Tag: bulbs

Late Winter 13 Feb 2026

There has been such a dramatic change in the weather this week. It is spring-like with a gentle breeze and warm sunny days. There is no frost in the forecast for at least the next 10 days.

The spring bloom display has begun. The daffodils, the crocuses and the snowdrops are full. There are some red buds appearing on the roses.

The late winter tasks are well underway. Most significant has been the pruning of beauty berry, Rose of Sharon, anise and vitex. Since they bloom on this years growth, this should bring out more blooms later in the year.

Lenten Rose
Lenten Rose ‘Pink Frost’

The hellebores have been hesitant to bloom for the last few weeks, but they have come out with many blooms in the last few days. The reliable more common one on the left is more abundant but the subtle shading of ‘Pink Frost’ on the right makes it my favorite.

Crocus ‘Snow White’
Paperbush

The Crocus ‘Snow White’ was planted last year. One bloom appeared a week ago but another two blooms appeared yesterday. This is a small bloom but it is bright white and shows up well.

The Edgeworthia chrysantha (Paperbush) on the right is also a small group of blooms but really stands out with its egg yolk yellow color. This is one of my favorite shrubs because of its striking stem architectural shape.

Daffodil
Daffodil ‘Lovelady’

The daffodil on the left is unnamed. It was done a good job of becoming established and has many clumps.

The daffodil on the right is ‘Lovelady’. I think. Whatever the name, it is a beauty.

No. This dahlia is not blooming now. I am posting it because of something I learned yesterday. A local nursery sells dahlia blooms (Stone Hollow Farmstead). They sell dahlia blooms and the my informant states it is not necessary to dig them up in the fall in our area. They will do well left in the ground and survive our winter very well.

I hope the weather is pleasant wherever you are and that you will be able to get out to enjoy your garden.

I will be posting tomorrow with the Six on Saturday group. Come check it out. Here is the website https://gardenruminations.co.uk.

Happy gardening.

Spring Bloomers 25 March 2022

The weather is now definitely warmer and the forecast shows no sign of frost.  This past weekend, my wife and I enjoyed a trip to the Alabama Gulf Coast where we visited Bellingrath Garden in Theodore and Mobile Botanical Gardens.

At home, more ferns and bulbs are emerging.  Of course, along with them, there are also signs of the weeds and invasives.

Each day, there are more tasks to be done.   In the Mens Garden, we have begun laying out a circular brick paver area around the flag pole.  We will be placing engraved brick markers there if all works out.

On to this week’s pics.

First, I have some beautiful red tulips from Bellingrath.  They keep them in the nursery until they are blooming and then place them out in the Garden.

img_2852

Second, this is an invasive Cherokee Rose.  This was found at Bellingrath near the estuary.  It is native to Asia but has naturalized rapidly here in the SouthEast.  It is a climbing rose with stems that grow up to 20 feet.  It may be beautiful but it is truly invasive.

img_2847

Thirs and at home, the Florida anise has begun to show its red star shaped bloom.  It is always a good sign of Spring.  Being an anise, there is a licorice smell if you rub the leaves.

img_2855

 

Fourth, here are some Jetfire daffodils that I have out in terra cotta containers in the back yard.  The photo does not do justice to the bright orange trumpet portion of the bloom.

img_2857

Fifth, the red stemmed lady fern, Athyrium filix-femina, the “Lady in Red” is emerging.  It completely disappears after frost but reliably returns in the Spring.

img_2859

Sixth and last here is a wild violet that has some blue and white in the bloom.  It only appears in the spring but it is worth watching for.  Also, the white false indigo, Baptisis alba is emerging in its asparagus like form for now until the blooms appear.

 

Happy gardening.

 

Don’t forget to look at the Propagator for his blog Six on Saturday.

Another cold day in January

27 January 2022

These are Johnny Jump Up violas in my carport window boxed. They have easily persevered during the cold nights we have had in January. I am hoping they will do the same for the next couple of cold nights. I am using my new iPhone 13 for these photos. The portrait mode gives these wonderful close ups with bokeh effect.
My “Jon Bos” hyacinth are beginning to emerge from the containers in my carport. I also have several containers planted with daffodils. Sill waiting for them to emerge.

 

These are dried luffas. If you don’t know these, listen up. The mother plant is a rapidly growing vine like squash. Young luffas can be eaten like yellow squash. If you leave them on the vine, they eventually will dry out. Then, you can peel off the outer skin and you have these. They will replace a sponge and are great in the shower for scraping off areas of dried elbows, knees and heels.

 

Lone daffodil bloom seen at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens this past week. It is a south facing slope planted amongst some clumping grasses. Very beautiful trumpet as seen on a bright sunny day.

 

These are some benches we have been working on at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. They are dedicated benches that have become weathered and covered with mold and lichen. First, we will wash them with a solution of dishwashing soap, vinegar and water. This is about a one hour job. This is followed by sanding with a power hand sander and also some manual sanding. This also takes an hour. I will show you a finished product soon.
A bonus for you today. This is a spotted salamander. Found this photo today on an email that came from Ruffner Mountain. I have been to where these creatures live in the Homewood Forest Preserve. I haven’t seen one but this was fascinating. I have included some text from the email.

The annual Spotted Salamander migration is an incredible sight, as well as the first sign of spring in Alabama – and you don’t have to travel far to see it. A large population of Spotted Salamanders undergoes this migration each year in Homewood, AL, and there is even a festival hosted by the Friends of Shades Creek celebrating their emergence each year! This year’s festival will be hybrid, with a virtual component starting on January 29, 2022, and running through February, and in-person hikes on January 29 and 30. If you love salamanders, I highly recommend attending and asking Friends of Shades Creek how you can get involved in preserving this amazing Alabama amphibian!