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Red Dirt Ramblings®

Firmly rooted in the Oklahoma soil

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Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day, March: the daffodils have it

17 March, 2011 By Dee Nash

by Dee Nash
17 March, 20113 April, 2011Filed under:
  • Bulbs
  • Color
  • Flowers
  • Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day
  • Oklahoma
  • Spring

Narcissus 'Geranium,' an heirloom which is very hardy and prolific in my garden

Please forgive me for being late to Bloom Day hosted by Carol of May Dreams Gardens. I apologize. I was laying sidewalk from the potager to the back door. It is nearly finished, and my poor shoulders and elbows feel older than their years.

Another Narcissus with a very large cup. It grows behind the small 'Geranium,' and I don't know its cultivar name.

March in my north central Oklahoma garden is all about the bulbs, those darling, deer-and-rodent-proof daffodils and their friends, the crocus.

Tiny Crocus tommasinianus, probably 'Ruby Giant'

Support staff for the narcissus blooms in the form of flowering shrubs like Spiraea ‘Ogon’ a/k/a Mellow Yellow. I hate the tradmark name Mellow Yellow. Although it trips off the tongue quite well, it sounds silly. Even with its silly name, I have three of these beauties which give me color three seasons of the year.

Spiraea 'Ogon' Mellow Yellow

Other daffs which have long ago lost their tags still bloom prettily. This is an early white one with a large, school bus yellow cup. It blooms beneath a pink, deciduous Jane magnolia which is just starting to unfurl her petals. At the daff’s feet, are dark blue violas planted last fall at the same time.

Narcissus 'Ice Follies'

The pure white narcissus have yet to bloom. They all grow together under a large oak tree, where I planted them over twenty years ago.

Viola x wittrockiana Dynamite Pink pansies

Although I find violas perform better for me, where pansies and violas are concerned, I am often a sucker for a pretty face. I was driving by a local nursery where I saw these Viola x wittrockiana ‘Dynamite Pink’ pansies. Such gorgeous color, they may supplant my love for ‘Imperial Antique Shades.’ By the way, I can find very little information on this group of pansies, so although I listed it in single quotes, Dynamite Pink may be a trademarked name. They do seem to be a seed strain since, as you can see in the photograph, there is so much variation within the group.

Helleborus 'Red Lady'

Although the bulbs steal the show this time of year, I can’t forget the hellebores, some of which are really coming into their own. ‘Red Lady’ and ‘Blue Lady,’ which I planted three or four years ago, have grown into nice clumps and are so pretty in the morning light.

The front garden is the prettiest this time of year.

I think the front garden is the prettiest this time of year, but as I was loading this photo, I found another of the same garden last year.As you can see, the nandinas were burned from the cold weather both years, although last spring seemed worse. Also, none of the bulbs were blooming so the pansies had the whole show to themselves. Because of Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, I have comparisons from year to year. Thanks Carol!

The front garden at the same time in 2010

This weekend, if you haven’t already made plans, the Tulsa Garden Center, in cooperation with the Oklahoma Horticulture Society, is hosting Tony Avent, owner of Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, NC,  for two lectures. He will speak in Tulsa on March 19, at 6:30 p.m. On Sunday, March 20, he will speak at the Oklahoma City Zoo on “Landscaping in Drifts of One:  A Focus on Plant Combinations” at 1:00 p.m. I will definitely be in the audience Sunday.

Also, the Central Oklahoma Hemerocallis Society is having a meeting this Friday at 6:00 p.m. I hope to see you there.

 

 

 

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Comments

  1. ilona says

    23 March, 2011 at 4:27 am

    Your unknown looks like ‘Ice Follies’ to me, and old variety I planted in my garden many years ago, now. Nice daffodil show….mine are now showing bud color.

    Antique Shades were always my favorite Pansy color combination, but I like the blues, too.

    • Dee Nash says

      24 March, 2011 at 9:35 am

      Thanks Ilona, it may be. I can’t remember most of my daffs. I love the blue violas. Have a bunch of those too. Must take more pictures today.

  2. Linda Lehmusvirta says

    22 March, 2011 at 7:16 pm

    Oh, Dee, just lovely! I love spring just for the daffs and the violas. Your garden is truly lovely. And I admire you for building a sidewalk. Makes me ache a little just thinking about it.

    • Dee Nash says

      24 March, 2011 at 9:35 am

      Thank you Linda. I hope you make it to Oklahoma someday, and we’ll have some tea and walk the garden. Building that sidewalk was very, very hard.

  3. Rose says

    21 March, 2011 at 1:45 pm

    I’m so glad you included the larger shot of your front garden, Dee–it’s absolutely beautiful! There’s nothing like a mass planting of spring bulbs to cheer you up. Love those pink violas–I would have stopped for them, too.

    • Dee Nash says

      24 March, 2011 at 9:36 am

      Thank you so much Rose. I love my front garden in spring best. I saw those violas from my car and had to make a quick right turn.

  4. gardenercaleb says

    21 March, 2011 at 12:36 am

    If I remember correctly, “ogon” means “gold” in Japanese so it’s appropriate and easy to remember. Much better than Mellow Yellow…

    • Dee Nash says

      24 March, 2011 at 10:31 am

      I think you’re right Caleb. I love this spirea. It is one of the best shrubs in my garden, and I have three.

  5. Patrick's Garden says

    20 March, 2011 at 11:22 pm

    Hey Dee,

    Congratulations on the ‘Red Lady’ shot in the morning light. That one my friend is flickr material.

    We both share Antique Shades pansy as our favorite one. Probably goes really well with your red dirt.

    • Dee Nash says

      24 March, 2011 at 10:31 am

      Thank you Patrick. She just poses like that.

  6. Cindy, MCOK says

    20 March, 2011 at 9:02 am

    Happy Spring, Dee!

    • Dee Nash says

      24 March, 2011 at 10:31 am

      Same to you Cindy!

  7. rock rose says

    19 March, 2011 at 3:12 pm

    That is a very pretty selection of blooms in your front garden. The red lady is really stunning with so many blooms- and you have success with crocus! I tried them for the first time last year but they didn’t return. Happy bloom day indeed.

    • Dee Nash says

      24 March, 2011 at 10:36 am

      Thank you so much. I love my red lady.. I try crocus, but they don’t always work. I’m trying a new type this year to see if I can improve their comeback ability.

  8. Leslie says

    19 March, 2011 at 10:40 am

    I’m so glad you didn’t let being a bit late stop you…we would have missed such lovely photos! The front garden is truly beautiful.

    • Dee Nash says

      24 March, 2011 at 11:20 am

      Leslie, you’re too sweet. Thank you.~~Dee

  9. Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening says

    18 March, 2011 at 8:48 pm

    Love those pansies! We are just starting to get crocuses, the daffs will take a while.

    • Dee Nash says

      24 March, 2011 at 11:21 am

      Kathy, it won’t be long now.

  10. Monica the Garden Faerie says

    18 March, 2011 at 6:14 pm

    Love all the color. You’re so ahead of us in Michigan–love the daffs, especially.

    • Dee Nash says

      24 March, 2011 at 11:22 am

      Yes, but this summer, Monica, you’ll be glad you don’t live here. 🙂

  11. Racquel says

    18 March, 2011 at 4:23 pm

    Sounds like you’ve been a busy bee already this year. Can’t wait to see all your hard work. Your front garden is so pretty this spring Dee!

    • Dee Nash says

      24 March, 2011 at 11:23 am

      Yes, Racquel,and I have so much more to do. I was just out there thinking, wow, there is so much more.

  12. Garden Hoard says

    18 March, 2011 at 1:41 pm

    Oooh! I can’t wait for my daffs to bloom!!! Pretty photos!

    • Dee Nash says

      24 March, 2011 at 11:24 am

      Won’t be long now. Those daffs pop up pretty quickly.

  13. YolandaElizabet says

    18 March, 2011 at 1:14 pm

    Your front garden is a bloom-fest atm, it looks so very cheerful. It’s daffs galore chez Bliss too. Love those brave little trumpeting troopers, gentle nodding in the breeze. Or sleet. Or hail storm.

    Have a great weekend!

  14. Mr. McGregor's Daughter says

    18 March, 2011 at 9:04 am

    I think your mystery white Narcissus is ‘Ice Follies’. Your garden is waking beautifully. It’s like seeing a preview of my garden in a month. I like how you’ve got little blooms at the feet of the daffodils. I need to work on doing that.

    • Dee Nash says

      24 March, 2011 at 11:24 am

      If you and Ilona think so, that’s its name. Thank you so much.

  15. Sweetbay says

    18 March, 2011 at 8:31 am

    Your pansies are beautiful. I love your blue outdoor light too. That is really elegant.

    Plant Delights is about a half an hour from us. We went on a spring open house for the first time last year and I could not believe all of the people! First time I toured the gardens there too. They were impressive.

    • Dee Nash says

      24 March, 2011 at 11:36 am

      Thank you so much Sweetbay. I got to visit Plant Delights when we were in Raleigh. His gardens are just fantastic. An amazing place really.

  16. Lisa at Greenbow says

    18 March, 2011 at 5:06 am

    It is fun to compare the garden from year to year. Your front garden looks so lively with all of those colorful pansies. Can’t wait to see your new walk. Happy GBBD.

  17. Jill-O says

    17 March, 2011 at 10:29 pm

    I guess if you can do GBBD on the 17th, then I’m gonna too! Today was the first spring-like day we’ve had this year. Thanks.

  18. Carol says

    17 March, 2011 at 7:55 pm

    I love those pansies. I can never find any like those around here, dog-gone-it.

    And isn’t it fun to compare a garden year to year?

  19. Donna says

    17 March, 2011 at 6:57 pm

    gorgeous blooms…love the front garden

  20. compostinmyshoe says

    17 March, 2011 at 6:41 pm

    Glad to see your garden coming alive!

  21. Layanee says

    17 March, 2011 at 3:17 pm

    It is a very pretty front garden and with so much in bloom! Oh my. But, I am waiting quite impatiently to see your bricklaying handiwork. Give!

  22. Cyndy says

    17 March, 2011 at 3:12 pm

    Dee, Your front garden is charming! I’ve got that spirea and wish for more of them – such a good plant, goes with everything and tolerates my vicious pruning to keep it in bounds. Happy GBBD!

  23. Dirty Girl Gardening says

    17 March, 2011 at 2:25 pm

    Crocus always remind me to use more saffron when cooking…

  24. Hilery - Desert Greenhouse Guide says

    17 March, 2011 at 11:42 am

    I love, love, love your crocus! I keep wanting to plant them, but just don’t think they will do very well here in southern Nevada. So I will have a crocus garden vicariously through your photos!

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