February is usually cold and bleak, but not this year. I had the windows open yesterday to air out the house, it is that warm! Above average temperatures and abundant rain have woken up all the bulbs. Another hyacinth is coming out in bloom, again way too early! This one appears to be mostly white with pink edges, but it isn’t fully in bloom yet.
The problem is that they are all coming up, and I can’t bring them all inside like I did the pink hyacinth last month. I’ll just need to keep an eye out, and cover them if needed. The bed had a bunch of clover in it, and I pulled all that out before the rain began.
The Shasta Daisy is leafing out all over the stems.
The crocus bulbs and daffodils I expect about now. This rich, deep purple crocus is the first of the season. Lots more are expected within the next few weeks.
Iris bulbs and tulip bulbs are waking up too early too. Our last average frost date is April 15th, and it has snowed in early April in years past. I leave the fallen leaves on the beds through the winter, then clean them out in the spring.
My second iris bed has a lot of growth, the taller ones are the early bloomers that are so gorgeous. If the weather takes a turn to the freezing side, I’ll have to scramble to cover them all up. Luckily I have the sheets ready.
According to the Farmer’s Almanac for 2019, the best days this month to plant above ground crops, seeds and flowers are the 15th and 16th. So, I planted the veggie and flower seeds yesterday. Hope springs eternal, but maybe this year they will do better. I’ve been reading the Master Gardener notebook and learned a bit more about seed starting. I raised the seed pots up using some plastic drawer units from the storage area to get them the suggested 16-inches from the grow light. I’ll take out the risers when the seedlings get started.
If you haven’t planted your seeds yet, the next most favorable times for flowers is the 21st and 22nd. Above ground crops days are the 23rd and 24th. I’m going to try blogger friend’s milk jug idea for outside sowing on a few tomato plants outside to see how that goes. On the wall in the kitchen, my Gardening Calendar says the moon this month is called a Snow Moon. Boy I hope it doesn’t snow!
Last month, I talked about re-potting both my amaryllis bulbs. I moved the Apple Blossom amaryllis to the silver pot, and the red one to a larger ceramic pot. A few days later, the Apple Blossom was putting up a flower stalk.
Ten days after that the flower was coming along nicely.
The red one didn’t bloom last year, so I thought giving it some bone meal and a larger pot would help. I was thrilled to see a flower spike about two weeks later.
Now, the white and pink one is three feet tall, and I hope the flower will open soon. The red one is about half that height and will be longer before it shows.
The African violets may have to be replaced. My attempts to flush out the over-fertilizing has not made any significant improvement. My attempts to root two leaves has also failed as they have been in water for a month and have no sign of any roots.
The other violet seems fuller, but the new leaves are small still, and there are scaly patches on the some stems. This may be the fungal disease for which there is no cure.
In the Carolina room, most of the surviving plants are still doing well. I did lose one of the geraniums, but the spike dracaena and the flat leaf parsley are both doing nicely.
There have been a lot of birds around this winter, keeping DH on his toes to keep their feeders full. I saw this pileated woodpecker (AKA the pig) on the suet feeder recently who may be part of the reason the feeders are emptying so fast. I’ve had to run him off several times now, along with the doves that sit on the lower feeder and keep the little birds from getting a meal. I was amazed that he figured out how to hang on to get to the food. There are a pair of them. I missed getting the picture of one hanging like this, and the other on top of the pole.
Our small herd of two does and two little ones came by recently. I spotted them in the meadow, and got the good camera for a long zoom photo.
Easing out onto the veranda, I got more photos of the little group as they crossed the driveway.
Beautiful and graceful, they look healthy. The little ones have lost their spots completely, and both appear to be does.
Such pretty faces, they are wary of me with my clicking camera. But I tried to keep still and they moved slowly into the forest.
I haven’t seen Clarence in weeks. He is the wild turkey who comes by for handouts. I miss that old bird. I hope he is living it up somewhere warmer. Maybe he will come back in the spring.
What is going on in your garden?
From My Carolina Home 
Nothing much happening in our gardens here; they are covered in at least a foot of snow, if not two. I enjoyed seeing all the green things coming up in your garden. I hope Clarence returns!
How lovely to see your plants emerging–we are weeks away from that i fear up here in SE CT. Still very cold (22 this morning); and snow is in the forecast. My amaryllis is sending up a second set of leaves after the first bloom died down–the Red Surprise one–so i don’t know if it will re-bloom..we’ll see, I am coddling it along ;))) hugs, Julierose
Love everything you post! You are truly talented! The quilts are always beautiful.
Super pictures of the wildlife and lovely to see gardens coming to life. We have had a mild winter in the UK. My first daffodil came out this morning.
Love those amaryllis!!!!!
I have successfully rooted African violet leaves in the pots and potting soil intended for African violets. Just stuck the cut leaf in and it made a new plant.
Good luck.
It’s always a treat to open your emails, Carole! I love your quilts and pics from around your home. The pileated woodpecker is huge!!
My tulips (forced) are blooming on the kitchen island in a tall glass vase. I am also enjoying 2 pairs of ladderbacks at my suet blocks along with a flicker and assorted other feathered friends. Most exciting is a pair of great horned owls at dusk and dawn in the pines who seem to talk to each other!
Yes, there are things coming up in my garden. It is early, but we have had this kind of weather in February, and milder winters before. And then the deep freeze. I usually cover my delicate plants that have come up with a cheap plastic table cloth, or trash bags work too. Just anchor them down with a couple of large rocks.
We have a lot of wild life in the woods across from the house. I have not seen much of it, but then I have not been looking. I have noticed the birds are back, and the ducks are in the pond
The Canada geese, they are always around, working on their silly migrating skills and making rest stops as a group because one or two needed to poop. At least that is what I think.
Your gardens look good and promising. I am debating on going even more minimal this year. I just do not have the time to clean up and maintain the gardens. I just like my side garden that I plant annuals for everyone to see and my lavender garden. I have a lot to do though to at least make the back yard safe for my babies. I have a hill garden with step stones and they are getting wobbly.
Thank you Carole for sharing your garden and inspiration to keep going
Such beautiful pictures Carole. At the moment, it’s snowing here in the Chicago area and could possibly snow all day. I envy the fact that you can sneak out to get pictures of your deer, since the only time I see them is if we are in the kitchen, and see them walking around in the back of the house. Then I have to unlock the door, which alerts them, and they take off. Just last week we had 2 moms and 3 teenagers wandering around, so we just stopped what we were doing, and watched them forage for food. The have done a fabulous job of ‘pruning’ one of our neighbors bushes to the point where all that’s left is the very top, where they can’t reach. I doubt they know about it since it’s behind their gazebo.
we have a variety of daffodils that open in February every year – there are too many to cover up when bad weather comes, they bloom and most times perk back up when the sun comes out – they are in a long stretch by the driveway – this year one opened at the end of January!
Your photos are wonderful. Afraid I’ll have to ignore your ideas for planting as we have about a foot of snow on the ground. However, I have a some forced bulbs flowering in the house. My son gave me a bunch of bulb vases for Christmas Hydroponic kit that I haven’t tried yet. Still have to read the literature that came with it.
About starting African Violets here is the YouTube link that always works for me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H926eorhXOY
The Irises are leafing out and the daffodils are starting to push through the soil here by the shore in New Jersey. Love your blog. Doreen
I have to live vicariously through your garden photos; they give me something to look forward to! I still have well over 2 feet of snow on the ground, and it is still snowing! Temps are cold, too!
We’re expecting 3-5 more inches of snow on top of the 3″ we got last night. No seed starting here yet. The latest frost date here in usually around the the second week in May so early April for most seeds starts. I brought my amaryllis bulbs that I had divided and put in new pots last summer up from downstairs where they had been hibernating. I watered them and put them in sunny windows. They are beginning to shoot up now so I was happy to see that I had not killed them. On any sunny day I think I could see them grow. My geraniums and begonia I brought in last fall are doing fine. The begonia is blooming, but not the geraniums. My goal was to keep them growing until I can put them out again in the spring. My poinsettias I received as gifts are still very pretty and the one I’ve had for about 5 years did turn pink/red after spending nights in total darkness and days in the light. This year was the best success I’ve had doing that. I will put them out on the deck come late spring. I like their dark green leaves out there.
Thanks for sharing all your great pictures!
Oh — love your photos of all your spring flowers. Can’t wait to dig in the dirt — but not until it gets warmer and stops snowing here in Wisconsin. Thank You so much for posting your flowers.
Snowing again here in Northern Wisconsin but that doesn’t stop one from thinking of the garden season. Your plants look good for overwintering indoors.
Tell me more about the use of milk jugs and tomato plants. We have huge veg. gardens and I love finding the breeds that grow and taste the best. Fun science in growing zone 3. so different from your zone.
This link will show the process – https://www.gardengatemagazine.com/articles/how-to/start-seeds/sow-seeds-outdoors-in-winter/
in Alaska we are far from spring….I so long for it…………your lovely pictures and notes lifted me up today! Bless you!
Your bulbs will be a glorious show again this spring, or even earlier if they grow taller sooner. Deer at the door, what a gift from nature right there.
We live in southern Minnesota and right now we are experiencing another snowfall. I think it will be May before we see green grass. We’ve had a ton of snow this year, the kids have had 8 snow days off from school, but the bright side is we are well, food in the fridge and freezer, no loss of power, and I’m content to either sew or watch TV or read a book. Life is good.
Thanks so much for the beautiful photos. Actually, we have snow falling right now, and our hills are covered with snow. You can see it by going to YouTube and searching for Tehachapi Live Train Cam at Cable. The view that comes up is from a camera that my next door neighbor has installed on his deck. The view is identical to mine. Just wonderful… Have a blessed day!
Hello Carole, Such a delight to read about and see all of your fabulous florals! Hubby and I were just laughing about the daffodils yesterday. They are close to being between 8 – 12 inches above ground and are developing the flower. Yet, we are getting our normal coldest temperatures and have had snow on the ground, plus are expecting more through the week. The Iris’ and Day Lilies are starting to push their way above ground. I can easily gather up some of the leaves and recover most of them for now. Not knowing for sure where I will be, I am rather lost in any type of plans though. We are still considering South Carolina. I will keep you informed as we make definite decisions. I am going to be putting a binding on a quilt for Miss Dodger today and then working on a tote bag using the sew in foam stabilizer. Have a fantastic day enjoying your warm temperatures!!
It will be awhile here before we see anything growing – maybe crocus in late February/early March. Lots of birds here, though – we were just watching a goldfinch at one of our feeders! Thanks for sharing your green and growing things!
Oh these photos make me think about our LakeHouse in Pennsylvania… mist likely in a month or so Spring growth will start to happen.
Here in AZ I know some people who planted bulbs will be seeing some soon. I planted Zinnias in a large container on Oct. 1st. I now have pretty zinnias blooming!🌸🌺🌼
Thank you for sharing! I loved seeing everything! Your birds and animals are a delight!
So nice to see your gardening awakening. I am in FL right now where it is warm, sunny, and green, but at home spring is at least 6 to 8 weeks away.We don’t start seeds until mid-April as our last frost date is about May 23. Re: the African Violets, I agree with Mary Jo, try rooting them in potting soil. Stick the leaf stem all the way into the soil until the bottom of the leaf touches the surface of the soil. The new plant forms at the point where the leaf meets the stem. It helps to enclose them in a plastic bag until the roots start to form. Just open the bag occasionally if too much condensation forms. On your plants, use the leaves on the longer stems. Enjoy your deer. I hate to think of what mine have destroyed this winter with so much cold and snow.
I suspect your temperatures a slightly warmer than ours. There isn’t much activity outside yet.
We are starting to see some growth here too. My hyacinths are trying to come up. Luckily they are right out the front step so I can easily cover them if need be. You, of course, have lots more growth than us.
Looks like you might just prefer to buy a couple new violets and start over. Your amaryllis are amazing!
As is the woodpecker. I wish I was lucky enough to have a pileated in my yard, but I am happy to see them sometimes in a certain park.
Carole, I noticed this afternoon that my snowball bushes are beginning to bud, way too early. The frost will get them and they are too large to cover. Hopefully your hyacinths will make it!
Plants are starting to sprout in our garden so DH will need to get out there within the next week to make sure that everything is in order. I don’t garden other than a few herbs.
The plants are looking great. It only takes a little sunshine to tempt them.
I wonder if the warm days will stay.