This intrepid Johnny-jump-up persists despite the snow.
A few Johnny-jump-ups (Viola tricolor) sport raggedly blooms amidst the patchy snow. That’s it. That’s more than I’ve had in other years. November was mild; December’s lows have been in the teens (F). Not as bitter as some winters, and violas are tough. There hasn’t been enough snow to smother them.
Inspired by the words of Elizabeth Lawrence, “We can have flowers nearly every month of the year,” Carol of May Dreams Gardens started Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. On the 15th of every month, garden bloggers from all over the world publish what is currently blooming in their gardens, and leave a link in Mr. Linky and the comments of May Dreams Gardens.
About Kathy Purdy
Kathy Purdy discovered the joys of writing in fourth grade, when she started corresponding with a former classmate. She's been writing letters ever since, first on looseleaf, then electronically, and now as weblog entries. That makes you, the blog reader, her pen pal. Her first independent (though frustrating) attempts at gardening were made in high school, though the gardening bug didn't bite hard until her mid-thirties, when she found herself mistress of a rural home on 15 acres. • USDA Hardiness Zone:4 • AHS Heat Zone: 3 • Location: rural; Southern Tier of NY • Geographic type: foothills of Appalachian Mountains • Soil Type: acid clay • Experience level: intermediate • Particular interests: colchicums, narcissus, cottage gardening, NY native plants, gardening with/for children
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
What an amazing plant. All I can see out my window is the desolate calm of snow covered conifers…..hmm. Anyways, happy bloom day.
What a brave and determined little plant that viola is! It’s a great little trooper.
This viola certainly deserves to be the star today! Anything that can brave these cold temps and the snow deserves some notice. I’d be thrilled to see anything blooming right now in my muddy garden.
Twitter: @dlynz
I had a vinca or two a week or so ago, but they seem to be gone now – the birds at the feeder have to be my garden till spring.
It is intrepid! And it’s more than I’ve got here!
That poor little plant, struggling against the snow.
What a tough viola!
Twitter: @suburbangarden
Your Johnny Jumpups are doing better than my Pansies. The snow finally melted off them and they are sad.
Twitter: @gardenofwords
Heh heh-I LOVE THIS! Your garden is totally living up to the “It must snow all the TIME” stereotype! There’s a reason you’re the TOP cold climate gardener!
Twitter: @gardenfix
Hey, you have both more snow and more outdoor blooms than we do up here in Toronto. Yours actually make a pretty pair. Love the way that plants pushing through the snow seem to generate their own little pocket of heat.
Violas are my winter fav. Happy Bloom Day.
Twitter: @indygardener
That lone Johnny-jump up looks nice out there in the snow. I have some pansies that got all soggy in the rain and look more like mush than a plant.