I am a fan of variations on a theme.
I also like unusual daffodils.
Here are some of the many varieties blooming right now in my gardens.
They aren’t just yellow.
They aren’t all mellow.
Some have trumpets. (Like Dizzy Gillespie)
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!)
A daffodil by another name, is a Narcissus.
FLOW
I love anything blooming right now.
Yellow flowers are like spots of sunlight in the garden.
All daffodils are appreciated, but I do have a favorite.
The Tete a Tete bulbs form little bouquets.
They look this way because they have short stems
and because some stems hold twins.
This habit makes the bunch look like a bouquet.
Two cute is too cute!
Flower
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.
HAPPY VALENTINE’s DAY
Flower
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
I know that three days after we have a good rain,
my lovely pink rain lilies will burst into bloom.
Zephyranthus robustus is also called Fairy Lily.
They look like bouquets in the garden.
Magical!
Flower
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.
Flower
The tiniest plant in my garden is blooming now.
Ledebouria cooperi ‘Jessop’ is only three inches high.
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.
Flower
I know that April is late for an indoor Amaryllis.
‘Benfica’ has put up its THIRD stalk of blooms.
I am usually pleased to see a second stalk, this is my first for a third.
I hope it does this well out in the garden.
Flower
For those of you that do not love sunny yellow, there are mellow daffodils.
Ice Follies Narcissus has a pale yellow fluffy cup.
Thalia is pure white and pointy.
I found a ’60 Days of Daffodils’ by Simple Pleasures that has many varieties.
This one with pink cups was a surprise mixed in a pack of others.
Love this double!
These Tazetta cultivars have a mystery source also.
If you are too mellow for yellow, there are many other daffodil colors.
Mellow Flow
floweralley 