Tuesday, February 15, 2011

February Bloom Day

February is just flying by--a good thing, since it's my least favorite month of the year.  Here it is the middle of the month already, which can only mean one thing: time for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!

I'm almost embarrassed to show my few meager "blooms" this month, but here goes anyway:



There are still a few blooms on the little kalanchoe,
an impulse purchase at the grocery store one dreary January day.



But otherwise, all you will see here are "almost" blooms--like this teeny-tiny tentative bloom on the over-wintered impatiens in the spare bedroom.



Or this out-of-focus bud on the Christmas cactus.  This little Christmas cactus has been a disappointment so far, and has just this one bloom-to-be.  Maybe it's a Valentine's cactus?  A Saint Patrick's cactus??



I've decided that forcing hyacinths indoors requires more patience than I realized.  All three bulbs sitting in vases show some green growth at the top, but this is the only one with roots stretching for moisture.  Maybe I'll have indoor hyacinths at the same time as the outdoor hyacinths bloom:)



Much more promising, though, is the almost-bloom of the amaryllis.  I won't complain at all that it's not blooming, since I completely forgot about it till mid-January when I rescued it from its hiding spot in the garage.  It's been growing like crazy ever since and should open within a week, I would think.


I know this is a pretty pathetic collection, but the garden outside is still covered with snow and you won't find anything at all there.  But the good news is, it's warming up and the snow is melting!!

By the time the next Bloom Day rolls around, we will be only a week away from spring, and there is a hope that we just might have something outdoors blooming.  For now, though, be sure to check out other gardeners' blooms by visiting our hostess,  Carol at May Dreams Gardens.


37 comments:

  1. Definitely NOT pathetic Rose! ANY blooms in the midwest in February are a bonus. You have blooms and buds, and they're all lovely. Happy Bloom Day!

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  2. Nothing pathetic here - just the remnant that reminds us of the bountiful days to come! I've never tried overwintering impatiens, but yours looks healthy and even sports a little bloom. It's cold again here today in CT, but they say warmer weather is making its way east...

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  3. Kalanchoes always look cheerful to me. Thanks for reminding me not to overlook the grocery store plant display! Spring starts in 33 days, 8 hours and 25 minutes.

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  4. Hi,

    Beautiful blooms and photos!
    Any blooms at this time of year are always welcome, not to worry if your garden is still asleep, it will soon wake up :)

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  5. Hi Rose, I do not like February......it can be such a dull and drear month.
    Spring will soon be here, it is not that far away.

    Lovely to see your indoor plants.....any blooms at this time of year is pure joy.

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  6. Give yourself a break! This is not pathetic by any means!! I have never gotten my Christmas cactus to bloom. Granted, I don't move it or give it cooler temperatures and less light so that probably has something to do with it...

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  7. Nothing pathetic about beautiful flowers and flowers-to-be. Also no need to apologise for the fact that Spring hasn't arrived in your garden yet - although I hope the snow melts (gently without flooding) and reveals lots of beautiful Spring delights outside to complement your indoors show.

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  8. You have more blooms than I have, Rose! Roll on March, though.February seems a bit dull!
    Maggie X

    Nuts in May

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  9. Oh, dear, your hyacinths are even farther behind than mine! Next year, we need to get some early-blooming varieties. At least you have the promise of blooms, even if they aren't ready just yet.

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  10. You are doing better then me in the bloom department. I have zero blooms right now. Big Buds on Daffodils so soon I will be surrounded by blooms...

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  11. Any blooms are a treat Rose! When I was forcing my hyacinths I added water to the base of the bulb. You might add a bit and a granule of fertilizer to the water to help with its growth. Nonetheless, the blooms were nothing like they are in the garden but the scent is still there so you'll be delighted even though they take a lot of patience. Can you say rambleon sentence? Gotta get outside...Have a good day.

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  12. Hi Rose. Your header snow scene looks like that here quite a bit. The trees get a fresh coat almost daily. Thanks for visiting. I am like you and have overwintering coleus and impatiens in the bedroom too. Gardeners always seem to overtake the house in the off season. My husband is never to fond of this either.

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  13. Great to see your photos from snowy IL. I am in snow-covered Pennsylvania, but the temperature suddenly shot up and I managed to find some flowers outside. Happy GBBD, Carolyn

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  14. I was hard-pressed as well to find something for GBBD. That Amarylis is just bursting with potential. I can't wait to see it bloom. I had one bloom last year just in time for Valentine's day. I did not plan it that way....it was really late for Christmas I guess.

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  15. Yay for the warmup! It's been sunny and warmer here too. I must be getting spring fever. Every morning for the past few days, I've been waking up before the alarm goes off, and today I couldn't keep away from the dazzling seed display at Wal-Mart. It drew me like a magnet.

    I love that amaryllis. It's got spunk.

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  16. Very pretty! Anything blooming this time of year is a great blessing in my mind. Stay warm!

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  17. Hello Rose,

    Well, you do certainly have quite a bit going on in the cold month of February. I hope spring is on its way and that the snow will not come back.

    I can't wait to see what you have blooming next month :-)

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  18. I think you are lucky to have these blooms Rose. They should give you hope for the coming season. Happy GBBD.

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  19. Rose, it's not all that much better here, as you'll see from my post. Here's to better days to come!

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  20. I am jealous that your snow is melting. We still have a rock solid carpet of snow here. I find that Kalanchoes make such good indoor plants. They bloom for such a long time. I bet you amaryllis and hyacinth will be lovely when they open.

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  21. Well, your blooms are not nearly as meager as mine this month! I am looking forward to March.

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  22. Glad to hear your snow is melting...been a crazy winter. I like Kalanchoe.... never had one, but love the variety of colors available. I just started some Paperwhites...wonder when they will bloom?

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  23. Hi Rose, love your blooms. My African Violets are blooming & have for a couple weeks. Peach tree is starting to bloom, Grape Hyacinthe, Snow flakes, blue berries & I have ONE daffodil bloom. Hoooray.
    How is your asparagus?

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  24. Hi Rose: Don't be embarrassed. Your blooms are lovely! And sometimes the promise of blooms in a bud just about to burst is as exciting as the flower, itself. Especially with excellent photography like yours. Happy GBBD!

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  25. Absolutely not pathetic Rose, it is lovely to see the blooms and 'nearly' blooms you have there. The Kalanchoe is so pretty and looks so cheerful on my blogroll.

    I am intrigued by your Amaryllis, my sister-in-law always buys one for me as part of my Christmas present (I have never succeeded in keepng them from year to year), she also buys one for herself and then the race is on to see which one flowers first :) I won this year! However, I notice that yours has leaves on, mine never have leaves until after the flower has finished! Could it be something to do with yours being left to its own devices in the garage do you think?

    The other strange thing is that this Christmas someone else bought me one too, it was the same sized bulb from the same store and according to the box will be the same colour but is barely even showing a shoot!! They were both treated in exactly the same way regarding location, water etc. I am quite pleased really though as when the first is over the other will be still to come, it does seem strange though that they have behaved so differently :)

    So glad things are warming up there for you!

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  26. way more blooms than i've got ;) i've had my amarylis for more than a year and still no bloom. once the leaves died i got rid of them and more leaves started popping up. someday, i hope....
    our snow is melting too! exciting huh :D i know it'll be back though. hopefully not so much!

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  27. Oh, this is like the Olympics: Just participating is all that counts. You have blooms, you win!

    Happy bloom day!

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  28. Very pretty blooms. Atleast the month is almost over.
    Cher
    Goldenray Yorkies

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  29. Same here in Maine with all the snow and waiting for spring. Your indoor blooms are lovely. Thanks for sharing!

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  30. Hello Rose. Guess you are back from your visit just in time for spring! I must confess to no blooms inside our home, so I will opt for yours. We only have little green shoots of cabbage, basil, broccoli, salad greens, cilantro... I can't even begin to think about flowers right now. ;)

    I hope you had a great time with your daughter and that you'll be visiting again this summer.

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  31. I'm with the others. Flowers and plants are definitely not pathetic. They brighten up a room or a windowsill.
    I've never been able to overwinter impatiens and I'd love to! Congrats! I also don't have luck with Christmas cactus (oops cacti).

    Never mind, the snow is melting here too. Can't wait for spring!!

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  32. Very beautiful blooms! your kalanchoe looks great! Mine is ourside so no flowers until late spring

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  33. Thanks for the comments, everyone! The grandkids are here for a week, so I've had very little free time to blog these past few days. The Christmas cactus bud has opened, but just one bloom! The amaryllis should blossom any day now.

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  34. Not a pathetic collection. Anything but!
    It gives us fresh hope to see the buds of bulbs and I can imagine the Amaryllis romping away very soon.
    The other house plants look in pristine condition.
    Yes, February is my least favourite month too.
    Maggie X

    Nuts in May

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  35. Lots of promise there Rose!

    It does seem to have been a very long winter here and not much in the way of signs of spring around yet either. We both just need to hang on in there!

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  36. Rose girl how are you !
    My goodness you have way more blooms than I do .. I only have 2 snake plants with a spikey something or other and none have flowers of course .. I may have to break down and buy some blooms to cheer up the kitchen .. erm ? .. my office ??? LOL
    Winter storm warning in affect here .. lovely eh ?? BIG groan !
    Joy : )

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  37. Rose, I bought a pink kalanchoe at the grocery store and gave it to my mother for Valentine's Day. It made her happy, she cried.

    I luv your photo of the almost-bloom of the amaryllis. That's a great shot. Sometimes green is the best color of all.

    donna

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