
Such lovely blooms perking their heads up after long winter months, finally they must have said! Hope to see more beautiful blooms soon Carol. Happy Blooms Day!
Such a lovely surprise after three years … good things come to those who wait! You've some beautiful spring blooms already. It will be wonderful waiting to see what comes next.
Hi Carol, happy bloomday, and thank you for hosting us all again. You are so lucky that Iris reticulata re-flowers for you, it never has for me either here in Italy or in England. Spring bulbs certainly make us all dream of May! Christina, my hesperides garden.
I have much of the same blooming in my garden Carol. What a nice surprise finding that yellow iris abloom again. I don't have any of these sweet little irises. I will have to remedy that problem sometime in the future. Happy GBBD.
How fun to find this unique iris again! I would be afraid I would unknowingly dig these up with them not coming up every year. I am terrible about forgetting where I plant things= I know I should journal!
Nothing to show in my yard yet!
Such a joy to get digging in the garden again! Thanks for hosting the Bloom Day, Belinda x
Happy Bloom Day Carol, and three cheers for the re-emergence of Iris danfordiea, may she come back again with companions next year! And of course you had to illustrate "nestled in a cradle of new foliage" – great photo and even better phrase. Enjoy Spring in your garden Carol, and thanks again for hosting. I'm off to have a nose at gardens from around the world – wonderful!
lovely to see those bulbs emerging, – it's been warmer and drier the last couple of weeks here, and so we have more flowering than last year, – but looking back to 2009 it was even further advanced, – so lovely to have the record now I take part – thanks Carol.
What a delightful surprise after three years…the hyacinth bud does look comfy nestled in the foliage…it's waking slowly…
Happy Bloom Day Carol and thank you for being our hostess! Spring is definitley is the air and it is so wonderful to be able to walk out into the garden and see it coming back to life!
Thanks for hosting this – Its a real privilege for us to be able to take part and we look forward to sharing our Blooms in the months to come.
You have a lot of great blooms! So nice that your iris is finally blooming again! This is my first time posting for GBBD. I do enjoy reading the posts each month and finally got it together to join in on all the fun.
What a nice surprise to see those pretty little blooms after 3 years. Was it worth the wait? 🙂 I finally remembered to post for GBBD after a long absence.
I know you are glad to be able to show some colors other than white. We have things blooming late here as well, but better late then never. Thank you for again hosting Bloom Day; it has become quite the ritual for me and one I look forward to.
It feels like we've been waiting forever for GBBD to come our way again. Miss all of you. And the flowers that have hidden from you, are now coming back! I feel a tear in my eye as I see these brave shoots breaking free and the emergence of buds and blooms!
Rosie
Isn't that Iris danfordiea an odd bird? Love your crocuses–mine are of the saffron variety, and they are fall bloomers. In my Central Texas garden this fine GBBD, the roses have just barely started their spring flush, winter vegetables are bolting, daffodils and snowflakes are blooming, and native perennials like salvia are waking from their winter nap. Thanks for hosting GBBD!
Dear Carol, Thank you so much for hosting GBBD again. Garden bloggers all around the world look forward to it each month. Your spring-surprise blooms are beautiful. I had to cheat this month and enter an earlier post which I wrote with Bloom Day in mind … hope that is OK. P x
Hi Carol – it's so nice to actually have a few flowers to share this month! Thanks for hosting, I'm looking forward to visiting everyone's colorful hardens.
This is my first time at the party. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone.
Thanks for hosting.
Jane@ SmallButCharming
YOur crocuses (croci?) are beautiful! and loving the iris as well…lovely!
Your zone 5b gardens are so far ahead of my zone 6a gardens. Here in south-central Connecticut snow is finally melted, though a few stubborn piles remain here and there. Bulbs are just beginning to peek out of the ground as if wondering whether it's safe to do so just yet.
Thanks for another refreshing GBBD.
So exciting to finally see green after this long winter! Congrats on your bloooms.
Wow! forty gardens and it's not even 8:00. I'll come back later to look at them all, but for now thanks for hosting.
I love all your crocus – I haven't a one. Have already put "plant many crocus and snowdrops" on my to do list for fall. See you later.
I didn't know such irises existed. I'm delighted for you, and hope to find some to plant down here. Thanks for passing along your example of patience.
Hi Carol. It is pouring down rain in Southern Indiana. So for GBBD I am sharing my video from the Indy Garden Show yesterday. I have many bulbs about to open…. but not quite yet!
Lovely spring blooms. There isn't anything blooming yet in my garden, but the plants are beginning to emerge from the ground.
I have hopes that by April 15 my garden will show snow drops and scillas, right now there is still only snow – and a little mud.
You've got a lot going on in your garden for March, Carol. I see bulbs sprouting out of the ground but I cover them with mulch, knowing full well that winter's not done for us yet.
What gorgeous blooms…I am a bit behind here in my zone 5 but expect to see some blooms by the weekend I hope….
Isn't it exciting to see these first tiny little blooms? Congratulations on your iris dans. I have a couple of snowdrops finally blooming; they didn't bloom at all last year, so I'm thrilled to finally see them.
My first time participating in Garden Blog Bloom Day! Love it 🙂 So many cool garden blogs out there and it's wonderful to see what's blooming all over the world. Thanks for letting me participate! Diane 🙂
Beautiful-love all your spring flowers, especially the crocus!
I love Bloom Day–it's the perfect procrastination tool to avoid work! 😉 Can't wait to visit all of your gardens to see what's blooming…Enjoy!
Hi Carol,
I love that little iris. What a nice surprise. Thanks for hosting.
I'm doing wildflowers this month for GBBD.
David 🙂
Your picture of Iris danfordiea reminded me that I used to grow them in my old garden. How odd that yours disappeared then returned after such a long absence. It would look good interplanted with Iris reticulata 'Katharine Hodgkin'.
Got the bloom day scans up. http://remarc.com/craig/?p=1194 Thanks again for hosting.
Hi Carol,
Greetings from a sunny and very yellow looking England! Just like your first photo, the colour yellow has taken over most of the gardens here and mine's no exception.
I see you're proudly waving the Seattle banner in your sidebar – so see you in July! 🙂
Love these signs of SPRING!
Love the irises! I should add some of those next surrounding some daffodils. Snowdrops too. I can't wait to see our crocuses look as thick and strong as the ones you have.
I must check on my Iris reticulata now that I see yours are blooming. Very pretty.
How interesting about your iris re- blooming after so long. It gives me hope for some bulbs I planted last year which never bloomed, nor this year. I
ll give them 3 years! Spring is sprung in your garden. Happy bloom day.
Love the bulbs of Spring.
Thank you for this grand meme. I'm off now to see the March of Spring ever Northward.
Happy to see spring has made its way to your garden! Your bulbs are delightful and make me wish I had planted some! Happy GBBD Carol.
Happy happy Bloom Day! 🙂 I managed to forget to plant hyacinths, so it's lovely to see yours all nested up and ready to go. 🙂
Finally taken the plunge and joined in with this wonderful group. Spring is sprung, and flowers are blooming regardless of everything else! We have a modest sprinkling of colour coming to our fledgling garden…
Got to love the spring bulbs, and especially the irises. I just noticed this year what a lovely scent Iris reticulata has. Thanks for GBBD!
Looks like we have most of the same things blooming here. Our flowers are late and quite a bit of what would normally be blooming isn't even close. I love the color of that Crocus, they look like they're just soaking in as much sun as they can.
Ah, the midwest isn't so far behind Oregon, I see… I still have a stray Iris retic flowering, and Galanthus here and there, although we are mostly on to the Narcissus now. This is my favorite part of bloom day… to see how far along spring is in various areas. Thanks, as always, for creating a way to enjoy a fascinating virtual tour of gardens all over the country and globe.
Thank you as always Carol! You have lots of little babies peeping through!! I have a few signs of spring myself 🙂
Isn't it almost magic when a flower you had given up on comes back after a year in retirement? ALthough,at this point, I do like the reliability of iris reticulata, since that is all that is blooming right now here…
Irises, crocus and snowdrops all finished already here… but the daffodils are shining.
I do miss my hyacinths: it's that stage where they're fat little buds just peeking out of the ground that I love most.
My GBBD post is here. Thanks for reminding us it's all starting to happen!
Oh, how glorious to see these beautiful bulbs in bloom! Especially that bud "nestled down in a cradle of new foliage." I so enjoyed. My bulbs are just beginning to peek through the wreck of leaves and debris that winter has left behind. I hope they look as beautiful as yours in just a few short weeks!
The only thing presently blooming in my garden is my heart.
What a wonderful surprise to have your iris bloom! Maybe it will be settled in and bloom more regularly now 🙂
Great shot of the Hyacinth, I can almost smell it's strong perfume just looking at the photo. Happy Bloomday!
Oh what a lovely sight! Thank you, thank you, thank you, for hosting this monthly feature. I enjoy it all year but this one might be my favorite because it is truly hope in pictures!
Hi! Thank you for hosting GBBD. I have quite a few blooms but for this month, I wish to share my sunflowers and the bees.
Looks like spring has reached Indiana! Lovely blossoms. My Bloom Day post is up and a happy Bloom Day to all.
Thank you, Carol, for hosting Bloom Day. I enjoyed seeing your March blooming bulbs. Most of mine have come and gone…I didn't have crocus this year and the squirrels are the likely suspects!
Blessings to all! Spring is on the way. My back garden smells like hot cocoa from the blooming Azara, and buds are breaking everywhere. YAY!
I see no sign of my iris; maybe they disappeared like yours!
Hooray for the reliable irises! And I do like that nestled hyacinth too. My garden is mainly a vegetable garden, and while I don't necessarily have lots of blooms yet, I do have several sprouting seedlings.
No blooms outside yet, here. But at least the snow is gone… for now. Old Man Winter usually tries to sneak back a time or two before he gives in. I do have a beautiful bloom in my window to keep me smiling. LOVE that your yellow iris returned.
Hope to have winter bulbs next year also.
Thanks for doing this day, Carol! I too am zone 5, and it's so nice after getting rid of 120" of snow (!) to see growth and new life again. After I read your post, I went out to take inventory, and the take so far is:
1 snowdrop ('S.Arnott')
1 patch of bright orange crocus
1 light purple crocus
winter aconites
pussy willow
The hellebores are all budded, and should open up with another day or two of warm temperatures.
I am in awe of you Midwest gardeners who wait so patiently for spring each year! Your Iris danfordiea is a gorgeous little surprise and I hope more make their way up from the soil to reward you.
We are spoiled on the West coast: I have camellias, daphne, ribes and hellebore blooming in my Portland garden, and a robust rosemary, too.
Thank you, Carol, for hosting Bloom Day!
Happy bloom day, Carol. Beautiful little bulbs worth waiting for. I need little irises in shallow pans for next winter.
I love this meme! Thanks so much for hosting it. I, too, have irises to show off. Yeah spring!
Gorgeous crocuses! We've been having some unseasonably warm weather recently, and things seem to be a little farther along than normal.
How nice it must be to see an old new friend return! Looks like we're at about the same stage of March as you – with the snowdrops too (only I couldn't get a good shot of any of them.) Happy Spring!
Snowdrops, exquisite! I love seeing things that cannot grow in my own climate. Thanks!
Very pretty flowers Carol.
An impressive turnout for bloom day as always. All of your bulbs look great, better than mine actually, which look a bit tattered from storms. Thanks for hosting bloom day. It's a blogging highlight of the month.
Thanks for organizing this Carol! I'm amazed at the turnout.
I'm glad you posted about the Iris's as I have had the same problems with my Iris reticulata. No blooms this year or last year… but now I know to hold out hope!
Love the crocus and snowdrops! And I'm happy for your iris surprise. Thanks for hosting and happy GBBD!
Hi Carol,
A warm welcome back to Iris danfordiea! Your crocuses are so happy-looking – gorgeous. I've posted my GBBD for March – thanks, as always for hosting,
HM
Lovely blooms Carol. The Glory of the Snow looks like it'll be fantastic. Can't wait to see it. I'm glad you got your iris bloom!
I'm tagging along with Jane from Smallbutcharming and I can't resist a great party especially if it is a garden party. Super idea..lots of great inspiration .Go raibh maith agat from Ireland..Sinead
Snowdrops! That's what I'm missing!
Glad to see spring is finally coming to Indiana.
Thanks for hosting, Carol! I don't have any blooms as dramatic as your beautiful irises and crocuses, but my GBBD post is now up.
Thank you for the great tip about the Iris danfordiae. I thought it just hated my southern climate as so many things do.
We are in the middle of spring here. The Crocus are gone and the early Narcissus fading, but Winter Honeysuckle, Serviceberry and Japanese Magnolia are outstanding. Hellebores are stealing the show.
It's wonderful to see gardens starting again. Thank you for hosting!
More Crocuses!!
Thanks for the great idea!
Julie
Great way to celebrate spring, Kelli
Ah, spring! I just love it, and I'm sure the garden fairies do too. I managed to squeak in for this month's bloom day — lots going on but lots more promises than actual action.
http://healingmagichands.wordpress.com/2011/03/15/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-march-15-2011/
Any acrobatics necessary to squeeze in that nice turn of phrase were fully justified.
Not much blooming in NYC thought lots of buds.
Thank you all for keeping the Bloom Day Spirit alive. I've been a bit of a slacker on Bloom Posts myself, but I put some up today, inspired by Annies' posting. And now to click over & visit Y'all!
http://todayinthegarden.blogspot.com/
I've been gone for a while, thanks for being here when I got back! hurrah for spring!
I'm so glad that you all have much more inspiring bloom day posts than I do… Carol, it was good to see your iris come back after a 3 year hiatus! Hope that a few more of its friends follow suit for you. 🙂
When I was a kid I used to ride my bike to the local library to read the three bonsai books they had. I remember one early spring, a single crocus bloomed in a barren expanse of planter, and I used to stare at every time I went there. Thank you for the crocus photos. BTW, my Azalea bonsais are in bloom, and can be seen on the Azalea bonsai page on my blog.
Hi Carol,
I did my post last night, and when I got home today, saw some crocus blooming. I just had to do another post. It just has one photo in it. I plan to have some 1 or 2 inch hyacinth foliage in tomorrow's Foliage Follow-up post. It's spring! Yippee!
All of your blooms are pretty, but snowdrops will always be my favorite early spring flower.
I've been reading May Dreams Gardens for two years now and never tire of it.
donna
It's wonderful to see so many flowers again! Thank you, Carol, for hosting Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day! 🙂
Thank you for hosting GBBD. I think this is the first time I'm officially participating, and I'm happy that I'm able to participate in the garden blogging community this way.
Oh, and I love the way you write, your posts always bring a smile to face. =]
Thanks…zone 7b in the high desert is not much further ahead of you, so glad your bulbs are showing so nicely!
My March post is up. I wish I could grow snowdrops like you have. I think they are so lovely. Being in the Deep South, I grow summer snowflakes which I do like, but I still would love to have the snowdrops.
Jan
Always Growing
You have a lot of blooms, Carol. None of my iris reticulata, or crocus, are in bud yet. My daff's are now budding and getting ready to bloom. I just planted snowdrops for the first time this year…they were sent through the mail in bloom…and are no longer blooming. I've always wanted them so next spring they should last longer since they won't be 'yanked out' midway through their bloom time.
Hey, that's the exact amount of time I've been missing, too!! I cannot believe how your Bloom Day has grown!
Glad to see that even in zone 5B the sun does shine and the bulbs do bloom 🙂
I never thought about those Iris going on vacation for a couple of years. Maybe I have been too quick to give up on them. I had one reticulata put up a scrawny bloom this year. Hardly worthy of competing with the other plants that have been happily putting on a flower show for me…
Thanks again for your Bloom Day inspiration…
It's been forever, much too long, since I've participated and shared 'my blooms' – it's nice to stop by and do so. Looks like you have some gorgeous blooms and that spring is springing up your way. Yay!
Thank you for hosting GBBD! I've been watching garden bloggers bloom day from other gardeners for a few years now but never participated, until now. But today I posted my first GBBD post 🙂
Now that I've finally posted mine, I can take the time to look at everybody else's pretties. Thanks so much for hosting this…
Thanks, Carol, for helping us appreciate all that our gardens have to offer.
Okay, I;m in, thanks to Gwirrel's Garden! I am not a garden blogger, but I love to take photos of plants in my yard. The next photos will be better, i.e. I will know about this before 7pm and won't have to use a flash. 🙂 Blooming this month in my yard are primula, vinca, lamium and Nishiki Willow. The forsythia is trying….
Neat concept! Thanks for hosting. 🙂
Thanks, as always, for hosting, Carol. It always surprises me that your zone 5b garden is about a month ahead of my zone 5a garden. I'm at the northern edge of zone 5a. Are you at the southern edge of 5b?
Love your little yellow iris. plant lust!
Your blooms remind me of the spring blooms I used to see growing up in England. I tried daffodils this year, but they have finished already. The pansies are going strong though — they've been in bloom since Thanksgiving!
What a surprise. I thought today was the 16th and I had missed it. I've been shopping. That wears me out so I have a good excuse.
My zone 5b garden many hundreds of miles south of you is in a similar state of bud.
Thanks for starting this. I love having the incentive to document what's going on in the garden from month to month. I've thought about it for decades, but have only been doing it for the last year and a half. Thanks for getting me started.
Hope you'll forgive me for the lack of actual flowers – but I can prove that some are on their way shortly. I love those iris reticulas – must find some for next year!
I always love these flowers most especially because we dont have them. Your photos make them so special. I have always been seeing this GBBD but i cant join because i dont often go home to the province. But since not many tropical plants are posted here, i might as well join and show you our tropical orchids, many of which are endemic in this country. Thank you.
Happy Bloom Day, Carol! Yay for spring! Isn't it wonderful to see blooms outdoors again?
What a lovely surprise to see your yellow Iris back after a 3 year absence. Perhaps this will be the year I'll remember to plant some Iris reticulata. They're so pretty!
Your crocuses are positively glowing in the sunshine.
I love the way your Hyacinth bud is "nestled down in a cradle of new foliage" 🙂
I can't wait to see my glorious Glory of the Snow and all the rest of the gang. Snowdrops are just the beginning!
Thanks for gathering us all together for Bloom Day!
Carol, thanks so much for being such a gracious hostess, and also for sharing your own flowers. Love that Iris — it was worth waiting three years!
Wowzer, What a marvelously successful Bloom Day! Mine is up~a day late, but celebrating the day~xxoogail
Carol, I love your crocus and your nestling little hyacinth. Thank you for hosting, I'm so looking forward to seeing all the awakening spring gardens.
In my post this time I have salvia, crepe myrtles, liriope and hebes.
Thank you for hosting GBBD! Your blooms are lovely.
You have quite a lot blooming! I love the yellow iris and I'm glad it finally made a reappearance for you. Its great to see so many people participate in GBBD this month – spring is really here!
Thanks, Carol, for another Blooms Day. I have a riot of color coming up.
So thrilling that spring is very nearly here and the snowdrops are blooming!
Happy beautiful blooms!
Thank you, Carol, for this opportunity to meet many friends bloggers who love gardening.
I also participate in this great initiative, at the suggestion
my friend Isabelle, whom I thank for giving me this beautiful initiative!
Many of my snowdrops are still up to their necks in snow, but I do have eranthis, hellebores, and a few snowdrops blooming–and one Johnny-jump-up. Come visit Cold Climate Gardening to see!
I'm cheating on GBBD this month, with a three color crabapple in Charleston SC. My garden back home is still snow-covered and sad.
It's so great to see all the plants blooming as it feels like Spring is finally here. I so miss having the color riot in the yard.
Lovely photos, Carol! My PNW garden has the usual suspects, Hellebores, Pulmonaria, Daffodils, Heather, and a contorted Hazelnut.
Haha, better late than never, right?
This year, I realized that because of bloom day I have comparison photos. Thanks so much. Your flowers are quite lovely my friend.~~Dee
Yes, I realize that I'm a couple of days late and I don't have many photos, but today is the first real spring-like day and this is the best way I can think of, to celebrate. (Besides, if Dee of Red-Dirt Ramblings can post this late,then so can I!)
I just found this garden meme so I'm late but will be on time next month. My link
http://www.lovethatimage.com/blog/2011/03/tiny-cactus-flowers/
was originally posted on March 12 but it's still blooming now, for sure! What a cool idea. In April on the 15th there will be far more going on.
Better late than never with my Bloom Day post, I hope, Carol. I see spring has sprung in your garden too!
This is my second time participating, but I have a different site these days. Love all the pictures!
Thanks to everyone for leaving a link to your blooms!!! Seeing your photos is helping me to emerge from my long winter's nap!
Love the blooms! My daffodils are done for the year, so it's nice to see that some people still have a while to go before Spring comes to an end.
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