Going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark in the winter is just a part of living in the north. Eventually the days will stretch so that the sun will be up from 4AM to 10PM. Here is what the stretching day length has encouraged to start popping up or blooming. The extreme cold (for us its single digits F.) has made the heathers, and hellebores later than usual. The pink heather and hellebores come first (usually December this year January). hellebores are just beginning to pop their heads up and show their blooms - late ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden ) pink and white winter heathers are coming into full bloom ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden ) They are followed by the white heathers and later the pinks. The little violets only bloom in the late winter and in the summer just have lots of seeds to spread themselves. I seem to always miss their blooms. little violets only bloom in the winter ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden ) My favorite house plant a Paphiopedilum lady slipper is blooming on schedule. This is the bicolored one. Poor things really need to be repotted, but still gave me two long lasting blooms. my favorite lady slippers - house plants extra ordinarie ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden ) We may have cloudy, rainy days but the plants sure love it. Living in a rainy temperate climate has its rewards.
It certainly does Jewell!! My hellebores were squashed flat with all the snow and are only now beginning to show signs of new life. Most of our heathers tend to flower here in Scotland in August so it's lovely to see your winter ones in full bloom. I think your little violets are very pretty and that Paphiopedilum is gorgeous!! :-D
I haven't had violets since we left Wisconsin. It was too hot for them in Arizona. I like Heather, too but haven't had it for years either. You have beautiful flowers coming up for spring. dooley
Can't beleive you have plants blossoming already. How gorgoeus! Hope you don't mind-I'm writing down Heather on my list of wants for my yard. Those would look nice on the sides of my driveway. Thanks for sharing.
Ok. I'm green. Our hellebores weren't even thinking about showing themselves before all this snow was dumped on us, so I trust they're well and truly asleep until late February/early March or whenever the snow will deign to disappear. Lovely blooms, thank you for sharing.
Its so nice to see your flowers, I am so ready for spring! The lady slipper is lovely. Thanks for sharing
Thanks for the kind comments. Eileen, silly me I thought some of these heathers originated from Scotland. Maybe it is just the summer blooming ones. Petunia, I am sure you could find one of the many varieties of heather that would look lovely along your driveway. One nursery here has well over a hundred different varieties. Some people don't like them and consider them kind of weedy, but I find them charming. Hope everyone is having a great day and the snow melts soon. Last year we were buried in snow, this year none.
Thanks for the kind comments. Eileen, silly me I thought some of these heathers originated from Scotland. Maybe it is just the summer blooming ones. Petunia, I am sure you could find one of the many varieties of heather that would look lovely along your driveway. One nursery here has well over a hundred different varieties. Some people don't like them and consider them kind of weedy, but I find them charming. Hope everyone is having a great day and the snow melts soon. Last year we were buried in snow, this year none.
It's nice to see some real colour, Jewell. It looks as if things are well underway there. That houseplant really is something to see!
I think it's excellent you have so much color... even in these colder months! A little reminder that spring will once again show its face
