Bloom Day - Paper Anniversary

This month marks one year of my participation in Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, and last month marked one year since I began my blog. One of the great things about blogging and keeping digital photo records is the ability to look back and see where the garden was in previous seasons. In 2008's February GBBD post the Hellebores were at peak bloom and were the only photos I wanted to show. They are also well represented in this year's post, but have only just started blooming. In fact, things seem to be about 2 weeks behind last year, but last year's mild winter was unusual. We have had several days here this week in the 60's and low 70's, which was a great relief from the cold temperatures we have had. We are also fortunate to have missed most of the violent and damaging weather that has been the story in other parts of the country (but winter has not left yet).

These are Hellborus orientalis, and my population now produces lots of seedlings, some of which are old enough to bloom.

Below are Helleborus foetidus which showed up during the last month's feast and are still going strong.

Also still going strong, but still unidentified is my Quince (Chaenomeles).

Another unknown species or cultivar is this Galanthus. I am bad about not recording what I plant and it is particularly easy for me to forget bulbs.

All of my Camellia japonica are heavily, but tightly budded, except for one. 'Magnoliaflora' has opened herself to the world. Because of its color, it is probably my least favorite. While I was still forming my own garden voice, I got it on the recommendation of my former boss who said it was one of her favorites, plus I was intrigued by the name. I wish now that I had not planted it, but it is what it is, and it will stay. What we choose to grow is such a personal choice and if we all liked the same things it would be a poorer world. You can see how Pam feels about this variety on her recent post here.

The blooms of Edgeworthia chrysantha are still hanging their heads down in a forlorn manner. Perhaps they are still sad at how I had to prune them after the plant thief mangled the shrub. If you click to enlarge the first Edgeworthia picture, you can see the fur coat they wear to stay warm (please do not tell PETA).

The Paperwhites have already bloomed, but this is my first true Daffodil to bloom this year, and it opened on one of this week's warmest days. Quite a few others are up, showing swollen buds and will not take much to nudge them into bloom.
The Lilac Daphne (Daphne genkwa) just started this week as well.
In one year of blogging, I have gotten to know a little bit about many people through their blogs, and have learned a lot as well. I would like to thank you for so many visits to my site, your comments and your information too. It has become a delightful compulsion trying to keep up with everyone, and to come up with my own material to publish. According to my hits counter, over 11,000 views of my blog have occurred (it is really only about 10,000, the rest were me just checking). I also would like to thank Carol at May Dreams Garden who has been hosting Garden Bloggers Bloom Day for three years now. Please pay her a visit and see what other gardeners are up to.