Wednesday, February 15, 2012

February Bloom Day


Even with our mild winter, the garden still sleeps. We're enjoying a few indoor blooms this month though, like this African violet in a sunny dining room window,


a few Dragonwing begonias,


Diamond Frost euphorbias, 


and pelargoniums, overwintering in the basement.


The blooms enchanting me most are new granddaughters who'll  be one month old this weekend, and their big sister who just turned two.  No garden blooms could possibly be sweeter.

Happy Bloom Day!  For more Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day posts, please visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens.

22 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:30 AM

    All sweet, but none sweeter than those grand babies!

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  2. Indeed, Frances! The indoor blooms, while appreciated, aren't getting much attention this month with all these babies to cuddle. :)

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  3. Hello Linda, Oh, your babies are the best and sweetest blooms ever. I hope they live nearby! Happy GBBD. xogail

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    1. Good morning Gail!

      The grandbabies are about a 1/2 hour away, and I've been able to cuddle them several times a week. Their mom has her hands full, and it's a pleasure being able to help her keep up with the babies' needs, and make sure their mom has plenty of nourishing food, and time to nap during the day. It's one day on, one day off, and cooking for them on the off days - what fun!

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  4. I'm so envious of your indoor blooms, Linda--well, impressed would be a better word to describe your skill and talent in overwintering so many tender annuals. But nothing compares to those sweet blooms in the last photo! How wonderful that they live near enough that you can enjoy them often. And I know new Mom must be so appreciative of all your help.

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    1. They seem no different than other houseplants to me Rose. Benign neglect seems the best policy, with an occasional cleanup of spent blooms and foliage when needed. I used to overwater them, but have found they do better being underwatered, and I avoid fungus gnats that way too.

      Both new Mom and Dad are very appreciative. I'm sure it can, and has been done, but must take quite a toll on a family taking care of multiples without extra help. It's challenging enough even with an extra set of hands and arms. To complicate things even more, my daughter's elderly, disabled father-in-law lives there and needs a lot of help. I'm so grateful the babies were born in winter while I have time to help. I can't imagine trying to do this alone, and wouldn't want my daughter to have to. I don't even think it would be safe, as two-year-olds need a lot of supervision, attention, cuddles, etc. And moms need time with their two-year-olds too. Having a seasonal business definitely has its perks, this winter more than ever.

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  5. Yes, grandchildren are the best blooms of all! Happy GBBD!

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    1. Thank you Holley. Happy Bloom Day!

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  6. Hi Garden Girl
    I love the African violet... it looks so sweet. Have fun with your lovely grandchildren.
    Alex

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    1. They are sweet Alex, and so cheap, readily-available, and easy to care for.

      I'm definitely having fun with the grandchildren. Such a joy spending so much time with them, and their mom.

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  7. Yes, our gardens are still sleeping, but I am hoping they wake up soon, along with the weather warming up to stay. I enjoyed your indoor blooms, including those sweet grandchildren.

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    1. Sue, just in the last few days I've noticed a few things waking up - snowdrops, hellebores, and daffodils are all budding. This is the earliest I can remember for these three. I'm looking forward to the warmer weather, although it does kind of look, and feel like early spring here this week.

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  8. Great looking indoor blooms. I have tried in the past to overwinter some blooms not always with great success. I do have some succulents and outside green plants that are looking pretty good so far.

    Eileen

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    1. Thank you Eileen!

      I'm glad for the light in the basement. It seems to really help with overwintering tender plants.

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  9. Hi Linda, Nothing is blooming here, either, though I do have the tips of bearded irises and tiger lilies coming up. I can't believe Natasha is already 2--wasn't she just born yesterday?!

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    1. Monica, I was really excited seeing the hellebore buds - just needed to cut back the old foliage to find them.

      I can't believe she's already 2 either. It does seem like only yesterday. She's such a neat kid, and talking up a storm. Her vocabulary is already large for a 2-year-old, and growing every day.

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  10. You always do so well with the houseplants. I love seeing your photos of them every winter. We have a sun gold tomato plant that I started from a cutting of last summer's plant. It's in the south patio door of the dining room and has at least 2 dozen little green tomatoes on it. Hoping they'll turn orange before long. We also have pots of parsley and basil in the same place, along with the orchids you repotted for me, and the two brugmansias. We've been dining on salad greens that I've kept up in the greenhouse all winter, despite an infestation of aphids. We've had rainbow chard, spinach leaves, various lettuces, broccoli leaves, and kale salads. They are just now starting to wind down. Love to you and all our little 'flowers'.

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  11. That's fantastic Mom! Hope you get some ripe tomatoes soon. The mild winter may not be typical, but it's been a great winter for greenhouse and hoop house growing. I've really been enjoying being able to harvest fresh greens all winter from our hoop house. Even George is benefitting. All his veggies this winter, with the exception of some green beans now and then, have come from the garden.

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  12. Yes, indeed all beautiful, Linda, but your new grand-babies ... 'the bestest'!

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    1. Thank you Joey. Yep, the babies are the bestest!

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  13. Anonymous1:01 PM

    I thought the African violets were the most adorable thing until I got to the end. Congrats and the blooms and babies.

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