Zero. That's the number of blooms in my garden this month. In my zone 9a garden in Southeast Texas, it is definitely Garden Bloggers' No Blooms Day.
Much of the garden looks very much like this clump of lemongrass. It isn't dead; it's only sleeping. But it is sleeping very soundly at the moment.
The reason for all this brownness is that we've actually had winter this winter. In our last winter, we had two days of below freezing temperatures. The winter before that we had NO days of freezing temperatures. So far in the winter of 2017-18, we've had THREE TIMES as many days of freezing weather as we had had in the last two years combined. And we are expecting more temperatures in the 20s Fahrenheit this week. All of that and we actually had snow on one day in early December. This qualifies as a harsh winter for us. (Don't laugh, all you Northerners!)
This is all I can show you in the way of "blooms" this month.
The white yarrow by the pond still has buds and looks like it might actually provide a bloom soon.
Likewise the Carolina jessamine - only buds so far.
In the wildflower bed, the sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima), whose identity I was confused about last Bloom Day, is still sending out its sweet little blooms.
Fortunately, there are other things for me to look at in the garden. Birds, for instance.
My garden is resting and so have I been, but that's about to change. It's cleanup time, beginning with some pruning this week. Got to get ready for all that new growth. Spring comes early here and it quickly morphs into summer.
But meanwhile, for a little time, I can sit on my favorite bench and meditate with my favorite little buddy.
Happy Bloom Day! I hope you have blooms where you are and thank you for visiting my bare, brown garden this month.
Don't forget to visit Carol of May Dreams Gardens as well and see all of those gardens that do have January blooms to show you.
Much of the garden looks very much like this clump of lemongrass. It isn't dead; it's only sleeping. But it is sleeping very soundly at the moment.
The reason for all this brownness is that we've actually had winter this winter. In our last winter, we had two days of below freezing temperatures. The winter before that we had NO days of freezing temperatures. So far in the winter of 2017-18, we've had THREE TIMES as many days of freezing weather as we had had in the last two years combined. And we are expecting more temperatures in the 20s Fahrenheit this week. All of that and we actually had snow on one day in early December. This qualifies as a harsh winter for us. (Don't laugh, all you Northerners!)
This is all I can show you in the way of "blooms" this month.
The white yarrow by the pond still has buds and looks like it might actually provide a bloom soon.
Likewise the Carolina jessamine - only buds so far.
In the wildflower bed, the sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima), whose identity I was confused about last Bloom Day, is still sending out its sweet little blooms.
Fortunately, there are other things for me to look at in the garden. Birds, for instance.
House Finch.
Pine Warbler.
Red-bellied Woodpecker.
And, of course, American Goldfinches.
My garden is resting and so have I been, but that's about to change. It's cleanup time, beginning with some pruning this week. Got to get ready for all that new growth. Spring comes early here and it quickly morphs into summer.
But meanwhile, for a little time, I can sit on my favorite bench and meditate with my favorite little buddy.
He's not bothered about winter!
Don't forget to visit Carol of May Dreams Gardens as well and see all of those gardens that do have January blooms to show you.
Oh, we have definitely had winter in the South this year! Your Carolina Jessamine looks much better than mine. If it were not for the Hellebores sprouting, I would have nothing to show for Bloom Day
ReplyDeleteLove to see all the birds!
We've had nothing like what you've experienced in North Mississippi, but it definitely qualifies as winter for us!
DeleteI enjoyed your winter views of the sleeping garden with sweet alyssum blooms and bird visitors. We've been hearing about your colder than usual winter. It has been frigid here with longer spans of cold compared to other years. Keep warm!
ReplyDeleteIt seems that every part of the country is having a colder winter than usual. We can only hope that all of this cold weather might knock back some of the insect pests. Last summer they seemed to be everywhere and in great numbers.
DeleteYou have 100% more "almost blooms" than I do. I'll take them, and the birds. Honest I will. It was 1 above when I woke up this morning. People in outlying areas got to -10 or more. Please?
ReplyDeleteOoh, that is some frigid weather you've got in upstate New York. Stay safe and warm.
DeleteThe only thing of color I have in my yard at the moment is holly berries. I'm going to have to do some major weeding and replanting soon to get the garden ready for summer.
ReplyDeleteYes, our yards look pretty bleak at the moment, don't they? But give us a few weeks and we'll be green again. Time to get ready.
DeleteI think you have lots of blooms. I have one lousy bloom at this time. We have had a more typical winter this year too. No getting ahead of spring chores this winter. Happy GBBd.
ReplyDeleteMost of my "blooms" have feathers at this time, Lisa.
DeleteI love your frog. They have their own ways of managing and surviving winter. You can't expect too much sympathy from us northeners - only increasing worry about what is going on.
ReplyDeleteI'm worrying right along with you. We are all in this boat together and on most days recently it feels like it is sinking.
DeleteI have a few blooms on my plumbago but that is about it. I think the birds show up better when the blooms are few.
ReplyDeleteEven my reliable plumbago has given up the ghost. I can't really complain. It deserves a rest after blooming ten months out of the year.
DeleteThe low temperature must be as much of a shock to the birds as it is to us. I'm giving ours extra rations. They descend on the feeders before I've even returned to the house and shut the door.
ReplyDeleteSame here. Up until recently, my feeders had had few visitors, but now I have to refill them just about every day.
DeleteAwwww, too bad the weather caught up with your garden, but all is not lost because you have beauty in the form of birds. Your garden buddy is so Zen. :-)
ReplyDeleteHe reminds me to slow down and smell the roses. Or when there are no roses, to enjoy the birds.
Delete