Friday, January 15, 2010

January GBBD--At Last!

This is the time of year when we Northern gardeners read with envy the Bloom Day posts of our neighbors in the South. Perhaps not this year. The extreme weather may have turned some of those beautiful gardens into something that resembles my frozen garden. Why not check out the links at May Dreams Gardens, to see what, if anything, is blooming on this January Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day.




Instead of gardening clogs, one must wear tall boots to tromp through the snowdrifts to see if anything picturesque not already shown here is worth photographing. The shade garden provides a few new scenes. Heuchera blooms still wave in the brisk winter winds even if the rest of the plant is submerged.




With its feet frozen in place, "Let's Dance in the Moonlight" can't even manage a two-step.


There is a little color on my patio, however. Not to be outdone by the beautiful poinsettias Donna found growing outdoors on a recent trip to San Diego, these red beauties are undaunted by the cold. Of course, mine are the type that never stop "blooming":)


To find a few real blooms at my home, we have to go indoors. Geraniums, a begonia, and Miss Rosemary are still hanging on in the sunny spare bedroom. Next door, a single pot of tulips I planted on January 3 are beginning to show some signs of life. Maybe they will be ready for the next Bloom Day?



But what has really excited me this past week is this gangly-looking plant. Some of you may remember that last year I attempted growing my first amaryllis bulb. The plant grew and grew with leaves extending at least two feet, but it never put out a blossom. I stuck it outside, pot and all, over the summer, watering it only as an occasional afterthought. After the weather turned cold this fall, I finally remembered to bring it in, not expecting it to survive. Imagine my surprise last week when a stalk emerged with what looked like a bud on it.

I watched it carefully on Monday . . .



. . . and on Tuesday . . .



. . . looking good on Wednesday . . .




Voila! Thursday afternoon--perfect timing for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!



Yes! This may just get me through a few more weeks of winter.





To see other blooms from all over the world, visit our charming hostess and the keeper of the secrets to gardening happiness, Carol.

41 comments:

  1. Perfect amaryllis, Rose! But the outside flowers look fine too, especially that vigourous poinsettia. ;-) Looks much healthier than the one I was teaching everyone about.

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  2. Love that amaryllis and the day by day pictures of the opening of it. Amaryllis is what pulls me through January, too! Thanks for sharing yours and for joining in for bloom day so faithfully.

    Carol, May Dreams Gardens

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  3. Ooooo that amaryllis is a beauty. I love the touch of color. Color is what we need this time of year when our world is so much black and white. Even your poinsetta is appealing during this time. Happy GBBD.

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  4. Good morning Rose and happy Friday. the amaryllis blooming just for you. :)

    And so you know it looks like the weather will remain in the 45-50 range for the next several weeks, thus all seems good in Portland. ;)

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  5. Yahoo! Blooms in January can't be beat! Love those lace curtains behind the amaryllis too.

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  6. You are so right about us down south experiencing a muvch browner garden than we are used to. Your Amaryllis is beautiful.

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  7. Hi Rose, well done! The rules didn't say the blooms had to be blooming now, did they? I do believe you need a taller stake for the Amaryllis though, when the flowers open it will be quite heavy! :-)
    Frances

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  8. Rose girl you and I have the same amaryllis I think ? Apple Blossom ? .. I have to take a picture of mine because one bloom has no bottom petal and I am wondering if it is because it tried to get out of the box before I knew it was happening ?? LOL
    Yes .. bloom sin the snow usually look "brown" ? so that poinsettia looks GREAT ! haha
    Joy : )
    My clogs on the deck are so mad at me for not cleaning them and taking them indoors ;-(

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  9. Hi Rose, I have that amaryllis, I think it's apple blossom. I love the color. Mine sit on the windows at work. Can't have plants in the house because the kitties 'must' eat them.
    Marnie

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  10. That amaryllis is fantastic - and so are the photographs. and a little humor in the snow is always welcome.

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  11. This should be called the 'year of the Amaryllis' -- so many of us had one or more. By next Christmas, everyone should have one, and more coming on for January and February. 'Apple Blossom' is the first Amaryllis I ever saw bloom and remains a fav.

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  12. Looks so cold outside but also very beautiful! The Amaryllis is gorgeous. I love that combination of white and apple blossom pink.

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  13. What great timing! Your amaryllis knew exactly when you would need it to open. I look forward to seeing your tulip bloom next month :^)

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  14. Love it! Isn't it sweet when our flowers pitch in and do exactly we want of them? What a fun post! Happy GBBD.

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  15. Congratulations on reblooming the Amaryllis, Rose - and making it stick you your schedule. It's a lovely color!

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

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  16. Lovely amaryllis Rose.....such a pretty bloom. Yes that will keep you going till spring arrives silently on your doorstep.

    I love the heuchera spent blooms against the snow. A delightful contrast.

    Having had four weeks of snow now, I have some understanding of what you go through each winter. I don't think I could cope with lack of colour.....I never realised how much I love my grass!!

    I do hope you get a little warm winter sunshine soon......

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  17. Very beautiful snow scenes. And the amaryllis is spectacular. If you want to be totally jealous of amazing things actually growing, you should check out Country Mouse's bloom day. Southern California has apparently not frozen!

    Personally, I don't mind the snow, it makes it so beautiful. And if we didn't get cold, our daffodils wouldn't bloom and neither would our peonies. So I guess we have to take the cold with the hot.

    Glad I stopped by!.

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  18. It seems like if you sat in front of the Amaryllis and just looked at it, you could watch it bloom. Nothing like an Amaryllis for hours of winter fun. Yours is lovely.

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  19. Your amaryllis is gorgeous Rose! I have no luck getting them to rebloom.

    You captured some beautiful winter scenes - really pays off not cutting everything back in the fall!

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  20. We'll make it! Your amaryllis is really beautiful. I think it's apple blossom. Happy Bloom Day Rose.~~Dee

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  21. Congratulations. It is a lovely amaryllis. Valerie

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  22. Oh yay! I wonder if that's the same amaryllis as mine? I think that's what mine should look like but I haven't grown it before. Looks like January is amaryllis month for most of us!

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  23. Beautiful photo series, thanks.

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  24. Rose, how thrilling! They are gorgeous blooms and sure to brighten home and hearth during these long days of winter blahs.

    Hopefully the one you gave me will be in bloom for next bloom day.

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  25. Wow Rose what a great Amaryllis! (and yes perfect timing!)

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  26. Hi Rose,
    As I started reading this I thought to myself "my you're brave posting in the middle of January" Especially with only snow and the occasional dried up plant in the backyard.

    But you left the best for last. What a surprise! Your amaryllis looks so beautiful!! I've never been able to oversummer (is that what you call is?) mine. They just seem to grow a green stem and then the bulb rots.

    I like your little sprout too. It's fun to watch indoor bulbs bloom in winter.

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  27. The amaryllis is a winner, and so cooperative! If only we could all find some that would bloom on cue. Happy blooms day.

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  28. Hello Rose,
    Yes, your Amaryllis are just so pretty and I am glad they finally opened up for you. Mine are very similiar colors. I too, went with a lighter palette. (white with pink)
    I am glad we have these indoor bulbs to keep us satisfied during long winter months. They are such bright spot of color when everything else seems "dead".
    Rosey

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  29. Thanks for visiting on my blog. I never tire watching an Amaryllis grow & bloom. It seems like they grow about 3 inches a day! Nice photos.

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  30. I love amarylis, beautiful snowy pics too. All the snow has melted here in my part of the UK, yay! Perhaps we can get back to normality now!!

    Sx

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  31. Oh what a perfect amaryllis and perfect timing too!

    You have really serious snow, don't you?! But hope and new beginnings already.

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  32. Great job with the amaryllis! I can't wait until I get some bulbs blooming inside, hopefully in time for next bloom day!

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  33. Your amarayllis is a beauty Rose. I enjoy watching them as they open up almost as much as when they are in flower. It all happens so quickly and it is great to watch close up. Your tulips are making great progress and I will keep my fingers crossed for you that they are in bloom next Bloom Day:)

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  34. Good stuff, Rose, and lovely photos including your happy amaryllis :)

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  35. That was lovely to see the way the Amaryllis was born! great photos.

    Nuts in May

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  36. You naughty girl, Rose! You nearly had me fooled with that Poinsettia!! :)

    Lovely photos here again and so nice to see my favourite flower name ever, featured again but such a shame it can't even manage a two-step!

    My sister-in-law gives me an Amaryllis every year as part of my Christmas present, she buys one for herself too and then the race is on to see whose flowers first. Well! This year I won but!! although mine is in flower, the stem has only grown to around 4 or 5 inches tall! It is such a little sweetie though :)

    Our snow has gone, at last! We had rain and fog yesterday but today is bright, glorious sunshine, just lovely! I do hope you get some respite soon.

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  37. Rose, I think you need more Amaryllis! Easytogrowbulbs.com is still shipping, if you're interested. I've gotten some lovely Amaryllis from them.

    Thanks for all your sympathy recently over my unexpectedly cold weather. The blooms on my corner of Katy are few and far between this January!

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  38. Thanks to everyone for your comments! I have been trying to visit everyone this weekend rather than write individual replies this time--I hope I haven't left anyone out. Thanks to those of you who identified this amaryllis as "Appleblossom." I tend to buy bulbs that either have no name listed or else I lose the info. The outdoor "poinsettia" is looking much better than my indoor one which needs to find its way to the compost heap asap. The snow is slowly melting here and temps are warmer, though I know that in Illinois winter is far from over.

    And thank you, Carol, for sponsoring another great Bloom Day!

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  39. Congratulations, Rose! A beautiful amaryllis! All amaryllis blossoms are beautiful... I wonder if I'll get any this Winter? ha! Happy January!

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  40. I swear that before it was open completely, your amaryllis bud looked like it was smiling.

    Your mention of wearing tall boots to tromp through the snow reminds me how much I miss sticking my feet into my flip flops in the early morning and walking outside to see what's blooming. Ahhhhh! Summer, where are you?

    Luv the photo of the tulips beginning to show some growth. New life is exciting whether it's plants or babies.

    You are so kind to mention the poinsettias in my San Diego post. Thank you.

    donna

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