Hope Springs Eternal For Blooms

Any blooms, some blooms, one bloom!

I searched the far corners of Clay and Limestone and found these lone Violas blooming in the sun~I love their tissue paper petals and the variety of colors offered.  This year it's purple to compliment the colchicums that grew up and through them.  Next spring when the  kales bloom

they'll look fantastic together~For now, I am happy that

The sun is shining, the snow is melting  and the days are getting longer.  (Minute By Minute).  Hope springs eternal in the hearts of gardeners.


I wish you all a  marvelous weekend and a  delightful Bloom Day.  Garden Bloggers'  Bloom Day is brought to you by the  Carol, of  May Dreams Gardens. Stop by her blog for links to blogs and blooms all over the blogasphere. xxoogail

This post was written by Gail Eichelberger for my blog Clay and Limestone Copyright 2011. Please contact me for permission to copy, reproduce, scrape, etc.

Bloom Day January 2009

Coal, the cat King

I have always blamed my cat for my indoor plant less state. It's true, he loves nothing more then to dig in the soil, bat the flowers about and nibble on the leaves. But, let's be honest, a big part of the problem is me!

A sweet faced Viola from the Citrus Series is in bloom outside.

For instance, last week I found a cute little bulb forcing set on sale. So I bought several of them! I followed the instructions, set them in the kitchen window and proceeded to forget to top the water on them!

That's how it is...they are not on my radar screen and the cat eats them!

Another Citrus Series Viola blooming in the garden.

So, no one was more surprised then me, to find a beautiful amaryllis in my grocery cart just before the Girlfriends' Party. After seeing so many lovely amaryllis on your blogs...I had to give it one more try.

Isn't she lovely~~Apple Blossom Amaryllis.

The light reflects off her petals like diamond dust.

I had read that amaryllis were a long flowering plant. She has had

a mass of blooms since the first flower opened mid-December.

But then something happened~~ she began to lean! Not just a little~~ a lot!

She was the leaning tower of Amaryllis bloom.

Just plopped over!

I thought she wasn't long for this world...but amaryllis are quite astonishing plants... Not only has she made more flower buds...she is still alive in the vase...

A happy ending~~she has more buds forming, she's not been killed or eaten! Maybe there's hope for me and houseplants, yet. No, probably not!

and in the garden~~

Witch hazels continue to bloom~~
Diane is still clinging to her leaves. Let's hope they keep her buds safe from the arctic blast that is blowing our way! I've read that witch hazels flowers roll up their spidery blooms for protection when the temperatures are too cold.

Hamamelis vernalis spps 'Bernice' You might remember, the witch hazel was planted in honor of my mom and christened Bernice.

My mom, like the witch hazel, bloomed in the winter of her life. It's a joy for me to see Bernice blooming~~I hope she curls her petals up and blooms another day.

Thank you so very much for joining me today.

Bloom Day is brought to you by Carol, May Dreams Gardens. Please join in and show us your bloom on the fifteenth of each month...to see more Bloom Day revelers...stop by Carol's today!

One last plant in the garden~~Russian Kale~~