Got the wintertime dead grass/garden blahs?

A delightful happenstance...grin. My MIL had a lot of the coral/peach varieties. Now if they will all just bloom this year I might get a few named...if not, no biggie. I grow for my eye and am not necessarily concerned if i do not have a cultivar name. For those without names, I call them things like "Prissy Girl NOID" or "Fred NOID"....grin

DH took me to a daylily farm closeby and I went through and picked the colors I liked and of course, they tagged them for me, but I had to go to the bargain basement for my plants -- and some of the older ones are just as beautiful as the new introductions, which are way out of my reach. Now there are so many crosses that look very close with different names. I don't think even the experts can keep them straight! I just go for the look (on the ones I can afford). This is one of my favorites, and is a NOID. DH gave this to me for our anniversary several years ago. When I asked on the daylily forum about the name, I got several different names and each of them could have been this one.

LOL -- I call that one Anniversary NOID and it suits me just fine!

This message was edited Jan 12, 2010 9:43 AM

For me, that one would be something like "Miss Prissy Petticoat NOID" and we would both be content....grin That is a lovely frilled daylily.

I'm hoping I can get some seed from my favorite ones this year. These are in FL and we only come down periodically in the summer. Last summer, we were "off schedule" and although most of them had seed pods, I wasn't able to gather them. Now I am faced with trying to determine if any of the seed fell closeby and "took" or if I have to start all over this year. We have some iris (not the bearded kind) that throw seed all over, and I find them coming up in the lawn and other unwanted places. My suspicion is that I will not be so lucky with the daylilies. I am careful when I weed the beds -- would be just like me to pull up the good, and leave the bad!!!!!!

Small leaf rhody

The biggest problem with the fancy daylily seeds is that they rarely breed true....but for my own uses I don't really care. I have bearded, siberian, dutch and LA irises, so when something crops up, it takes a while to figure out who it is...grin

How's this for a January surprise? As a complete amateur, I planted a moonvine seed in a pot last summer, and it took awhile to get going in our nasty cold wet weather. It was just starting to look good in September, and since I was pretty sure it wouldn't survive our Zone 5 winter, I brought it inside and had DH put up a shelf in a south-facing window. Lookie what I got in the dead of winter, and more to come!

Great surprise!

Where are my moonvine seeds? Now I have to try this! :o)

Love your January surprise. I am impatiently awaiting my nun's orchid to burst forth. It won't be long now.

spring Is slowly springing! We have all kinds of bulbs pushing up. The ancient Daff's I dug from my grandmothers house, over 20 years ago, are up about an inch. Some blooms are actually poking up all cozy in their Matrix-like bio-pods! This family of Daff's is pushing at least 60 years old, and are always consistent bloomers, despite the weather.
I've also seen the tops of snowdrops, crocus, and elephant garlic!
I also have a wee tiny Columbine seedling that sprouted last fall and could be completely covered with a shiny half-dollar, but looks green and healthy.

Or I guess I should say "looked green and healthy" before Mother Nature saw fit to dump another 15 inches of snow on us Saturday.

this is our second "big snow" this season. 12 inches the Friday before xmas. I know for some of you our accumulations in Central Virginia this year are trivial at best, but for us - we've been seriously dumped on. And I don't mind tellin' ya, I, for one, wouldn't mind seeing like ten more of these snowfalls! I know it would kinda crimp my second season as a 'legitimate' gardener if this weather continues, bu isn't it fascinating to watch the earth do it's thing?

By the way, I'm pretty sure the winter blahs would not at all lead to rambling on on an internet gardening forum! :-)

And Robins - yeah, Robins. my girlfriend saw them too, so I know I'm not crazy!

We had robins in our yard about a month ago. A dozen? Maybe? All foraging in the neighbors apple tree. They stayed a few days and then moved on.

A long ramble due to lack of gardening is typical at our house! LOL

Can't wait to see everyone's flowers again. I saw some green stuff while clearing out dead stuff in the front garden yesterday. I forgot to look at the side bed to see if the tulips are poking their little heads yet. I'll do that later.

These should be ready next month.

Mine are already blooming, woo hoo!!!

This one is not true to color for some reason but I wish it were. Man, if we really had petunias this shade of blue I'd be in heaven. They are actually called blue, but to my eye they are a dark purple.

Flower, I have some that color, too. You're lucky they're flowering now.

KcsM, how pretty!

Thank you kwanjin- I'm pleased to turn that compliment right back at ya, I believe I was just drooling over some of your yellow roses this morning.

I'm pretty sure at least that they were yours, I've been making lots of tracks through DG lately. Think I'll go check, wouldn't mind seeing them again.....found em, yep, you've got some great roses!

Here's a Morden Sunrise, I just love them they are so easy.

Greetings from SC
Have the "hope it doesn't get to crazy weather blues" it went from mid 50 yesterday, got out and knocked around the yard a little and did some pruning but mostly just spent time outdoors. Today it is mid 30s and have been watching snow flakes fall through my window.
Saw signs of spring yesterday; bees, birds, lilly shoots, camelia buds, etc.... but with the crazy weather we have had this year I hope that a late freeze, still a good 2 months before we are out of danger, doesn't "rain on my parade". On the positive side we have gotten a lot of moisture all winter long and the lake is finally at full pool and the thought of starting the year in a drought is gone.

After reading your posts and looking at the pictures I am ready to really get to know my new to me yard and garden.

When did you acquire your gardens, Nwylie? I, for one, would like to get to know them, too!

KcsM, Those are my GOlden Showers. They perform very well for me. I love them. Your Morden Sunrise is gorgeous. I may have to try that one. Do you know how they would do in Z5?

Here's my Betty Boop.

kwanjin - gorgeous!

You & I are in the same zone. Zone 5.

More sunny gardens -

I'm still half asleep, so...Duh! I should have looked. LOL

That's beautiful!

Kwanjin, we bought our house in September but di not move in until November. Previous owner had a green thumb but not all of the choices thrill us. We have vowed to watch and learn this year to see what grows and what we like. Previous owner liked Ivy which I hate so I know those beds will need some work. Since we have never seen the yard in spring or early summer we are anxious to see what we will see. This is the first Neighborhood we have lived in our other houses were country with neighbors measured in miles not feet so this "city" gardening is a fun change of pace.

Grab your camera Nwylie. The easiest way to keep track of the spring/summer/fall new garden is with pictures. You can mark bulbs and hostas and other things as they come up and keep track of what is where and what needs to move, etc. Congratulations on your new "city garden".

Thanks themoonhowl, we have been taking pictures and I have started both a DG Blog and Journal, along with a good old fashion calendar from a local garden center, just like grandpa did. We are having more fun and I am finding that I really enjoy city life and a city garden. Being outdoors is just plain good for the soul. Nick

As my Granny used to say, a day in the garden is good for what ails you. Hope it all continues to bring you much joy. Jean/Moon

I have irises :) they are poking up about 2 inches! if we get another freezing snap should I cover them with leaves?

Mojoquilter you're killing me, temps are still in the teens here lol we have a ways to go before Spring!

Mojoquilter - I doubt it's necessary. We in northern Indiana have several late freezes/frosts and I have never seen an Iris bloom or plant cold damaged. However it may depend on the type of iris it is. Sooooo, cover em up if it makes you feel less concerned, it sure won't hurt anything.
We here keep stacks of old sheets handy, use em every year!

Kwanjin & Flowerjen: Love the pics of your hellebores. I don't get to see mine in AR until we get back there in April.

My Hellebores are not blooming yet but the Irises are poking their heads! LOL

Good for you, Nick. Your camera is your friend. I planted some new stuff last fall and now I've forgotten where I put them. Now, I have to rely on my camera to make a record for next year. I should start a journal. I spend so much time here, it would be logical.

More sunny gardens-

kcs_Mom: Oooooooh beautiful!

Can't wait for our azaleas to burst forth this spring. They are full of buds.

This message was edited Feb 8, 2010 2:41 PM

Oh my gosh, Jean that is fantastic! I am trying some rhododendrons this year as azaleas are border-line hardy here. I can't wait to see what they do!