Getting ready to plant.

Yes, I realize it is only the middle of February, but there is really is so much to do. We treated the grass with weed & feed yesterday. Today we cut back the monkey grass, the butterfly bushes, lantana and angel trumpet. I also mulched more leaves and spread mulch around.

Yesterday I picked my first daffodils! I have hyacinths with buds. My dark red camellia is just beginning to bloom as well.

Taste of Spring

We have had a week of very warm weather, so early blooming has started. I have Lenten roses, crocuses, and daphine blooming. My daffodils are about to blooms. Around town I have seen early ornamental fruit trees and some star magnolia in bloom. My star magnolia has buds.

I think that cold is coming back in the next few days.

Lots of cold

We have had two deep cold spells in the last few weeks. Temperatures below 20 are not particularly common here. I have a small gardenia bush in the back yard that was hurt two weeks ago. Most of the leaves are now brown. I don't think it will survive. Daffodils are still budding. I think the cold will just delay their blooming. With temperatures up in the 60s this coming weekend, they will probably bloom.

Lenten roses have not bloomed yet, and my daphine is just beginning to bloom.

It is time to start planning for the summer garden. I also planted so many new perennials that I'm looking forward to watching what comes up.

Snow!

We do not have snow often in Raleigh, and when we do it is usually just a dusting. So, today's 4+ inches is a rare treat.

I think a winter garden can be lovely, and never more than when it is covered in snow. I especially like to watch the birds.

Too soon, too soon

I had been thinking that so far the late fall and early winter had been cooler than normal. We've not had many below freezing temperatures, but we rarely do. However, this week I found that my daffodils and hyacinths are up! I even have buds on the daffodils. This is way too soon. I even saw some daffodils in bloom in North Raleigh. There are also some ornamental fruit trees blooming around town.

My daphene is in bud, as it should be. I expect lots of blooms very soon. Such a great fragrance. Unfortunately the one on the south side of our front porch seems to be dying. I'm not sure what the problem is. The leaves are pale and the whole bush is thin and sickly looking. The one pictured below is just on the other side of the front steps, and it looks great.

Winter animals

We have quite a menagerie in our yard this winter. Last week I walked out the back door to find two possums in my compost pile. Yuck. But they have to eat too. We have the usual wide variety of song birds, squirrels and chipmunks. We also have a hawk who we see frequently, which may be why I am seeing fewer chipmunks. The blue heron is back this year. And he has eaten ALL our gold fish. If any are left, they are so small, and are keeping so deep, I can't see them.

I've tried to get a picture of the heron. Here is one, but it is rather blurry.

In the garden, unfortunately, one of my daphene bushes is dying. I have no clue why. The other is full of buds, and should be in bloom in the next few weeks. Pansies are doing rather well too.

Winter garden

My blog, just like my garden, is not getting much attention right now. But a recent post made me come back to say a few words.

My late bloomer, such as Angel Trumpet and Obedient Plant, were great right up until the middle of November. We had a hard frost right before Thanksgiving, which made everything die or go dormant.

I did get a number of perennials planted this fall, and added a few bulbs.

Pansies are doing fairly well. My daphine bushes have buds, although one is looking very sad. I fertilized it this week. I also have one pink camellia blooming. I have two reds that bloom later, and both have blooms.

I have asked for two truck loads of mulch for Christmas! My husband laughed.