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What's blooming in your garden?

(38 posts)

Started 3 years ago by cobaltblue
Latest reply from WinerGirl

cobaltblue

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Such a beeyooteeful day today! I finally did some (well, a little) puttering around in the yard and I was thrilled to find so many flowers blooming or about to bloom.

Doing their thing: miniature irises, muscaria, heathers, hellebores, vinca (although I kinda regret planting that invasive thug), crocus, primroses (aka slug salad bars), one (1) daffodil, white currant, and rosemary (which the hummingbirds are going nuts over).

Love these signs of life!

What say you, gardeners? Are we having an early spring, or is this just the February fake-out? And what all is sprouting in everyone's yard, patio, deck or balcony?

(I use too many parentheses) (I know)

Posted 3 years ago #
Kat

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I have a saucer magnolia in my front yard and the flower buds are JUST about there! I"m worried though that if it does get cold, the flowers will die completely (they aren't the most hardy flower) but that is it for me! I was walking around the locks today and it seemed that their daffodils are coming soon!

Posted 3 years ago #
Jack Tar

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Just my pet fern

Posted 3 years ago #
onederfullone

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Big change from last year, hope it holds.
Daffodils were up about 5" when I left last week.

Posted 3 years ago #
allisonw

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Hyacinths are in bud. Golden oregano and chives are looking happy. Dahlias must be smoking crack, because they are up as well.

Posted 3 years ago #
Curtis

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Three varieties of hellebore; one is pure white, one raspberry pink and one almost black purple. There are hundreds of Galanthus...so sweet! My Mahonia Japonica are in full bloom and calling any overwintering hummingbirds. Other than that it is a few pots of Pansies and Violas. My first year here and I have just started delving into the yard, and trying to make it into a garden. First priority will be the kitchen garden!

Posted 3 years ago #
Bamber

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Haha, Allison! Really? Dahlias? This has been such a mild winter...I'm happy to move on to Spring, but I'm waiting for a cold snap or something.

Posted 3 years ago #
msballard30

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Everything! Crocus, bluebells, tulips, etc. It's gorgeous!

Posted 3 years ago #
PlantLover

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Witch hazels, Cyclaman coum, snowdrops, hellebores, hepaticas, Arthur Mensies mahonia, Turkish filbert, Cornus mas. But all of those are early spring plants, so only a little ahead of schedule.

Posted 3 years ago #
Chef Wahoo

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My sage plant is unhappy, but it's had a long life. And my rosemary bushes aren't thrilled with this warmth. But my three chive plants have green shoots happily growing through the brown deadness. My oregano is starting to show a bit of green, which is at least 2mos early. But one of my biggest surprises is parsley (curly) that re-seeded itself in a pot of dormant catnip - doesn't the parsley realize that it's got things completely backwards?? And my tarragon has sent up a dozen shoots in one small pot; I usually get 2-3 at the most. I think of it as "anti-social tarragon", because the more that I neglect it, or otherwise treat it badly, the happier it is. But holy crap, this is unbelievably early.

Alas, my catnip is keeping things very close to the vest. Only a few puny volunteers have sprouted, unusual for a plant that sends babies out to any and all nearby soil, with little thought to their chances of survival. I guess I'd better transplant that poor parsley before the catnip wakes up.

Posted 3 years ago #
Alonzo Neighbor

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Many of the above. It was so nice to get out there and work today. We tore down our old pergola in a prime sunny spot to make room for more veggies and maybe a dwarf fruit tree. We left one side up to use for our pole beans this year. This will be an evolving project. What fun!

Posted 3 years ago #
WinerGirl

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It does seem a bit early, but I wouldn't be surprised if I think that every year. I've got snowdrops and something blue and starry-shaped blooming, hyacinths poking their heads above the earth, daffies and tulips and irises sending up leaves, honeysuckle starting to leaf out. Hellebores blooming. Vinca blooming. Crocus blooming. Quince blooming, too. LOVE seeing all the signs of life out there! :-)

Posted 3 years ago #
rob3rt

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The very nice shrub, Winter Daphne, is out in bloom now.
It's fragrance will bowl you over!

Posted 3 years ago #
SunriseSunset

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All of the above and quince. What a lovely interlude from the usual grey blahs of rain.

Posted 3 years ago #
Gackpoid

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Awww, all I have are cacti and succulents growing inside. One of my succulents bloomed this winter (one that, according to the internet, rarely ever blooms so obviously I’m a genius) but that’s all I can manage to grow.

I am enjoying looking at everyone else’s gardens, though. I saw my first yellow crocus of the year over in Interbay and cherry blossoms in Queen Anne!

Posted 3 years ago #
pennygirl

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My yellow crocus are putting on a good show. I'm now waiting for the purple ones to rear their heads.

I spent the afternoon getting rid of dead nettle and my arch nemesis - Morning Glory.

Posted 3 years ago #
rob3rt

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Oh speaking of dead nettle pennygirl -

Does anyone know of any local patches of stinging nettle?

I'm looking to do some foraging for some wild greens.
I found a very small patch above Golden Gardens last week.
I'm going to try Discovery Park by the ponds tomorrow.

Posted 3 years ago #
Anonymous

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Currently, Daphne odora

Posted 3 years ago #
pennygirl

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rob3rt

The only place I've ever found stinging nettles is Carkeek Park. If you walk west of the (view) car park you will find an area that is very wild. Underneath the blackberry bushes there are stinging nettles. Trust me...I've been stung.

Posted 3 years ago #
stopthebuzz

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weeds

Posted 3 years ago #
pennygirl

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rob3rt,

correction...

West = water. South= stinging nettles :)

Posted 3 years ago #
julesage

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any orchid experts amoungst us? i have a few questions. thank you in advance:)

Posted 3 years ago #
wally

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Rob3rt, it's a little early to forage for nettles. Give it a month or so, so the plants are big enough and healthy enough to handle a bit of foraging. And please don't lop off the whole plant. Take leaves or just the top bit. I know this will sound strange to some, but I'd like to keep the stinging nettle population fairly healthy. More and more folks are learning to forage for them, so I expect it will eventually become more difficult to find them.

They make a great soup. Yum!

Posted 3 years ago #
sunset

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Rob3rt - There's ponds in Discovery Park? How did I miss that. What part of Discovery Park?
In my yard daffodils almost ready to bud out;little snowdrops;;rhodies budding (saw one rhodie in Ballard in complete bloom), honeysuckle growing like crazy;even my black bamboo. And of course - my grass and weeds, weeds, weeds.
Dahlias growing! I'll need to check mine.They are the easiest ever flowers to grow.
And regarding primroses and slugs - I heard (not sure if true) if you put broken nut shells (like walnuts) around them, they don't like it. And please to all of you - do not buy and put down the ground cover that smells like chocolate. It is highly toxic to animals and animals are attracted to it. I know Swanson's sells it.

Posted 3 years ago #
julesage

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wally: my friend & i just made nettle soup this past year. it was YUM!!!

Posted 3 years ago #
PlantLover

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I think most of the ravines in NW Seattle have nettles. Check the one across from the elementary school on 24th - it is a city park and I have seen them there.

Just noticed that my purple leaved plum flower buds are showing pink. That is WAY early for it - usually in March. But it is just a few buds and if we get some colder weather it may go back to usual.

Some rhodies flower this time of year, so that may be normal.

Posted 3 years ago #
julesage

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sunset: chocolate? oh dear. thanks for telling folks about it as i am sure it will be disasterous for any dogs that try to lick or eat it? Do you know what is in it? Thanks for the warning.

Posted 3 years ago #
rob3rt

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Thanks for the tip pennygirl and plantlover!

Hi Wally - Yes! Do not over harvest!!
I've been foraging for some 20 years and I do have good principles for wild gathering.
Just snip the tops 2-4" down, and don't take all of them!

That said, nettles are pretty hardy. I've tried to grub out large stands of them for crop planting.
Never phased them really. The roots make great fiber twine!

Try just steaming the greens for 3-5 minutes, that way you get more nutrition than from boiling them.
The sting will be gone after a minute or so of full steam.

Nettle tea will help many of those with plant allergies.
It truly is a wonderful plant.

Urtica- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinging_nettle

Sunset- The ponds at Discovery are on the north side of the park.

Posted 3 years ago #
eric

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i've got helebores, re-generating parsley, bleedheart stalks coming up, some lilly greens, and little buds on anything dormant for winter.

have begun getting my soil ready for some early seeds, and made a cheap cloche (sp?) cover this AM. i've had two "seasons" at current house and am determined to get a full yeild this year! i've done ok, but i definatelt know the sun angles in my yard now and that is a major issue.

happy gardening y'all!

Posted 3 years ago #
sunset

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Julesage: chocolate. It's cocoa mulch. I came very close to buying it - in fact going out to Swanson's the next day - luckily I saw on TV about the hazards of this to pets. It can be fatal.
I 'solved' the problem of earwigs crawling up containers, chaise lounges to get under pillows - is there a non-toxic way of getting rid of them permanently - something I can put on the grass. Also how to get rid of those darn little ants that live under my sidewalk and come up through the cracks and sides. I don't want to use anything toxic because of my darling dog and neighbors cats.

Posted 3 years ago #
eric

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anyone ever try growing potatoes in bins/containers? i've heard it works well and is good way to save space in the garden...any hints or advice?

Posted 3 years ago #
BriarRose

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julesage what are you looking to find out about orchids? I am no expert but have had surprisingly good luck.

Posted 3 years ago #
pennygirl

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sunset...

ants - boiling water/dead or black pepper/relocate

Posted 3 years ago #
julesage

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re:orchids. they look so green and healthy with little buds but they will NOT bloom for me. ever. what am i doing wrong? My boss has like 6 orchids that she totally ignores and they could not be more beautiful blooming often. go figure. ideas to help me? thanks folks.

Posted 3 years ago #
rob3rt

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Hi eric,

Potatoes in containers work great!
Tips are to keep the soil evenly moist, not to let it dry out.
Pre-sprout or chit your spuds before planting, or buy seed potatoe.
Try searching growing potatoes in containers for more info.
Potatoes are great!

here is a link that has a potatoe "condo"!
just right for old and new Ballard- don'cha think?

http://www.gardenfreshliving.com/2009/06/the-building-of-a-potato-condo.html

Posted 3 years ago #
BriarRose

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Jules my guess is they need more humidity. I have always done well by placing them in a large are with lots of other plants. I have had a few buds dry up when they sat alone.

What kind do you have? I have done best with the Oncidium type but currently have two Phalaenopsis types in bloom and one putting on buds.

I have mine is nearly all day light with a southern and western exposure but my first success was on a north facing screen porch in New Mexico. I had many tropicals on that porch and watered daily with a hose totally soaking the floor and all.

Remember how they grow naturally. High humidity and exposed roots and no real soil.

Posted 3 years ago #
julesage

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i think you are on to something with the no soil. my boss is from hawaii and hers are basically just a ball of roots sorda. and gorgeous. THANKS so much for the info. i will check the type mine are and let you know. i am going to move them around a bit after reading this.

Posted 3 years ago #
WinerGirl

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Hey Eric, you can try Ciscoe Morris's technique for container potatoes ... sounds pretty easy, although I've not tried it myself.

http://www.ciscoe.com/garden/topics/potatoes.html

Posted 3 years ago #