Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - February 2010

For Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day in January, I had nothing. Literally, nothing. It was embarrassing.

I'm a little better off this month. I do have a few blooms and some soon-to-be blooms to share. So let's get right down to business.


Uh...yeah. I haven't completely lost my mind. I know this ornamental kale isn't a bloom, but it is sort of bloom-shaped, don't you think? And I'm stretching the definition of "bloom" just about as far as I can this month.


And if I include the purple kale, of course, I must include the white, as well.


My 'Ice Follies' daffodils have been promising me blooms for days now. I was just so sure they would be open by Bloom Day. Well, the joke's on them, because they get included anyway!


Here's another late bloomer. A really late bloomer. I purchased this amaryllis to bloom for the end of the year holiday season. Obviously, it was confused about which holiday it was supposed to show up for and it opened, finally, just in time for Valentine's Day!


I've tucked in violas anywhere I can in the yard, just because I love them so. These greet visitors at my front door.









Who could resist this sweet little face?









Or this one?



These violas snuggle up next to the 'Coral bells' heuchera in the shade garden.



The colorful snapdragons by my garage door have helped to lift my mood on some of the gloomiest of days.



The Carolina jessamine would normally be in full bloom by now, but this year it is keeping those buds closed tight just a little bit longer until it is absolutely sure that the coldest weather has passed.



In the veggie garden, some of the arugula is beginning to bolt and go to bloom and the bees are very grateful. Considering the sharp, somewhat bitter taste of arugula, you wouldn't necessarily expect the bees to go for its blossoms, but you'd be wrong. They love them!



I really like this yellow kalanchoe that blooms in my back porch planter. What a cheery color, and goodness knows, we need all the cheer we can get these days.



Back in the veggie garden again, the snow peas are still lifting their pretty little white blossoms on the trellis.


I don't know this camellia's varietal name but I love it just the same. It never fails to make me smile.



The blueberry blossoms are not quite fully opened yet, but close enough for this Bloom Day. They hold the promise of spring to come in their half-opened blossoms.



This is the bloom that I have the most of in my garden at the moment - henbit! It is a pernicious weed, but it is actually kinda pretty when it blooms. I might as well say that, because I'm never going to be able to get rid of it.

By the time next Bloom Day rolls around, we will have almost made it to the magical date of the vernal equinox. Spring, glorious spring! It can't come soon enough for me.

*~*~*~*~*

Check out the links to other Bloom Day participants at May Dreams Garden. You'll see some much more floriferous gardens than mine and I'll bet you won't see one of them that had to resort to featuring a picture of henbit!