February, you gray month of mournful passing, what has come over you? Light snow, a smidge of rain . . . do you think you’re April or May?
Well, even if you are confused, I thank and hail thee well, February my former foe, but now, friend.
For flowers are popping up everywhere cheered by warmer temperatures and gentle raindrops falling on their petals.
Flowers can tell the rest of the tale here at Red Dirt Ranch. Most hellebores are still in bud, but ‘Red Lady’ protected by some stones in the front garden is already in full, nodding form.
She is an exquisite beauty as belies her name.
Even from far away, Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’ glows beneath cloudy skies. She will be opening more and more in coming weeks. Only two seasons here, she is settling in.
These iris stopped me in my tracks as I walked back up to the house with Megan. Next to the black mondo grass and in front of my statue of Mary, they are something. I hope they multiply
Because this is Garden Bloggers Bloom Day hosted by my dear friend Carol of May Dreams Gardens, I have zoomed in on the flowers. I hope you don’t mind. The actual gardens aren’t much yet, but ooh, in a few weeks, they will be splendid.
Happy Bloom Day to all of you. I hope February is also being kind to you.
Oh, my. I can see that spring has sprung in your little neck of the woods. We know when warmer weather is creeping closer when the spierwort blooms. Mounds and mounds of it shows up practically overnight. Enjoy the season!
Hi Dee!
Found you through Sharon Lovejoys blog! I live in Oklahoma City and can’t believe I hadn’t come across your blog before! I love your garden and your pretty blooms just make me want Spring now. I did find one daffodil almost ready to bloom today with all the pretty sunshine! Will be following your blog from now on!
Miss Bloomers
Hi Sonia! So nice for you to stop by. Sharon is a wonderful friend and writer. I can’t believe I’ve never seen your blog. I’ll come on over.~~Dee
Dee, Love your Irises. What a bright bold color in the spring. I have some Iris reticulata, but they have never done well…I am blaming the voles and/or chipmunks. Look forward to meeting you in May at the Spring Fling. Have family in OKC and when all the kids were little we went to the zoo…..all the elephants were red from being wet and rolling in the red dust/clay, so the kids thought elephants were red. 🙂
I think blaming them certainly makes sense Janet. I am excited to meet you too at the Fling. It will be fun. What a funny story about the elephants. Yes, our dirt is so very red.~~Dee
Your blooms are beautiful. Made more so by their appearance in the middle of the longest month of the gardening year. Will February never end? Be gone!
I enjoyed touring your garden virtually – what lovely spring blooms!
February has always been one of my least favorite months, too, Dee, but I can see why you have a different opinion this year. What lovely signs of spring in your garden! The violas are so sweet.
Iris reticulata are so beautiful but over so quickly; I think you will be very lucky if they naturalise for you; they just dissaprear in my garden but they are lovely so worth growing in a pot and bring out each year to enjoy. Christina
Yes, Christina, you’re so right. They are over quickly especially in warm weather. I’m glad I went outside and caught them before they were gone. Happy Bloom Day!
You have a generous selection of flowers. It did my heart good to look at them.
Kathy, this year I do. Thanks so much.
Beautiful showing this month. Helleborus ‘Red Lady’ is a better color than ‘Pink Lady’, which is what I have. The “Lady” hellebores have such a lovely flower form. The combo of the purple Iris reticulata and black mondo grass is sublime.
MMD, I think since the “Lady Series” are seed strains, you never know what you’re going to get. I also have ‘Blue Lady,’ but I like ‘Red Lady’ best too. On the other one, if only I can’t get the black mondo to take off this year.
Happy Bloom Day, Dee. I keep looking for my irises to bloom soon. They are my favorite early spring blooming bulb.
Thanks for joining in for bloom day!
Carol, happy bloom day to you too my friend. It won’t be long now.
Great spring blooms. Wish the ground was warmer so my bulbs would bloom.
Hi Donna, yes I wish it was too where you live. Still, hang in there and remind me of your garden when it’s so hot here in summer. 🙂
Love all the bright little faces in your garden. I’m really fond of mossy rocks, too. February gave us a hard swipe of cold on Saturday and Sunday nights, but we’re bouncing back.
Nell Jean, I’m so glad you’re bouncing back. We had a cold front last night so I’m sure the iris are gone by now. Oh well. Happy Bloom Day!
Ah, yes, February’s flowers? This is one of those Oklahoma winters that make us glad we live this far south.
Lovely, poetic post, Dee. Here’s to another week of 60s!
Martha, yea for 60s and than you for stopping by. I’m worried it’s a bit too warm. We may be sorry. Happy Bloom Day!
Pure poetry, Dee! Lovely words to accompany the beautiful blooms and that exquisite mossy rock. Winter does give us a more simple backdrop to enjoy such marvels. Your Diane is lovely. The Iris should multiply nicely and can be divided each year for that mass effect. Yummy!
Hi Frances, thank you so much. I hope the iris multiply like yours. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your blooms, Dee. I especially LOVE that chartreuse of the moss….WOW! Lovely on a gray, rainy day like we’ve got in Houston right now! Cannot grow helleborus here, but the azaleas are already popping. Don’t they know they got to the party awfully early?
Cherie, isn’t that mossy rock so pretty? We’d had rain which made it pop up. Did you go to the Bloedel Reserve? Their moss garden was exquisite. Happy Bloom Day! I can’t grow azaleas, although in Muskogee, they do.
Lovely iris Dee! I’m so happy you have so much beauty to look out on.
Thank you Leslie. I hope it’s beautiful in CA right now too. Happy Bloom Day!
Such pretty colors & photos! Without the usual snow here this Winter, everything looks awful & lifeless. Happy GBBD from NJ Zones 7a & 6b!
Thank you Jo. I’m so sorry it’s not pretty there. I understand about the no snow. Without snow, it is brown and gray here all winter. Yuck.
February is being kind to us but I don’t have as much blooming as you do. Wow, lots of color. Happy GBBD.
Yes, Lisa, February is being very kind. Let’s hope March and April are the same. 🙂
Wow, Dee–you really have some flowers popping up! Hellebores and Iris reticulata??!! I’m going to have to venture out to see what mine are doing. Happy GBBD!
Jean, let me know. I hope you have pretty flowers popping up too. Happy GBBD!
Very pretty!
Happy Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day!
Lea
Lea’s Menagerie
Hi Lea! Thank so much for stopping by. I love GBBD. Don’t you?
So jealous of your flowers!
Thanks Jo Ellen. It won’t be long now. Happy Bloom Day!