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Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - February 2020


Spring may not have quite sprung in my zone 9a garden outside of Houston but it is definitely peeking over the windowsill and bringing with it quite a few blooms. 
 This is the antique rose 'Old Blush'.
 And the 'Peggy Martin' rose.
The daffodil Narcissus tazetta. 
 Leucojum aestivum.
 The cyclamen have been blooming all winter.
 As have the violas, aka Johnny-Jump-Ups.
And the pansies.

 My waxed amaryllis plants finally bloomed after three months. I don't think I'll be purchasing any more of these. I prefer potted varieties.

The Carolina jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens, has bloomed gloriously all month.
 Turk's cap, Malvaviscus arboreus, is an ever-bloomer.
Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender'.

Purple oxalis, Oxalis triangularis. 
Loropetalum chinense. 
 Solanum luxum, ornamental potato vine.
 I recently bought this 'Bright' hibiscus at one of the big box stores. I planted it.
 And a couple of days later I checked on it and this is what I saw. Yes, there were actually two separate plants in the pot. Two for the price of one.
 Dianthus.
 And more dianthus.
 Snapdragons, Antirrhinum majus.
Lonicera sempervirens, coral honeysuckle 'Major Wheeler'.

As in most recent winters, we have a female Rufous Hummingbird making itself at home in our yard. She is very grateful for all the blooms, especially the honeysuckle and also for the feeder filled with sugar water that supplements her diet. 

 How are things in your garden as winter winds down, or as summer winds down if you are in the southern hemisphere? The changing of the seasons is always an interesting time for gardeners. In my own garden, I'm finishing up with pruning and winter cleanup, moving several of my plants to areas where I think they will be happier, and adding some new plants to the garden. It's good to be out and about and getting my hands dirty again.

 Happy gardening and happy Bloom Day to all, especially to our host, Carol of May Dreams Gardens.
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Comments

  1. AlanaFebruary 15, 2020 at 1:35 PM

    I hope Carol is OK; I see a "placeholder coming soon" post on her blog and I linked to that. Love your blooms; your garden is a welcome sign of spring. But I actually have an outdoor plant blooming in my upstate New York Garden. It's been relatively mild (for us) Please send spring our way!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersFebruary 15, 2020 at 4:57 PM

      Yes, I saw that note on Carol's blog. BTW, I spoke to Mother Nature and she's definitely sending spring your way soon.

      Delete
  2. LisaFebruary 15, 2020 at 2:27 PM

    Johnny Jump-ups and other little pansies (violas?) are my favorites! I have to be on the look out for them around now. I seeded some containers months ago, for winter flowers, but they are just getting large enough to bloom now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersFebruary 15, 2020 at 4:58 PM

      They are sweet little flowers. I always have to have some in my winter garden.

      Delete
  3. Brian JosephFebruary 15, 2020 at 2:56 PM

    Very nice pictures. Here in New York we have a ways to go before we have many things blooming. I am just happily that the winter has been mild so far.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sarah @ All The Book Blog Names Are TakenFebruary 15, 2020 at 8:22 PM

    So beautiful! I am not much of an 'outdoor girl' but there are certain flowers that I just love so much. My mom and grandma are big planters/gardeners but the green thumb seems to have skipped me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersFebruary 15, 2020 at 10:23 PM

      For years I thought the gardening bug has passed me by, too, and then one day it bit me and hasn't let go yet.

      Delete
  5. Kris PetersonFebruary 15, 2020 at 9:11 PM

    Spring is nudging winter aside here in southern California as well, Dorothy, although I think I'm a long way from seeing any rose blooms here. Thank you for the ID on the small-cupped Narcissus. It appears to be identical to the one that popped up in my garden this month, the legacy of a prior gardener here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersFebruary 15, 2020 at 10:26 PM

      I have better luck with the tazettas than I do with the more traditional daffodils. They seem to be better suited to my garden/climate/soil.

      Delete
  6. Phillip OliverFebruary 15, 2020 at 9:51 PM

    You have so many blooms. I had to work today so wasn't able to get out and take photos. However, there are not too many blooms. Very mild winter here in Washington state too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersFebruary 15, 2020 at 10:27 PM

      It seems that winter has been mild pretty much throughout the country. That, of course, has its good points and bad points for gardens and gardeners.

      Delete
  7. Arun GoyalFebruary 16, 2020 at 1:09 AM

    Lovely blooms ,we have so many common blooms in this month .That Carolina jessamine is a treat to eyes.We are into spring now with new blooms popping each day.Hope you and your husband are in good health Dorothy.Happy Blogger blooms day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersFebruary 16, 2020 at 11:42 AM

      My hubby and I are thriving right along with the garden! Thank you, Arun.

      Delete
  8. rusty duckFebruary 16, 2020 at 4:28 AM

    Well if it isn't Spring you're certainly a long way ahead of us! Wonderful to see so much colour. The coral honeysuckle is a real beauty. Is it scented as well?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersFebruary 16, 2020 at 11:43 AM

      It is not heavily scented at all. But the hummingbirds love it.

      Delete
  9. David M. Gascoigne,February 16, 2020 at 5:03 AM

    That is a dazzling array of colour, Dorothy. In another month we should have crocuses (croci?) poking up through the ground, but not much until then.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersFebruary 16, 2020 at 11:44 AM

      Spring is on its way to you, David, and it will be glorious when it arrives.

      Delete
  10. LeaFebruary 16, 2020 at 9:45 AM

    A beautiful collection of flowers!
    Every year recently, just as my Carolina Jessamine puts on buds, we get a hard freeze. No blooms again this year.
    Have a blessed day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersFebruary 16, 2020 at 10:11 AM

      When my jessamine is in full bloom, I know spring can't be too far behind. It has been especially magnificent this winter.

      Delete
  11. Esther @ BiteIntoBooksFebruary 19, 2020 at 8:16 AM

    I LOVE these flowers! I can't wait to get back into gardening and make sure my garden is blooming and beautiful. It's so stormy here right now, everything just collapses, sadly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersFebruary 19, 2020 at 10:01 AM

      Well, most assuredly a change is coming. Something to look forward to.

      Delete
  12. Judy KruegerFebruary 23, 2020 at 11:17 AM

    This week will be warm and sunny and I will be out there finishing my pruning and winter cleanup too. It is so wonderful when the blooms begin again!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersFebruary 23, 2020 at 11:51 AM

      Seeing the blooms cannot help but raise our spirits.

      Delete

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