Friday, January 6, 2012

Thank God its “Fertilizer Friday”

 

Okay then, a new year and the first Fertilizer Friday of the year.
The problem is that here in the usually frozen north there is nothing happening in the garden…… or is there?

FeverFew_Jan 
The snow has been melting since it is a balmy 58 degrees outside.
So I grabbed the new Canon compact camera that my daughter gave me for Christmas to carry in my purse and took it out to try to find what was under the snow. Needless to say me and the new little camera are not speaking because everything was a little out of focus. Never fear I will get the hang of it someday in the future and we will be great friends.
Anyhow I spotted the Feverfew in the side bed was still green. I just planted it this fall so I am wondering if it stays green throughout the winter?

Ajuga_Daffodils_Jan
The Ajuga “Burgundy Glow” is a little smashed from the snow but the foliage at least has some color. Do you see the Daffodils and  Grape hyacinths trying to come up? The mild winter has them all confused but I like it because I just hate winter and the cold.

Hyacinth_Jan
Lo and behold I even spotted a hyacinth trying to come up where the sun hits the bed here in the mornings. Weird happenings here in the garden in the hills. Some of the bulbs think it is spring already. I could only wish it so.

Pansy_Jan
After removing the pine decorations from the window boxes the Pansies that were growing there are trying to solider on.

Pansy2_Jan Bless their droopy little heads. Last January they were a goner already because it was a brutal month.

Hellebore_Jan
This one I am proud as punch about… the Hellebores have buds for the first time since I planted them. I am holding my breath hoping that nothing happens to them before this bud opens.
I even saw some of the rose bushes were trying to bud again.
Just not right folks!
Other than these few everything else is pretty well dormant for the winter.
Since it was a beautiful day I got the oak leaves cleaned out of the pond for the ??? time so far and I got the salt washed off of the car and got her all cleaned up.
I am trying to get together my seed orders but it has been hard to make up my mind about what I want to start indoors this winter. I know you all do not have that problem. No doubt I will have to set myself down and tell myself to “focus Lona”  and “get r’ done”.

Thanks to our gal Glenda at “Tootsie Time” for sponsoring Fertilizer Friday to flaunt these many (2) blooms. LOL! Join us in Flaunting Your Flowers.

Fertilizer_Friday
She is one busy lady getting ready to move into a new home and we are all routing for her.

Happy Gardening,
Lona

30 comments:

Gardening Under The Influence said...

We have had a very mild winter, so far. But the first of the week gave us a few days which diden't inch out of the 30's. Today it is 64. Some over eager shoots are going to get a rude awakening.

Unknown said...

We've had the same odd winter here in NJ too. Sedums have a ton of new growth and the snowbell bulbs are peeking out. I'll take the warmer weather though!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Wow, this is amazing! I took my greens from the pergola and laid them over my new heuchera plants on the north side, they are so exposed. My worry now is that we will get bitter cold weather without the snow.

Eileen

Terra said...

Tootsie is a dear.
I recognized the feverfew, since it is a volunteer in our garden, and I think the flowers are pretty and dainty. My bulbs are confused too, and popping their green heads up.

Anonymous said...

Hi Lona,

My Feverfew still has blooms on it this year - it does seem to be rather hardy although I know in recent years where we've had unusually large amounts of snow it does die away and then comes back in spring.

I'm glad to see you have your first Hellebore blooms - I've been buying them like a mad woman this year and now have a good number of them. I recently bought 'tutu' a few days ago :)

elaine said...

Feverfew does seem to keep green all year round Lona - mine is still in flower. My pansies also are a little battered but they are hardy little things aren't they and hopefully will get bigger and better as the weather eventually warms up. I am sure you will perfect your picture taking with your new camera with plenty of practice.

Jean Campbell said...

Some plants are just plain tough. I went out and surveyed what survived 23 degrees. Winter weeds top the list.

Karen said...

Hi Lona,
Same thing here too, about 43 degrees and the snow is melting everywhere. So far I haven't seen any bulbs trying to come up, though.

I took all the Christmas decorations down and stowed them away today which is a pleasant change from usual when I'd have to wait until April for the extension cords to appear from under the ice again.

We'll see what happens next, you just never know with weather. And I haven't gotten my seed orders in either. Can't seem to get in the mood. Love your pictures of the pansies, ah, color!

Sandy said...

Your new camera takes very nice shots! I'm in the west coast of Florida and we went to 27' the other night (unusual for us) and I had to bring in all my potted plants. My banana trees were burnt and my one new papaya froze.. but we will be back to 70 tomorrow!
Nice post!
Sandy

Sunray Gardens said...

They sure are confused. I haven't had time to go out and look at anything trying to peek through. You're liable to have blooms outside before the ones you did inside this year. :)
Cher Sunray Gardens

HolleyGarden said...

I have some things starting to pop up, too. Isn't it exciting? But I worry about them getting caught by a late cold snap. I'm hoping winter decides to either come or go!

Beth said...

Pretty pansies, and fantastic header photos! Makes me think of spring!

Becca's Dirt said...

Yes the plants are confused. I have begonia's and geraniums blooming. It's crazy. I'm thinking an early spring but not before we have just a weeeee little bit of winter. How's that. good job with the camera too.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Lona Girl !
You are so right about this NOT being RIGHT .. we have so little snow in the GWN it is scary and I am so worried about how many plants I am going to lose because of this freaky weather .. I almost checked on my hellebore but I am seriously afraid to .. there is the normal foliage for this time of year but the bed is probably too dry. EEKKKKK !!!
I checked on the Ketchup & Mustard rose and WOW !!! that is amazing !
You have to get it girl .. I need to see how it does in your garden !
Your blog is so pretty and fresh looking .. I have to work on mine and bring it up to date too .. it may take a while .. I am working in "snail" mode .. or is that hibernating mode ? haha
Joy : )

Anonymous said...

The winter has been a little 'off' now hasn't it?

Indie said...

We, too, are having a very mild winter in NC. It's been very enjoyable! My poor plants are very confused, though..

RURAL said...

There is nothing growing here, snow covers the land, and I can't even find any decent cut flowers for inside.

So to see your shots of growing plants is even more wonderful. Bring spring on.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

jerilanders said...

There sure are "weird happenings in the garden". I have bulbs coming up everywhere, many of my herbs are still growing, despite some freezing in the past few weeks.
I love the gorgeous header you have created, simply beautiful!

Cally said...

Lovely to see things coming to life already. I'm a gardener in Scotland but my borther moved to Ohio (Mentor) so I'm interested in watching Ohio gardeners to see what works there so I can advise him better on what he could grow (he's not very green fingered but I hope to change that).

I'm spending the evening on garden blogs to persuade gardeners to join Folia, the free gardening website. It's be great to get more Ohio gardeners on there, there weren't very many last time I looked. It's a great resource for gardeners and has helped me keep on top of my 800+ plantings with photo's, notes, journals, milestones etc. They have an extensive plant wiki and a seed stash section where people can also list seeds for swapping. Here's the link to my Folia page so you can see how it works and hopefully be tempted to sign up and share your gardening adventures: www.myfolia.com/gardener/CDfolia/invite.

Unknown said...

We're having a weird winter here in Ontario too - yesterday it was 45 degrees and a search in the garden showed some grape hyacinths pushing through the soil. We need some snow to cover all these little guys before they grow much more.
Congratulations on the hellebores - never had any success with them

Anonymous said...

Your hellebores are doing fine, and I predict that you will enjoy beautiful flowers shortly.

joene said...

Narcissi are peaking their heads up in my zone 6a Connecticut garden. It certainly doesn't feel like winter. Our only snow was the October storm that dropped 10 inches. I even had one scabiosa bloom at Christmas. It's a very strange weather winter.

Alistair said...

Hi Lona, its great to see the bulbs popping through in your garden, conditions have been much the same here also this Winter.

Janet, The Queen of Seaford said...

Happy New Year, love your new look. The bright sunny yellow header is great.
I have had a few hyacinths trying to bloom, it has been a crazy winter so far.

scottweberpdx said...

Sounds like we are all having odd winters this year, doesn't it? Love the color of that Ajuga...so lovely!

joey said...

A fun sharing for January ... Happy 'gardening' New Year!

Splendid Little Stars said...

The weather has been so much warmer thatn usual! There is a pansy blooming in my yard! The bulbs are coming up. I have parsley, Swiss chard, and rosemary growing happily in pots on my deck. Even the little lettuce seedlings are hanging on. None of them are covered!

Anonymous said...

Oh my god I'm in love! Just discovered your blog while visiting Brenda's Cozy Little House. Your gardens are stunning and what a beautiful collection of Roses. The fact that you are from the Hocking Hills area of Ohio really got my attention!

Went camping in our 5th wheel with some friends in Hocking Hills and fell in love with the area! It's a gorgeous area and we plan to go back but will probably stay in a cabin next time.

I'll be back to visit. Your photography is stunning!

~Sandy

GRACE PETERSON said...

Our winter has been about average temperature wise but rainfall is way below normal. Congrats on the hellebore bud. You should be as proud as punch. Pretty pansy blossom too.

Margy said...

I have the same problem at my house! Crazy weather - I still have verbena blooming!