Indoor Successes and Outdoor Slowpokes: Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day March 2013

– Posted in: What's up/blooming
17 comments

The flowers that made an appearance earlier this week during our brief thaw are now covered with snow again. Good thing I took pictures when I had the chance. The only snowdrops up were Galanthus ‘S. Arnott’ which is the earliest one I have. Here are some planted under a Japanese maple at the front of the house by the kitchen porch.

snowdrops

Snowdrops bloom under the Japanese maple.

Out of many corms that I planted, only one winter aconite has emerged. I hope the rest are just a little slower to show up.
winter aconite aka eranthis

These winter aconites are easily viewed from inside.

Here’s something interesting. These are G. nivalis from the secret garden at the old house. It looks like they are exhibiting thermogenesis–creating their own heat.
Snowdrops in snow, snow melted around them

Doesn’t it look like these snowdrops have melted the snow around them?

Indoors, I have two minor miracles. I took cuttings of lantana to winter over, so I could grow it in a container again this coming summer. To my surprise, they are blooming.
lantana in a pot

I am thankful these lantana rooted. I sure didn’t expect them to bloom.

And finally, the amaryllis that I bought in November 2011, which stayed leafy for an entire year before going dormant this past November, is getting ready to bloom.
Amaryllis in bud

I had to wait over a year for this bud on ‘Angelique.’

I can never get an amaryllis to bloom in the dead of winter. They always bloom in March, just when things are starting to perk up outside. By the way, the crocus I planted last fall are coming up. They are mere points sticking out of the ground right now, barely discernible from the dormant grass, but they are there.

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 the Author

Kathy Purdy is a colchicum evangelist, converting unsuspecting gardeners into colchicophiles. She gardens in rural upstate NY, which used to be USDA Hardiness Zone 4 but is now Zone 5. Kathy’s been writing since 4th grade, gardening since high school, and blogging since 2002. Find her on Instagram as kopurdy.

Now, the digging and dividing of perennials, the general autumn cleanup and the planting of spring bulbs are all an act of faith. One carries on before the altar of delayed gratification, until the ground freezes and you can’t do any more other than refill the bird feeder and gaze through the window, waiting for the snow. . . . Meanwhile, it helps to think of yourself as a pear tree or a tulip. You will blossom spectacularly in the spring, but only after the required period of chilling.

~Adrian Higgins in The Washington Post, November 6, 2013

Comments on this entry are closed.

Yvonne March 19, 2013, 7:49 pm

We have nothing outside yet but snow, although I have seen green bulb tips at my neighbor’s.

Carol - May Dreams Gardens March 18, 2013, 9:30 pm

I hope the snow is gone now or rapidly disappearing so you can see some more outdoor blooms, soon!

Donalyn March 18, 2013, 1:14 pm

I’m jealous of your aconites – I planted some a few years and they never made a single appearance. Probably served as an appetizer for the tulips bulbs I wrong-headedly planted that same year. Love that amaryllis – can’t wait to see it open.

Jeffrey Dibble March 18, 2013, 6:56 am

It is fun seeing the spring around the corner. You do have lots of amazing photos.
My personal favourite is the bud on ‘Angelique. Such job to see the labor of your work bear fruit.

Thanks again for sharing.

Charlie March 17, 2013, 11:14 pm

I love your photos, it is so enjoyable to see spring arriving. Thank you for sharing.

Nan Ondra March 17, 2013, 2:00 pm

Wonderful to see your little glimpse of spring, Kathy. Let’s hope it’s reappears soon. You’re so lucky to have the lantana to tide you over: I love the smell of it, and the Fruit-Loops colors.

I really enjoyed your Winter Walk post too; it gives a great sense of the setting for your garden.

Joene at Joene's Garden March 16, 2013, 5:57 am

One of my favorite winter/spring sights is that of bulbs claiming their place within a cover of fallen snow. It just screams determination and your photo shows this perfectly.

Leslie March 15, 2013, 6:24 pm

I love the photo of the snowdrops and the melting snow…what an interesting phenomenon! You have a lot of blooms and I am sure you appreciate them even more after your cold winter!

Alana March 15, 2013, 5:53 pm

I didn’t know about plants giving off heat to melt snow, either! I didn’t know that lantana could root. I did know about amaryllis because that has happened with me, too. Except right now my three are stuck in neutral; none will bloom this March. Too bad we got snow today (even here in Binghamton) but hopefully it was only a temporary setback. Happy GBBD from a fellow upstate NY gardener.

Layanee March 15, 2013, 12:33 pm

Oh, I am sorry for your snow but the blooms will be there as soon as temperatures climb. I hope it is soon for your sake.

Alison March 15, 2013, 10:25 am

Brrrr! Your post reminds me of my garden back when we lived in Massachusetts. I hope the rest of your Aconites show up. Kudos on rooting the Lantana!

Frances March 15, 2013, 10:16 am

Hi Kathy, I love those snowdrops generating their own heat! I had no idea there even was such a thing. Your lantana is beautiful, those colors are a perfect pick me up. Good deal on the amarylis, too. That window looks like a very good plant spot.

Rose March 15, 2013, 8:44 am

I love the photo of the snowdrops under the maple tree, especially with all the snow cover around, and the one of the snowdrops “melting” the surrounding snow. They both seem to say that spring will be here one of these days, no matter what Mother Nature throws at us. Congratulations on the lantana! I’ve never tried to overwinter any of mine, but your blooms certainly are cheery.

Carolyn March 15, 2013, 8:08 am

Don’t you love gardening surprises? I do! And your post highlights some sweet ones. I enjoyed your post! We’ve had snow on the ground since mid-December and yesterday the last of it melted. Wisdom tells me snow may fall again, sometimes we have snow in April. Thankfully the gardens adapt and so do we.

Donna@Gardens Eye View March 15, 2013, 3:37 am

Kathy we had a bit of a yield as well until it snowed again with bitter cold and wind…the first day of spring looks much like yesterday…winter….hoping for spring soon.