January is not my best month for blooms, but I did put in some Hellebores, or Christmas Roses as I call them, in my rock garden, and they're starting to show flowers.
My dad thinks the downward facing flowers on the Christmas Roses are depressing, so he had my mom remove all of hers from the front gardens a few years ago. They were pulled up, and tossed in the woods, where they thrived...which made them perfect candidates to be relocated to my shade, shade, more shade, and sometimes neglected environment.
I tilted this flower up a little so you can see the pretty mauve spots on the inside of the flowers. My grandmother likes to keep the cut blooms face up in floating arrangements. One day when it's especially cold and yucky outside, I'll have to do this as a reminder that spring is eventually coming.
The other flowers I have blooming I picked up by chance at our local Ace Hardware with some pansies. (I saved the tag, but will have to come back later to identify it. They start with a C, but that's all I remember right now) This picture is pretty terrible, but it's nice to have have a little bit of life beside my back door.
 |
| January |
 |
| November |
This is my pond. The normal waterline is to the left of the trees that you see in the photo. Last winter (our rainy season) the waterline rose to the base of the tree that you see second from the left. We're way past that now. What is crazy is that the pond has risen so much in less than a week. We've had a ton of rain in east Tennessee (10"+), and as the water has soaked into the ground, the water table has risen and with it, my spring fed pond. This picture was taken 1/15/13 around 2pm, and by 5:30pm the water had risen to the point where I had to move my benches (again). They're now sitting at the base of a hill, and if they float away, I have bigger problems than replacing a bench!
Happy Belated Bloom Day Everyone! If you'd like to see more of what is blooming around the world, please visit Carol over at May Dreams Gardens.
Cyclamen?
ReplyDeleteHappy Bloom Day.
That's exactly right!!
DeleteEmily, I need you to come to my house! Seriously, I know my way around the kitchen but my yard is a WRECK (no exaggeration). I've had people request a series about organic vegetable gardening on Chattavore but we always joke that we have "black thumbs" and we definitely fight a losing battle with weeds. I need to go back and read some of your older gardening posts...and I look forward to seeing what you post in the future!
ReplyDeleteIf you ever need any help let me know. I've had great luck with heirloom tomatoes and other veggies in pots!
DeleteHellebores are lovely aren't they? I don't mind that their heads droop. I think there are some varieties of Hellebores that hold their heads up - ask at your local garden center.
ReplyDeleteRain here in north Mississippi, too. About 7 inches in the last week. And the temps dropped quickly from mild to freezing. I keep telling myself we need all the rain because last summer was so dry.
Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!
Lea
Lea's Menagerie
Sorry for the late Reply Lea, I've been out of town. This rain has been crazy. We're starting to dry out, but some of my drains are clogged with leaves, so I still have standing water :(
DeleteI hope you're getting some relief!
At least your blooms are living... we're deep deep in Winter here so my GBBD contribution was a bit unique.
ReplyDeleteI'm envious of your snow. Hopefully we will see a little in southeast Tennessee this year!
Deletehow pretty the pond is...
ReplyDeleteIt is pretty, but I'll be happier when it's not covering my driveway!
Delete