Garden Bloggers Bloom Day for February 2020

I am a day late for Gardener's Bloom Day (hosted by May Dreams Gardens) but I was busy yesterday working for the coroporate beast.  But frankly, there isn't too much to share. The crocus, just planted last fall, is on the rise and a sure sign of spring. This week promises to bring temperatures in the 50s and sunny days. I know a lot of gardeners around here are going to be very happy.

People think it rains here a lot but here is the way it is and this is fairly typical - this morning was sunny and bright and as we were out having breakfast and doing errands, I kept thinking "I really should be in the garden". After we arrive home, it suddenly gets very dark with ominous clouds on the horizon. Suddenly, it starts pouring rain, an event that lasts all of 4 minutes. Then, the sun appears again, and the garden is a sodden mess. That has happened twice already today but overall, it is mostly sunny.

The hellebores continue to be astonishing. I vow to plant more -

 

The manzanita (Arctostaphylos) is also doing well. The blooms are so tiny that you don't really notice them unless you are right up on them. The bush is also still quite small -

Another shrub with very small flowers is the Sweet Box (Sarcococca). It is supposedly very fragrant although I cannot detect the scent -

The Lily-of-the-Valley or Andromeda shrubs (Pieris) are the showiest shrubs in the garden at the moment. Here are two -

Pieris 'Passion Frost'

 

Pieris 'Valley Rose'

 One of the camellias is budding out. This is 'Mathotiana" -

 

Vinca 'Illumination'

 Not 100% sure, but I think this is Anenome nemerosa 'Royal Blue' which came from Far Reaches Farm -

 The Strawberry Tree (Arbutus) is growing very fast and is already about 8 feet tall -

I just remembered that there are also some daffodils blooming out next to the street. I was about to go out and take some shots but guess what? It is coming another shower.

 
Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy