Friday, February 15, 2019

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up February 2019: Reflections From the Garden

February Garden
Welcome to my garden! Where does the time go? I started this blog back in February of 2010 and have been enjoying writing and communicating with other garden bloggers ever since. Blogging has become a part of who I am and thanks to the meme called Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, created by Carol of May Dreams Gardens and Foliage Follow-Up, created by Pam Penick of Digging, this monthly post to show what is happening in the garden has become a meaningful routine. Over the years, my lifetime passion for gardening has developed into a career, and writing brings me joy as I share my experiences and passion for all things green. As I celebrate nine years of blogging and writing, come along as I share a tour of my February garden.
Gold Lace Juniper against Hydrangea Dried Seed Heads
The past few winters in the garden have been unpredictable (to say the least) and this February has not been any exception. Between the end of January and start of this month, the temperatures have experienced a fifty-nine degree fluctuation, with daytime lows in the single digits (6 degrees) at the beginning of the month to temperatures topping off at 60 degrees by February 5th. Snow has been scarce, with the exception of a light dusting a few days ago, which quickly turned to ice then rain. The garden is showing signs of both winter and spring.
Globe Montgomery Blue Spruce Foliage
For the winter months, I rely on the beauty of evergreens to serve as the backbone to the garden, while blooms serve as an added bonus in the warmer months. This Blue Globe Montgomery Spruce is a personal favorite for its color and compact shape.
Golden Variegated Sedge 'Evergold'
Golden Variegated Sedge has also become a stable in my garden. It tolerates shade, stays evergreen all year long and requires very little maintenance. I've only had to clean it up a bit by removing winter-burned foliage in the spring, which is an easy task.
Rhododendron Buds and Azalea Foliage in Winter
As we walk around to the back of the pool area, the foliage of Azalea 'Hino Crimson' has turned to its deep burgundy color against the green of Rhododendron 'Elegans' in the backdrop. I love how some of the evergreen foliage changes in winter.
Rhododendron Buds Forming in February
It's pretty early for the buds to be so large on the Rhododendron. They were sparked by the milder temperatures. A similar situation occurred last year, then we got a cold snap in March and April. The buds did just fine, as Mother Nature has a way of allowing the plant to adapt.
Squirrel Visitors
The squirrels have been having a fun time trying to get onto the feeder, as the openings close up with their weight, but there's plenty of seed to go around. I watch them do acrobatics as they hang upside down and every which way, as they are on a mission to win over the scientifically developed device. As the birds throw the seed to the ground, the feast is on!
Hellebore Buds!
You can have blooms in winter, as Carol may say, and Hellebores can do just that. These are forming their buds, which grow larger by the day. They are a little behind schedule this year, but I am expecting some blooms soon, hopefully next month. 
Garden Love!
There's nothing like a little bit of whimsy in the garden and this latest addition showing the love shared by a young girl and her kitten just makes me smile every time I look at it. Over the years, I have become very sentimental when it comes to statues.
The infamous Skyland's Golden Oriental Spruce! (with Coral Bark Maple in Backdrop)
If you have been here before, you know about the infamous Golden Skyland's Oriental Spruce which I planted as a memorial to my mom back in 2008. I just love this tree and everything it symbolizes, and even planted a smaller one in the back pool garden. The tree is beautiful with its golden foliage and in winter time the bark on the Coral Bark Maple behind it turns a vivid red. It is one of my favorite viewing spots in the garden.
Bird Visitor
Around to the backyard, a visiting bird enjoys the birdbath, which is located right near the feeder. It is a daily ritual for the birds to hang out in the neighboring evergreens waiting for their turn to feast and bathe.
Nellie Stevens Berries
The berries on the Nellie Stevens Holly are abundant at this time of year and the birds enjoy them too!
Mockingbird!
It seems like every month when I go on the tour of my garden, the same Mockingbird looks down at me from the branches of the Magnolia tree. He seems to have claimed the Magnolia 'Royal Star' as "his tree". As you can see, the buds are already getting to be a pretty nice size.
More Garden Love!
You can never get enough garden love and here is an example of one of the many statues I have placed throughout the garden. This one resides right underneath the Magnolia tree, and is surrounded by Black Eyed Susan in the summertime.
Spring Bulbs!!!
Spring bulbs!? The Hyacinths started coming up in February. Is the garden confused? I would say so. There is also new foliage on the Carlcephalum Viburnum in the back garden.
Winter View
The patio garden is resting for winter. I enjoy how the view changes in each season, but would sure like to see the ornamental grasses and blooms in spring!
Sparrow Friends
Here are some more visiting friends. These Tree Sparrows are abundant in our area and enjoying hanging out together in groups. I often wonder what they are thinking as they watch from above.

Waiting for Spring!
As we end the garden tour for this month, it's time to venture back inside. As you can see, our Himalayan kitty also enjoys looking out at the garden (and birds) just like her mom!
Indoor Blooms for February
It's inside blooms for now as I dream of warmer days ahead.
Thanks for Visiting and Come Back Often!


February Garden

I hope you enjoyed your stroll through my February garden. Please feel free to stay a while and catch up on some past posts and perhaps visit my author page (link below). I am also celebrating two months since I published my latest book, Dream, Garden, Grow!-Musings of a Lifetime Gardener. Special thanks go out to our hostess Carol at May Dreams Gardens, who makes it possible to see blooms on the 15th of every month with her meme Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. Also, special thanks to Pam Penick at Digging who has hosted Foliage Follow-Up for all these years, a meme I will still continue to honor. I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Floral Friday Fotos, Macro Monday 2, Nature Notes at Rambling WoodsDishing It & Digging It on Sunday with Angie the Freckled RoseImage-in-ing weekly photo share every Tuesday with NC Sue and Gardens Galore Link Up Party every other Monday with Everyday Living. I am also happy to join the Homestead Blog Hop on Wednesdays.

~As Always...Happy Gardening! ~

Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening,© Copyright 2010-2019. All rights reserved.

28 comments:

  1. I very much enjoyed the tour of your garden! I always enjoy seeing birds and squirrels as well as plants, and your cat is beautiful! I can hardly wait to see your Hellebore buds open - such a fantastic deep dark red they promise to be!
    Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!

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    1. Thank you Lea! Your garden is looking so springlike with all those blooms and your Hellebores are gorgeous!

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  2. Like always your monthly tour of garden is like reading poetry ...loved the Amaryllis color.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words Arun. All your spring blooms are so exotic and beautiful. I enjoyed the visit to your garden!

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  3. As always, lovely foliage! I need to plant some more evergreens!

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    1. Thank you Shelly. During the winter months, the evergreens are really needed for interest here, As you can see, I have somewhat of a passion for them!

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  4. A lovely walk through your February garden, Lee! My hellebore is now blooming, my daffodil buds are getting bigger (afraid I might lose them to cold temps before they bloom), and my hyacinths are coming up like yours also. If we weren't so far apart, I'd swear that mockingbird was coming back & forth between our homes, lol! Very late winter, almost each year without a miss, the mockingbird will go to the highest point on our magnolia (just over the second story & gutter line), and start waking me up as early as 3:30 in the mornings! The good news? I know spring is soon around the corner.
    I so enjoy your garden tours. Thank you!

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    1. It’s funny about the Mockingbird Rita. Every time I go out into the garden with my camera he is sitting up on that highest branch looking down on me. I know they are very territorial, as your visitor is doing the same thing. I just came back from your blog and I must say that the purple table setting in your latest post is absolutely gorgeous! You have such an eye for decorating!

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  5. I love visiting your garden!Such joy and beauty...The sweet statues are lovely!

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    1. Thank you for your kind words. I loved your beautiful roses and platter for Valentine’s Day, You have such a good eye for decorating and your setting looks lovely.

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  6. Congratulations on 9 years of blogging, Lee, as well as your newest book! Your garden looks splendid, especially in light of those wide temperature swings. I love that blue spruce. As to the squirrels, I'm watching one outside my office window perform his gymnastic routine on my "squirrel-resistant" feeders right now - it never ceases to amaze me how persistent they are.

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    1. Much thanks Kris! Your gardens are looking beautiful with all those blooms! Hopefully the weather will straighten out for you soon. Your photos just gave this gardener a much needed “green fix”! Happy Bloom Day!

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  7. What a color of your amaryllis, Lee! Love it. The spring is in your place, wonderful. The hellebore is starting its buds, rhododendrons have their buds as well. Mine are under the thick cover of snow.
    Happy GBBD!

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    1. I am enjoying the Amaryllis Nadezda and it just sprouted additional stalks! I am also awaiting those hellebore blooms, so hopefully they will hurry up and get here! Stay tuned!!!

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  8. It is always fun to see your garden Lee. I am always amazed at all the evergreens you have. If I had that carex I wouldn't have to do anything to it the rabbits would eat it to the ground each winter as they do the liropes in my garden. They even eat yuccas. They are a nuisance! Congratulations on your BLogversary.

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    1. Thank you Lisa! The rabbits here are well behaved and stay away from the Carex and Liriope, and the Carex stays evergreen all winter. The plant by the feeder is Golden Sweet Flag and they stay clear of that too. I am glad to have respectful bunnies LOL!

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  9. What wonderful images from your late winter garden. And that amaryllis is gorgeous.

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    1. Thank you. I enjoyed your informative post Dorothy. The female Cardinal is a beautiful sight and it's such good news that legislation is making strides in protecting the fragile environment. I also love the news about the Leopard and roses. Have a great week ahead.

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  10. Lindo blog.
    Seu jardim é maravilhoso! Parabéns.
    bjs

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  11. What a wonderful post for the winter weary as I am certainly one of them living near Buffalo NY.....You have a lot more vegetation showing than I do although we did have that one 60 degree day which then went to 7 degrees the next day. Thank you for linking in Lee...Michelle

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    1. I am glad you enjoyed the February views Michelle. Thank you for hosting and keeping us all connected! I loved your quote and it is so true. It's how I feel about the friendships I have made over the years with fellow bloggers who share a similar passion. Your photo of the butterfly on the goldenrod is lovely too!

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  12. Happy 9th blogiversary! As always, I enjoy strolling through your garden with you. So much beauty in every season and your kitty is a cutie!

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    1. Thank you! You have so many blooms already and your Hellebores are gorgeous! I love the orchids inside and Camelias outside and I am glad you got to run outside before the snow to capture these beauties. It looks like spring is on its way for you!

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  13. WOW! 9 years blogging! That's impressive.

    My hyacinths have also peeped above the soil. I wonder if we are going to have an early spring or maybe it is wishful thinking?

    Jeannie@GetMeToTheCountry

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    1. There's a little snow on the way today, but one can only hope! I enjoyed your post with all the old wells. It brought back memories of when we used to have a well for years while I was growing up.

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    2. I do enjoy the free water when it hasn't rained in a long time; however, when the electricity goes out, so does the well! That's a huge drawback. Send the snow this way. The fruit trees are beginning to bud out and I fear we won't have any fruit this year if our weather isn't reminded it's winter.
      Jeannie

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    3. It certainly has been a confusing winter for the plants Jeannie. Fortunately, most do have a way of adjusting!

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Thank you for visiting. I love reading your comments and knowing you have been here, and will try to reciprocate on your blog. If you have any questions I will try my very best to answer them. As always...HAPPY GARDENING!