Spring Is Emerging

The garden is waking.

I know this doesn't look like much for gardeners in warmer climates. But here in the Northern U.S., the first emergence of spring plants after months of below-freezing weather is truly liberating. Here's a sample of six:



Hellebores (Helleborus orientalis) partnered with a sprinkling of last season's Crabapples.



Alliums (A. giganteum) decorating the warm south side of the house.



Mixed mosses covering a burnt log, with their sporophytes reaching for the sky.



'Tête-à-têtes' backed by larger mixed Daffodils (Narcissus spp.).



Spring Beauties (Claytonia virginica) whirling and spreading under the leaf mulch, preparing to stand and flower.

And Snowdrops (Galanthus spp.) ready to burst after a bath with fresh raindrops.

Happy spring! What's happening in your garden? Consider joining "Six on Saturday" over at Garden Ruminations. Thanks to Jim for hosting!

It All Starts With the Seeds

How about a little game of seed ID? I've numbered seeds from 1 to 9. Can you identify plants that will grow from these seeds? For fun, jot down your guesses and then scroll to find the answers:

No. 1

No. 2

No. 3

No. 4

No. 5

No. 6

No. 7

No. 8

No. 9

Now, check the accuracy of your guesses:

No. 1: Cosmos bipinnatus

No. 2: Dahlia hybrids
(framed by Asters in this photo)

No. 3: Tithonia rotundifolia

No. 4: Verbena hastata

No. 5: Asclepias incarnata

No. 6: Zinnia elegans

No. 7: Lactuca sativa

No. 8: Lalab purpureus

No. 9: Alcea rosea

How'd you do?

I admit: I had to be very careful to keep these seeds and photos organized. I'll be planting all of them, and others, this spring. What seeds will you start in the weeks ahead?

Wordless Wednesday: Buds of the New Growing Season

Join Me at the Madison Garden Bloggers Fling!

Dear Friends:

I'm focusing on hopeful things. In June, gardeners will gather in Madison for the Garden Bloggers' Fling, and I'm on the planning committee! The Fling is a meet-up of garden social media communicators that has been held annually since 2008 (except for a two-year hiatus because of COVID). In addition to garden bloggers, others who can attend include YouTubers, vloggers, Instagrammers, and podcasters...basically, anyone with an online, regularly updated, public outlet for sharing gardening content.

The dates this year are Thursday, June 23, through Sunday, June 26, and you can learn more and register here: Fling registration.

I may be a little distracted in the weeks ahead as we close in on the event.

In addition to Fling planning, my focus now is on the spring garden, my indoor potted plants, and signs of new life, new hope, and new blooms.

Sedum hybridum

Lantana camara 'Bandana Rose'

Gerbera jamesonii

Passiflora incarnata

Tithonia rotundifolia 'Goldfinger'

Oxalis vulcanicola 'Zinfandel'

Because of numerous tasks that surround preparing for a major event, I may not be as present here in the blog space for a bit, but I will visit from time to time, and I will be back and active by midsummer. And I'd love to meet more of you, in person, at the June 22 Garden Bloggers Fling!

Wordless Emergence

Allium 'Globemaster'

Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum)

Daffodil mix (Narcissus hybrids)

Allium 'Ambassador'

Promise

A Flower, Future Flowers, and Fun Foliage

Don't laugh you guys: I have one flower in my "garden" on this Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. I didn't purposely force any bulbs this holiday season and the outdoor garden is sleeping, but my indoor/outdoor Cyclamen (C. persicum) plant is starting to bloom.



Actually, this single, solitary flower has been blooming since early November, in a state of suspended animation in the cool, partially heated sunroom.



Because I only have one flower to celebrate, I snapped several photos of it from various angles. LOL.



I do enjoy the dance of a pretty Cyclamen bloom.



And look! Many buds on this Cyclamen plant bring hope for a floriferous future.



Also, under the roots and foliage of a potted English Ivy (Hedera helix) a pink Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) is budding, too.



Speaking of English Ivy, this happy accident continues to flourish: Several years ago, I planted a small Spike (Dracaena indivisa) in the middle of a pot, surrounded by annuals and ivy. The Hedera and the Dracaena took over, and I now have a potted tree with pretty understory foliage. (I had trouble photographing this big buddy without moving everything around, so I'm sorry for the washout but you get the idea.)



I need to trim the Draecona, and it scares me to think what the Hedera would do if planted in the soil outside. But I do like this thriving, potted, green, foliage thing that I can roll out in the summer and bring in for the winter. This pot full of life gives me hope.



I also love this foliage combo: Supertunia Vista Bubblegum Petunia with Lemon Coral Sedum. I smile every time I see it. (These plants were gifts from Proven Winners at the Garden Writers Conference this past summer.) I couldn't let the Petunias perish in the cold; they're simply too pretty, and the foliage combination is too cheery. So, if they survive the winter indoors, they'll bloom again next season.



Finally, the Purple Shamrock (Oxalis triangularis)--also surrounded by the never-ending English Ivy--is another great potted foliage plant. I don't see any Oxalis blooms yet, but it won't be long now, as the days grow longer.



During these dark days of December, the holiday prep and cheery greetings soothe the soul. One flower, future flowers, and fun foliage also brighten my mood.

Thanks to Carol at May Dreams Gardens for hosting Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, and Pam at Digging for hosting Foliage Follow-Up!