Four years ago, I planted about ten winter aconite in my Front Border. Each year, the patch has slowly grown through self-seeding. Pictured are some of the newest that are just starting to come up. I’d guess the total number in the patch is now somewhere around thirty. Aren’t they cute?
What a difference a month makes for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day. In my zone 6b garden, the garden is slowly waking up. Winter aconite (Eranthis) started blooming last week in the Front Border.
In addition to the Galanthus elwesii snowdrops that I photographed a few weeks ago, these Galanthus nivalis are also now in bloom in the Front Border.
Also, these double snowdrops Plena Flora are blooming in the Egg Garden.
Crocus tommasinianus just started blooming in the Front Border.
The Witchhazel Primavera is growing next to the Fort.
The Witchhzael Arnold’s Promise is now in full bloom next to the playground.
Finally, just today, my son found this purple hellebore poking up on Goldberry Hill.
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Check out all of the bloom day posts from around the world over at May Dreams Garden.
I’ve wanted a witchhazel for a few years now and, after planting my first one last spring, am now enjoying my first blooms. I planted a small specimen of Arnold’s promise (the name is from Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum in Massachusetts), a common and widely available witchhazel (my specimen is from Forestfarm Plant Nursery). The flowers are unique and have a strong fragrance. In addition, they get bonus points for blooming while the rest of the garden is still asleep. The picture was taken this weekend before today’s heavy snow.
Is February over yet? Only three days left until March when the garden really starts coming back to life. Now that the snow has melted from the beds, you can see the snowdrops blooming in earnest.
This may be the most challenging month for my contribution to Garden Bloggers‘ Bloom Day at May Dreams Gardens. My garden is buried beneath snow and ice, but I was fortunate enough to find at least one resilient snowdrop bloom in the Front Border to share with you. There were actually a few more, but the children picked them to make a small vase. Inside, I have some amaryllis blooming, which you can see here (white) and here (red).
Heirloom Gardener 
