Tangled Branches: Cultivated
happenings in and around my zone 6b gardens in northern Virginia and in central Virginia
Monday, February 16, 2009
Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day+1: North
Well, I was expecting to have more crocuses to show you and they're very close to opening, and may open as soon as this afternoon, BUT they weren't open when I went outside with the camera. So how about an Iris and a Winter Aconite?
Isn't this pretty? Iris reticulata 'Gordon' is new to the garden this year. I've had trouble keeping dwarf Irises going, but I have high hopes for this one. It's a two-fer, in my view - the penetrating periwinkle blue shows up very well against the leaf litter, even from a distance, and when you get close, you can appreciate the intricacy of the multicolor lower petals. In fact, I'm so smitten with this flower, I'm going to go right out after I post this and snip it off to bring indoors.
Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other's gold.
Winter Aconite is more yellow than gold, but is an old friend. This little clump has been faithfully chasing away winter for many years.
I always thought this was Eranthis hyemalis, but now wonder if it isn't Eranthis cilicica. And look, here's a picture of Eranthis cilicica blooming next to what appears to be Iris reticulata. If there are any experts reading this who can tell me how to distinguish E. hyemalis from E. cilicica, I'd be very grateful.
The crocus and snowdrops I showed you earlier this month are still blooming, as is the indoor Phalaenopsis orchid. Galanthus nivalis (the other snowdrop) is just starting to open, but my camera battery died while I was transferring the photos to the computer. I'll post another picture in a few days when the flowers have opened up more. Hellebores are finally raising their heads, but we're expecting cold weather this week, so probably no flowers for several more days.
That's it for Tangled Branches North on this Bloom Day plus one.
Labels: in bloom
15 Comments:
that iris is beautiful: it looks some tiger nose painted in an acrobacies plane! or even some funky mandril close-up ;p
That iris is very beautiful -- and blue and yellow together are such a nice combination! Lovely.
Love the iris..on my monitor it looks like a deep purple with orange gold ...fantastic looking.
Very pretty blooms, both. I love the iris colors and hope to plant some this year.
The little Winter Aconite is another one I'll be planting. Love those early, bright blooms!
buedamau: Tiger nose - I like that! I must look more closely at tigers the next time I see one. ;-)
Nancy: The iris makes a nice cut flower too, for a very short vase.
Gail: The lower petals are deep purple with gold and the upper petals are light (periwinkle to me) blue. I cut the one in the photo and the color is holding up very well indoors.
Kerri: I have to have lots of early flowers! And I'm really keen on the iris so far.
Love the iris. I can't grow them to save my life.
beautiful flowers
beautiful flowers
Hi, Entangled--I'm catching up after my long hiatus. I agree with everyone else that the iris is spectacular--is it always such an early bloomer? I think things are late this year--my crocus are just coming up. Anyway, I've made note of that iris--it's spectacular, and it must look great with yellow daffs.
MrBrownThumb: Is Chicago too cold for the early irises? This is my first year with this one - don't know all that much about it.
hkki: Thanks for stopping by! Your photoblog is very interesting.
Cosmo: I'm not sure when the iris normally blooms - it seems the fall-planted bulbs always bloom slightly out-of-season their first year. Hope this one proves perennial, but even if it didn't I'd be tempted to plant some every fall as annuals. It has a light sweet scent too - very nice up close. Spring cannot come too soon for me!
Entangled, I'm guessing so. I planted them about three times and they never came back after the first year.
You already have an iris blooming now? I'm jealous. It's so beautiful!
Mr Brown Thumb: Hmm, that's a shame. I sure hope these come back. I'm trying them in a couple of different spots.
Bek: Doesn't it seem like spring is very slow in coming this year? And now we're going to have more snow - bah! I definitely recommend Iris reticulata - so pretty so early.
We have the same dwarf iris, I've always called the dutch irises. Ours did great for year and were planted by the previous owners more than 10 years ago. This Winter Aconite is new to me, I'll be looking into that one, thanks!
Just found your blog, we are just to your south in Durham, NC
Randy: Thanks for stopping by, and I'm glad to know the iris is very durable. I plan to order more of them next fall. Love your blogger pic - looks like an Eastern Tailed Blue? We should start to see butterflies in a few weeks, probably sooner where you are?
Post a Comment
<< Tangled Branches: Cultivated, main page