This is my first Garden Blogger's Bloom Day post from my new house!! I don't even care if it's February and the past 20 years of garden neglect have made for very few blooms, this is the start of something very special for me. This incredibly mild winter has confused the bulbs just enough that I have a few things to show.
If you are new to my blog,
here's the story of my why I'm loving living in my Great Grandmother's cottage house. If you are new to Garden Blogger's Bloom Day, please visit
Carol at May Dreams Gardens for a full list of participating bloggers. It's so neat to see what is blooming around the world, and it's a great way to get ideas for plants to put in your own garden!
First up is one very confused bush that I have yet to identify. There are two in what will become by patio space. I know they are not supposed to be blooming yet, and I hope the inevitable hard freeze doesn't do too much damage. These are just one species of plant that I will write down the name this spring, when I take a walk around the property with my grandmother.
Next come the resilient daffodils. In the 20 years since my great grandmother passed away, there have only been one, possibly two, times when the garden has gotten any serious attention. I knew the daffodils would survive, but I didn't know how many there would be, or
where they would be. I'm beginning to find out!
The neat thing about my new-to-me yard are the surprises. My great grandmother died when I was 9 years old, and the only time I visited the house before I moved in this past Thanksgiving was when the house was renovated in winter of 2001. So I am familiar with my great grandmother's style, but not exactly what she planted.. This is going to be a fun spring :)
My first surprise was not what I consider a good one. Call me weird, or young, or something, but I am not a fan of irises. They are gorgeous when they bloom, but I think the leftover foliage is stark and ugly. It's also very tough, which is great for the plant, but doesn't biodegrade easily and leaves an unsightly mess. I'm all about low maintenance plants, and I haven't found a good way to make irises low maintenance. I was not thrilled about seeing a clump of irises come up, but at least they are off to the side of the driveway, and not front and center. If anyone has any other thoughts or feelings please let me know. I'd like to have a better attitude towards irises.
The best surprise so far has been the discovery of hyacinths! I've never grown them, and I think they're so pretty & colorful. The interesting thing is the fact that they are in a a very unexpected place. The center of my circular driveway. This garden is edged with hedges, and has a large bush in the center as a focal point. Most of the interior of the circle is moss, and these bulbs are popping up through the moss in one corner. I am so curious about what else will pop up when spring really arrives!
I hope you have enjoyed these first blooms in my new yard. It's going to be such a fun spring!!
