Monday, March 26, 2012

Flowers around the House


While spring pretended to be summer for a few weeks, topiaries wait patiently to go outside for the summer and winter bulbs continue to impress.  The La Paz amaryllis sent up an impressive third stalk towering nearly three feet tall to look at the action outside.


Outside, David Autin roses were fooled into budding.  They didn't hear the forecast for temps in the teens and twenties tonight.


Hollyhocks not willing to wait for raking to be done.



Bergenia (Pig Squeak) blooms are about three to four weeks early.



And peonies make an early appearance to greet the crocus.

At this rate my garden might be done by June.

Linking to Jane's Flowers in the House party today.  Stop in and smell the lilacs.

31 comments:

  1. I hope Shelley didn't keep the fires burning waiting for you....

    That amaryllis is a energizer bunny and beautiful to boot.

    Bundle up it's going to be cold tonight!

    xo Jane

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  2. That amaryllis is a star! Nothing like some bulbs indoors to make it feel like spring.

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  3. It's so crazy. All the cherry trees are in full bloom. Thursday they were sticks and today they are full flowers. So pretty.

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  4. Do you always prune down your peony? Joe cut mine way back without asking I was terrified it wouldn't come back.
    Have you staked that Amaryllis or is it holding up on its own?

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  5. I'm a little jealous of all those people with their flowering lilacs and cherry blossoms, while in Massachusetts it's cold again. I hope your roses and hollyhocks survive tonight. Your garden will be beautiful.

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  6. Hi Steve,
    We're expecting cold temps tonight as well - crazy, isn't it? I hope the rose buds (yours and mine) make it! That amaryllis is gorgeous.
    Karin

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  7. I'm freezing and after last weeks warmth I'm not happy about being teased. My roses are all getting to work putting out major shoots and I'm going to have to cover them again tonight since it's going to be COLD!

    XX
    Debra~

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  8. Our peonies are showing, too. all the ferns are beginning to come up. Scary, the dogwoods are opening, too!!! The old Cherry Tree in the cemetery is as spectacular as it's ever been.

    Here's hoping being a few hundred yards for eh ocean will keep us above freezing these next few nights...

    Cheers,
    John

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  9. I can't wait for peonies again...and by that I mean in my garden, not at Trader Joe's. When we moved to California I left all of my round cage things with stakes to keep them corralled...I never thought we would be going back. Do you use those?

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  10. beautiful!
    Here at Spain the air has a lovely smell of summer today!

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  11. Lovely as usual.

    Now that the weather is cooling down, I can take a break from weeding and get back to my spring cleaning!

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  12. it looks as it something very exciting is happening outside that window!

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  13. I was just researching last night for some mid/late summer blooming flowers...my garden is acting like it's May and I'm afraid I wont have anything by end of summer! Everything is so thoroughly confused...there were even bees on my front porch today.

    Still love those topiaries!

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  14. Just what I needed, more inspiration to get going on my little garden! La Paz is amazing and I envy you the peonies. Love hollyhocks, maybe I'll plant a few of those this year!

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  15. lovely blog...great photos
    take a look at what is budding in Southern Ontario

    cheers...
    Linda :o)

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  16. Oh I hope everything survives you cold snap. Bonnie

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  17. I'm a little worried about everything surviving the frost! I don't ever recall seeing the Spring flowering trees and bushes in full bloom - in March!

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  18. Love the promise of spring and walking around the yard to see what is making an appearance in the garden. Things are definitely ahead of schedule here. I am hoping the predicted cold weather will not cause too much damage.

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  19. Love that Amaryllis!
    I had Peonies but dug them up and the stinkers still try to come back...must have missed some roots.
    (I hate the ants they attract.)
    Yeah, the Lilacs are blooming, I have Roses budding, the Pear tree is white with blossoms and the Apple pink. Wild Violets are popping up along side the Daisies and CatMint is everywhere....and NOW as I type this, I'm fighting the urge to turn on the heat!
    Crossing fingers that all our flowers survive!

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  20. I'm a little worried too. I just talk to my daughter who is away at school in NH. and its 30 degrees and snowing up there. I hope it all stays up there. Good thing I didn't buy my pansies yesterday.

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  21. I know a lot of people are going to comment on your incredibly tall amaryllis, but I think your last photo would make a great painting. It's am amazing photo for color, movement, texture, and somehow it reminds me of a pitched battle.

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  22. It's nuts outside. So nice to see the blooms indoors. Your images are beautiful. I too hope our gardens aren't over before they start.

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  23. I was walking my garden this morning and could not figure out what was wrong / missing.....so I came inside and visited my computer picture archives...AH HA!!!...My garden has skipped a month + to May 1st......April has been sacked!

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  24. Hi Steve, I am in Oakland helping Camille put together the twin's room, so hopefully you will see a post soon about that project on the Vintique Object. It was so hot in Albuquerque the day I flew out that I could not believe I would need a coat in California. Everything was budding out way too soon.
    I SO covet that amaryllis that I might have to go to confession even though I am not a Roman Catholic! I finally read your original post about stripping hardware and a amazed at how simple it sounds.

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  25. Awww. I heard about your cold snap. My friend runs an apple farm out your way and is worried for the crop!

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  26. I'm so happy to have found your blog today! We are also reviving a cottage in the city--actually a 1902 brown shingle craftsman in Berkeley, CA--and it has been almost 4 years and we still have so much to do. We haven't yet tackled the exterior (except to replace the entire foundation and roof, but that's a lot of money and no fun!) so I just read your summary of your exterior renovation and was so inspired! Thanks so much for sharing your journey. -Lane

    www.urbanorchardinteriors.com

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  27. I have never seen an amaryllis like this one... spectacular! Hope the return of cold temps did no harm...

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  28. I have two orchids that I bought a year ago and they have never bloomed again.

    Gretchen

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  29. Your house is absolutely stunning! I have a Georgian home in the UK that was built in 1822, and it's so interesting to see the architectural styles from around the world that were popping up around the same period (give or take a decade). The weather is also weirdly warm (hot even!) for the time of year in England - NOT that I'm complaining - this is England I'm talking about after all! - and yes the gardens are going topsy turvey!

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  30. Oooo. Hollyhocks! I adore those. Had no idea they're an east coast flower too. Hope the roses made it the night!

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