GBBD: Soggy Blooms

From left to right; top to bottom: a rather damp Viola; Clematis cirrhosa 'Freckles'; Primula 'Cottage Cream'; Galanthus nivalis; Lonicera x purpusii 'Winter Beauty', Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn'

After the cold and snow of the past few weeks, the thaw's set in just in time for this month's Blooms Day. I reckon January's the low point of the year gardenwise, with the fewest blooms to show you, so it's onwards and upwards from now on. Most of my flowers are really just buds, as the cold weather has made them shiver and close up for survival, but even perfectly formed buds are a cheerful sight at this time of the year.

I have just 2 plants in flower, the Violas in large pots close to the house, deliberately placed there so they can be viewed easily and to get a little extra warmth. Their delicate perfume can also be sniffed when I venture outside. The other bloom is Primula 'Cottage Cream' in flower since July. Both plants are looking a little frayed round the edges after their recent wintry onslaught, but are no less welcome for that. Finally, there's a portent of what's to come: aptly named snowdrops emerging sleepily from their icy duvet :)

Garden Bloggers' Blooms Day is hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens.

Comments

  1. Commonweeder15 January 2010 at 16:15

    no matter how soggy or damp - you have flowers! beautiful and so encouraging. I only have ice crusted snow and a very few blooms indoors - but I have proved again that Life Will Not Be Denied.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Constant Gardener15 January 2010 at 16:48

    huh! You call those soggy? You'll have to try harder than that. These are positively pretty, and there's more than one of them, which is better than I've managed since about November.

    ReplyDelete
  3. James A-S15 January 2010 at 16:52

    I think that is quite impressive. I had a wander around this morning and I have precisely zip,nil,rien de tout in flower anywhere.
    Although my mother-in-law's Parrotia is looking quite hot.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Unknown15 January 2010 at 16:57

    Life will Not Be Denied, as Commonweeder says. The viola is lovely, and we will get through to better days. Or so I tell myself.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Liz15 January 2010 at 18:19

    Flowers?? I'm jealous, we can't see anything here still... I wouldn't even attempt to stand on the grass becuase the snow is now ice!

    So jealous that you have flowers, even if they are soggy :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Mr. McGregor's Daughter15 January 2010 at 19:11

    Good showing for having had such a mess of snow recently. Seeing your snowdrops makes me want to go out in the garden & dig in the snow to look at mine.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dee/reddirtramblings15 January 2010 at 20:28

    I'm green with envy that you have any blooms. Just kidding. Spring will come to America soon enough too. Happy Bloom Day!~~Dee

    ReplyDelete
  8. Helen/patientgardener15 January 2010 at 20:46

    Better than me my garden is still covered in thick snow

    ReplyDelete
  9. Joanne15 January 2010 at 21:15

    I am so looking forward to see what pops up when this snow finally goes.

    ReplyDelete
  10. The bike shed15 January 2010 at 21:18

    Snowdrops are good but I always think Crocuses are the first signes of spring.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Rose16 January 2010 at 02:36

    They may be soggy, but at least they're not frozen! I'm surprised to see any blooms here today, VP, so you should be excited. As you say, it can only go upwards from here. Happy Bloom Day!

    ReplyDelete
  12. green seeds16 January 2010 at 09:22

    it must be a bit warmer in chippenham we only had a lone clump of snow drops pocking out of the melting snow yeaterday.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Karen - An Artist's Garden16 January 2010 at 10:33

    Onward and upward is good. Every time you show a picture of your Clematis cirrhosa 'Freckles' I am reminded that I must get one - it seems to do well for you for months at a time.
    K

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous16 January 2010 at 11:24

    Yes to onward and upward. Onward was my word for New Year's at midnight, when we all had to choose one to represent our goals for the year. Your primrose has been blooming since July, outside? Wow! Our snowdrops are not even showing yet. Maybe another look for them is in order. :-)
    Frances

    ReplyDelete
  15. Carol17 January 2010 at 02:51

    I love your Viburnum photo... showing the calyx splitting revealing the lovely buds! So exciting! Ah you may be soggy but think of being covered by over a foot of snow with no promise such as your buds! Lovely!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. VP22 January 2010 at 21:49

    Thanks for all your compliments everyone! It's cheered me up no end that I actually have some blooms in my garden at this time of the year.

    I must show you one of the things I put together when planting up the garden: it's really helped to make sure we have something of interest at all times of the year.

    ReplyDelete

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