What's blooming in January?

Love this time of year when stuff peeks out!

Pixy, I think tagro would be a wonderful contribution to ammending your soil. We top dress with it regularly, and the plants just thrive.

Lynn, I so think you should have yours delivered. You go through so much, and it would mean one less shoveling. The neighbors would not complain...the pile doesn't smell any more than it does when you spread it out...as a matter of fact, it is worse when you spread it. Fortunately, the smell doesn't last for very long! We always have the 10 yard dump as it is tough to get anything bigger up our hill. It is such a joy to have a surplus to be able to used whenever you want to (potting in the spring, moving plants, etc.). I think that the truck on your driveway should be fine if he stays in the center and not on the edges. Just make a place for him to dump it where he can go in headfirst and then turn around in front of the shop.

Lynn, I haven't even looked at the site to decide yet. I'll probably get 10 yards because I know I can use that right away. Yep, you can't beat the delivery fee.
I agree with Julie about the smell. And it dissipates very quickly. If the neighbors complain, maybe they'd like to try some on their lawn or gardens.

And besides, don't forget the massive stink that they inflicted on you guys with whatever that was at the end of summer. I would take tagro any day!!!

My miniature iris popped open today. Wish my camera was not on the fritz...I'd post a pic and get a more positive ID on it. Camera is in the shop, they will try to fix it for $40. With my luck, it will cost me $40 to find out I need to spend $200 on a new one. Aargh.

Speaking of Hamamelis: http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=368


I hope this link works. I was so disappointed to read that it is not an easy plant to root.

I think that's why they can be a bit pricey.

Katye, I found that site too before I sent the cuttings to Sofer, but what the heck... needs pruning right now, so I would rather try and fail than just toss the cuttings. I also am making a note to try the cuttings from Arnolds Promise again in late summer when it needs it's haircut again, and also might get the courage to try air layering a piece for fun. I just love these shrubs, and would jump for joy if I managed to start even one!

A few blooms from inside and out. I had promised myself that I would cut some of my "Pink Dawn" viburnum and bring it inside, but kept forgetting (or not motivated to visit the edge of my gully in the dark) but finally did and I must advise anyone who grows it to do this. It smells so heavenly, and this tiny little boquet filled my little house with it's fragrance!

And I didn't get a really good "distance" picture as I had dogs nudging me as I was trying to take it, but Ivory Prince is in full bloom. I love this hellebore as you don't have to lift him up to see his lovely face!

A closer pic of H. Ivory Prince....

Oh, he is stunning. I want him. I must have him. Yes, I will look for his brother or baby.
I just put a couple cuttings of Pink Dawn in the cloner. If it doesn't root, at least the blooms will be fragrant in the GH.

Your 'Ivory Prince" is beautiful too. I saw 'Ivory Prince' at Fred Meyer last week. Really nice ones.

Rut row, I think I might have to go shopping at Fred's tomorrow. I do believe we need milk, and I can't help it if the "Prince" wants to come home with me. It's been a long time since a prince (or toads that claimed to be a prince) have followed me home.

Lynn, IMHO this is definitely a must have hellebore. Mine has gotten much bigger, but hasn't put out any seedlings. If it does, you are welcome to them.

Willow, do you recall where you got your pink marbled leafed hellebore? I think I really really really need to add that one to my collection, especially if it can be found locally!

Julie - I think it's H. lividus - and not so hardy. I lost two last year. But I will try again. They are darling.

http://www.hellebores.org/lividus.html

Heidi at Dragonfly had some last year.

Lynn, I might have some seedlings from my Ivory Prince - though they might be crosses. But they are selling it everywhere (Home Depot had it last spring) and the price is reasonable, so I think you should go for it. It seems to require (and take) quite a bit of sun, probably because it's a cross with a niger. Check out this picture that growin' posted:

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/186227/

How cool would it be to have a stand like that?

Oh My Goodness, that is way too cool.

GORGEOUS!

WOW! That pic is just out of this world!

Kathy, I lost one H. lividus this last winter that had struggled for a couple of years, but I too will try again.. they are wonderful! I had never seen a pink one though. Have not ventured into a garden center yet this spring, but am feeling that I just might have to!

That was a beautiful picture of 'Prince'. Lynn I'm still laughing about your comment on the prince. He is very charming. I found my pink marble at FM also. Thanks for the heads up on losing your's katie, I will be more aware.

H. lividus needs a little more sun and Excellent drainage! It's also a little bit less hardy in our climate. According to the guy at Plant Delights, it's because our summers are not that hot. I thought I had lost one last year, but it struggled back.

So remember last year when many of us went up to Heidi's place and bought tons of hellebores? The ones she bought in bulk from the real Heronswood? Here is that really dark on that they used in their breeding program. I only had a number on it and I bought it in a 5 gallon pot. This is the darkest hellebore I have ever seen in my life. I have to underplant this with something the color of Creeping Jenny that isn't Creeping Jenny. It definitely needs something to make it stand out. I think it's my favorite hellebore today.

More hellebores from last year. This is Kingston Cardinal. I bought several of these and I like them all. My mushroom man is happy with it, too.

And this is Goldfinch. She is hiding behind a large cement leaf.

This one I can't remember the name of. It's on the rear of the berm, under a Yaku rhody.

This one is simply stunning. It's Phoebe, another Heronswood cultivar. The pink is extremely delicate in person. None of these bloomed too much last year so I was really looking forward to them this year.

Another one on the berm.

There are more hellebores, but I'll save them. This is a little hepatica I got at the Seattle Flower and Garden show last year. The color is actually this beautiful periwinkle blue, almost a true blue. I somehow managed to get the butterfly to sit on it while I was trying to make the color right on the monitor. Don't ask me how I did it. My kids bought me a cool photo program for Christmas and sometimes I get into trouble with it. I love it, though.

That is an amazing picture. So pretty. Love the Phoebe too.