Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Bloom Day FEB 2010

From In the Garden

Bloom Day for this month sees us covered with snow-again! That's the backyard with the snow still coming down behind the hyacinth. I've lived here eight years and I haven't seen this much snow in all that time but there is a first time for everything I guess. We went to bed Monday night with about two inches on the ground and woke up to more than four! Roads were so bad everything closed down and it was a nightmare trying to go anywhere. Fort Campbell closed down but half the people (including Mr. Fix-it and I) did not get the word until we were on base trying to go to a class. I keep telling myself it IS winter after all but I've been a bit spoiled these past few years. Winter is getting old now. Please spring hurry!

Long story short, I'm pretty sure the mahonia is still blooming, hellebores and perhaps some witch hazels but I've not ventured into the garden to check. Fortunately I came across some hyacinth bulbs and forcing vases (Rural King for $1.25 each!) so I have some blooms inside the house. The hyacinths smell so good! I've never had luck forcing bulbs so I've been most pleased with these and will do this each year from now on. There are also some geraniums blooming under lights, oxalis and impatiens. The paper whites are getting close. I'm very excited about them because I've never grown them before. Remember my sunny window sill I showed in last month's Bloom Day post? I have to say this bunch of flowers got attacked by spider mites. I've never had them in the house before and am not happy about it. I've sprayed them down and the plants are doing okay for now. Next year I'll endeavor to spray with Neem oil as recommended by Kylee at Our Little Acre to prevent infestations. March should see many more blooms-I hope!

What's blooming in your neck of the woods?

in the garden....


Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,

In the Garden

31 comments:

  1. Where is my snow? 18 mid eastern states under blizzard and nada, nada! In my neck.
    Spring, spring, SPRING!

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  2. Crazy weather, isn't it? Hope you aren't snowed in for long. Be careful on the roads!

    No snow here, but wind chill is 13 degrees with winds up to 50mph. At least the sun is shining for the moment!

    Take care (and have a snowball fight).
    Cameron

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  3. It's really cold here with snow predicted for tomorrow. The pansies and little violas are hanging in there. No daffodil blooms yet, but some are ready. I hope March brings all of us warmth and lots of flowers. This is the coldest winter Texas has had for some time.

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  4. Dawn, It's all down here I'll see if I can send you some.

    Cameron, Great snow for that but now it's so cold no one wants to be outside.

    Linda, It's been a bit weird but I kind of like it. Warm and sunny winters confuse the plants. Perhaps all this winter weather for Texas and the south means a great growing season? We can hope!

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  5. Mmm, I love hyacinth bulbs too. What a great way to have a little spring indoors during the snowy days!

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  6. I'm not sure much is blooming here at all. In the house a few things like Christmas Cactus which is reblooming and some cuttings of Persian shield. I haven't been outside in the yard in days to look around!

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  7. We've been snowed in for the past two days, too, Tina. I think the only people who are happy about this winter are the snowplowing services and the makers of snow shovels. Beckie picked up some of these hyacinths at our local Rural King for $1.25, too, and bought some for me. The only problem is they're still at her house! I'm hoping I can pick them up and put them in vases before spring:)

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  8. Liza, Yes, thank goodness for forced bulbs!

    Dave, It is brrrr cold! Forecast to be so all week too.

    Rose, You and Beckie are so lucky to have a Rural King! I think this is the first time I've heard any one mention it. I tell you I love this store. I had looked for over one year for these vases and then one day in Rural King, there they were. And I think a good bargain. Hope the snow clears so you can go visit Beckie and get your vases!

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  9. Good morning. I'll bet your house smells wonderful. I've never forced bulbs either. Don't know what I would do with them after they bloomed. It would be a shame to throw them away. You can probably plant yours when the snow thaws.
    Marnie

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  10. I didn't force any bulbs this year...but try to always have a few cut flowers to light up these too cold days! This has been a much more brutal winter then we are used to having...spring couldn't come too soon...but I think it won't be this week! gail

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  11. hi , a big bear hugh for you all of Kathrin

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  12. We must be having the winter you've had in the past years.
    I keep seeing snow on the weather map, for everywhere but here. Hopefully your roads will be safe to travel today.
    I've never tried forcing a hyacinth, I looove their smell. What a great deal you got!
    We've mostly got Hellebores blooming and a few other things that are just barely starting to bloom.

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  13. Now you know why I get tired of winter Tina! It doesn't take much snow and I'm done! Hope yours goes away quickly & be careful driving around.

    That is one GORGEOUS photo of your hyacinth bulb!!! I love that light pink color too. I'll have to try to do better photographing mine when they bloom. Also, what a DEAL on the bulb and glass vase. I've never seen them that cheap. Remember I said our nursery carries them? The vases alone are 5 or 6 dollars. I would snap up a couple more if I were you! (and can find them).
    I bet you have tons in bloom next month. All this moisture will make everything sprout up!!

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  14. Sunny here but cold and windy as all get out which will keep me from getting out lol...

    Your blooms are a bright spot for me today. I will be cleaning house and while kicking up dust, thinking of your lovely Hyacinth Blooms. Violet still blooming here but nothing else. Build us a snowman Tina!

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  15. I'm sooooooo glad we didn't get buried with snow again this year - last year was plenty to hold me off for a while. Although I do love maybe just one day of it coming down in all of it's beauty and then disappearing. ;-)
    Your hyacinth is very pretty. Nothing blooming here yet but lots of sprouting going on. Little sprouts everywhere.

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  16. Winter without snow is quite boring.
    Every year the garden is covered with snow for many month, except this year.
    Just a few inches of snow..
    Hope we get more;)

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  17. What a year, right Tina? This winter has been a harsh one, so unlike the ones of recent memory here. Thank goodness for indoor bulbs, your pink hyacinth much bring lots of cheer with that delightful fragrance. I wish we had Rural King! :-)
    Frances

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  18. Ohhhh, I can almost smell that lovely Hyacinths, it is so pretty. You will enjoy the Paper Whites as they are also very pretty.

    Sorry about all your snow but you will have spring before long. Funny cause here I am in Maine with bare ground. Yesterday I went out to the garden house and the garden with just a long sleeve shirt on. My Forsythia's are ready to have some branches cut off and brought in to force them opened but I did'nt get any as I did'nt have my shears with me. I need to go back out and get some to brighten up some spots around the house.

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  19. Hyacinths do smell divine..now will you plant the bulbs outside when they are finished blooming? We have a wintry mix in our forecast for Friday..it is blustery and cold today and will be throught the weekend..

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  20. Happy bloom day!

    Wow, it looks like Maine, only we haven’t had fresh snow in weeks. I’m with Dawn – send the white stuff our way. My kids won’t survive vacation week. My son says that El Nino is blowing the snow your way.

    Forced bulbs indoors help me get through the long winter too. You make me want to try hyacinths. We have narcissus and basil in our kitchen.

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  21. Tina, I haven't talked to a single friend in Maine who isn't a bit jealous of us! In fact, some are nearly outraged!! I keep telling them it's just not the same here...everything shuts down because we don't have the equipment and funding allocations for this kind of thing. They're all like: quit whining. No sympathy from Mainers;-) We are supposed to drive up tomorrow to ski at Sugarloaf. So far, we have more snow in VA than they do...I told my friends we'll drive a dump truck full of it up for them;-) I didn't force any bulbs this year, just the usual amaryllis and paperwhites in the soil that were gifts around Christmas...and they're already done blooming. They were nice though. Yours is pretty. I wish I could smell it...can you send some scent through cyberspace, please?!

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  22. I clicked on your post title thinking of the comment I'd leave . . . something about how nice it would be to have something blooming in February, but not in my garden . . . Your garden looks like mine did last year! This year we have little snow, mostly rain, but still no flowers yet. Maybe some pink hellebores by March blooms day, if I'm lucky :-)

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  23. 49º as I type. Below freezing tomorrow & the weekend doesn't look much better.
    I have a few blooms on my forsythia & some of my snow bells are in bloom. Buds on a couple of my buttercups.
    Regardless of situation of weather Spring is on it's way.
    Tina, how do you force forsythia to bloom indoors? African Violets is all I have blooming in the house. I need to try hyacinths if they would work here.

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  24. Lola, I think you cut some branches that have some swollen buds, bring in the house and put in a vase of warm water. Keep changing the water frequently. The buds should open in the warmth of the house but they have to be at a certain stage-maybe within a few days of opening or so? Not sure. Try it and let us know.

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  25. Tina and Lola, I have brought the Forsythias in for years and I just put them in regular tap water and as the water lowers in the vase I just add more water. Also they can be a few weeks from budding out as long as the buds have started to form. All you need is a small piece of a bud.

    Tina when I read Lola's question I was gonna come and answer it as I knew you had not been home too long so I was surprised to see your answer there already.

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  26. Thanks, I will try that. Will let you know.

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  27. I really like hyacinths. Their fragrance is so wonderful.
    This winter will really go down in the books as a doozey! Am really ready for it to be over!

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  28. Hi Tina~~ You planned your winter very skillfully, having flowers in bloom now, during winter's worst.

    Warning: Advice alert. Take it with a grain of salt. :)

    One thing you can do if the spider mites come back, [or any other pest for that matter] put the entire plant, pot and all in a plastic bag, spray, then close the bag for a day or so. The concentration will get them critters. Stay warm.

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  29. Now there's a bloom full of promise of things to come - eventually! I love the snow in the background.

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  30. This is Michigan. Nothing is blooming here. But we did finally get a good snow cover, and that makes me happy. P.S. I love hyacinths!

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  31. Sorry if the snow is getting to be too much of a good thing over there. What a year it's been for much of the country. I hope spring shows up for you soon.

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