Bloom Day - and a Very Welcome One at That

This month's Bloom Day finds me distracted.  Changes at work are well on the way to putting more demands on me than I am accustomed to, but fortunately, early signs indicate the store will have a good spring season.  The other thing on my mind is more recent, that being the unfolding horror in Japan.  But what can we do besides donating what we can, keeping strangers a world away in our thoughts and hoping to God that a different pair of dice never roll in our direction at such magnitude? Perhaps time in the garden, working with and seeing another face of nature, is called for as well.

Usually spring unfolds slowly here, but this winter's cold has delayed the early bloomers and pushed them back so they now compete with more timely blooms for attention.  No matter, they are all welcome sights.

Here are a few Narcissus, some of the names are known, some are not.

Forsythia x intermedia ('variegata' ?)


I think this is Narcissus 'Ice Follies' and behind it the most florific Hime Quince (Chaenomeles 'Hime'), which has had blooms on it since December.

Helleborus orientalis

Edgeworthia chrysantha


The flowers on Camellia japonica 'Nuccio' Gem' briefly approach perfection.

The intense pink of Camellia japonica 'Crimson Candles' is not my favorite color, but it is a good foil for the emerging foliage of Hydrangea macrophylla 'Sun Goddess' at its feet.

I am not the only one in the house suffering distractions.  When she is not in the coma-like sleep of older dogs, Loretta barks at whoever and whatever passes by the dining room window.  It would be more restful to the entire house if she was just quietly appreciating the beauty of Camellias.

If you would like to see how spring is unfolding in other blogger's gardens, then please visit Carol at May Dreams Garden where she faithfully hosts Garden Bloggers Bloom Day on the 15th of each month.  Speaking of dates, there are only 4 days left for bloggers to participate in my prize-laden Winter Walk Off.  Just click on the link to learn more.