Bulbs

My Future will be Blue

| Flower Roberts

I am planting blue flowers for the spring in memory of my daddy.

I have faith in the future despite the moody climate.

There will be beautiful blue to greet me when this winter ends.

I look forward to a new beginning. My daddy’s love will be there.

I have put these Muscari azureum bulbs in a protective basket (suet feeder).

Some bulbs seem to disappear here. I also surround bulbs with lava rocks for protection.

Notice the satellite cable encircled with rods and an orange chopstick.

Nothing is safe from my shovel. I mark bulbs with swizzle sticks the color of the future flowers.

Looking forward to a beautiful spring.

Keep the faith.

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Seeing Stars

| Flower Roberts

Starflowers are in full bloom today.

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This variety of ipheion is named ‘Alberto Castillo.’

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Some little forager gave this bunch a trim last week.

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The petals have lovely green and brown stripes down their backsides.

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I love seeing stars!

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Daffodil Meme

| Flower Roberts

I am a fan of variations on a theme.

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I also like unusual daffodils.

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Here are some of the many varieties blooming right now in my gardens.

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They aren’t just yellow.

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They aren’t  all mellow.

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Some have trumpets. (Like Dizzy Gillespie)

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I must mention that the cups are called coronas. (These are not contagious.)

They have divisions named for their cup type or lack of one or petal curvature or blooms per stem… (Look Knight, there’s twee!)

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A daffodil by another name, is a Narcissus.

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Tete a Tete Twins

| Flower Roberts

I love anything blooming right now.

Yellow flowers are like spots of sunlight in the garden.

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All daffodils are appreciated, but I do have a favorite.

The Tete a Tete bulbs form little bouquets.

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They look this way because they have short stems

and because some stems hold twins.

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This habit makes the bunch look like a bouquet.

Two cute is too cute!

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Season Lessons

| Flower Roberts

I appreciate the snow because I know I will miss its whiteness and brightness.

I celebrate in the white confetti falling and clinging to everything.

I listen to the rain with a glad heart.

I will miss its cool drops in the heat of August.

I wish the warmth of summer could stay in my bones through the chill of winter.

Each season has its lessons of gratefulness and faithfulness.

During winter, I have faith in spring.

I know that in the soggy, cold soil are future flowers.

Snowdrops, crocus, scilla, narcissus and tulips.

I know because I put them there. I planned for spring.

I believed in spring during a crisp and colorful fall many years ago.

Even in the cold, dark winter. I have faith in spring.

Everybody needs some spring in their heart.

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HAPPY VALENTINE’s DAY

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Name this Angel

| Flower Roberts

It’s been a tough winter so far.  I have not gotten to spend much time outside.

I walked around my yard today.  I took my camera, just in case.

I could not believe my eyes when I spotted this beauty.

What is it?  When did I plant it?

My records have turned up nothing. Could it be a Ziva in January?

Maybe it is an angel.

My angel would be a plant.

If you know its name, please let me know.

I will treasure it forever.

It brightened this day in a special way.

Flower

Another Star in the East

| Flower Roberts

This is called “Star of Bethlehem”, but it is not the weed that is native to North Carolina.

This is Ornithogalum arabicum.

Its blooms sit on a eighteen-inch stalk.

It has a lovely fragrance.

I love the shiny black eyes in the center.

Mine are planted near our walkway into the house.

It is a star in my eastern garden, though it comes from the Mediterranean.

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Itty Bitty Jessop

| Flower Roberts

The tiniest plant in my garden is blooming now.

Ledebouria cooperi ‘Jessop’ is only three inches high.

Ledebouria cooperi ‘Jessop’

I have it planted it by walkways and ponds so it can get noticed by those with a keen eye.

It’s like a tiny treasure hidden in plain sight.

I love its pinstriped leaves.

It is a bulb.

Here is a whole plant.

I am not supposed to have favorites, but the fairies love this one the most.

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