Where does the time go? Where did winter fly to? It seems like one day it was snowy and freezing, and the next it was spring and the daffodils were popping up everywhere! And with that, my gardening life kicked into high gear. And my blogging life slowed to nothing. I've been meaning to blog about all the wonderous things that started happening around here when spring started but I just got too busy. But no excuses, Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day is here, courtesy of Carol at May Dreams Gardens. So it's time to take stock of my blooming pretties, check out some other blooming pretties at Carol's blog, and share with you a daffodil "rescue" I did recently. Hopefully you won't mind a few blooms from a couple of weeks ago that I really meant to share with you.

This year I bought several (okay, quite a few) bulbs from Old House Gardens and I splurged on this little baby, a species tulip, Tulipa clusiana. Because these are so dear, I put a few in my stock tank and a few on my hard-to-please hillside, for insurance purposes in case they didn't like one or the other spots. These are the first to bloom and they're in the stock tank. They seem very happy here but the ones on the hillside are coming along too.

Oh yes, Virginia, I do plan to try my hand at growing peonies in the South. One baby step at a time though. Not technically a bloom, but thrilling to me nonetheless.

Staying with the bulb theme, these starflowers are real keepers as they seem very hardy.

I don't know the variety of most these daffs but the top left is 'Jetfire' and the bottom right is 'Ice Follies'. And speaking of 'Ice Follies' ...

Last spring at the Jonquil Jubilee in Gibsland, I plunked down a dollar for a raffle ticket. The prize? 1,000 'Ice Follies' daffodils planted whereever you liked. Lo and behold, I won! Of course, I wondered what on earth I was going to do with all of them and then I realized - I live on a corner lot and I really should share these with the neighborhood. So last fall, Will Baker came out and planted them (something I never could have done myself!). I can't really tell if there's a thousand there, and I don't really care! This variety is supposed to be really good for naturalizing in this area, and I've found out they last a long time in a vase. I hope they spread out and more people in my neighborhood will plant some!

Here's some of the work we've been doing. Husband moved my bird bath to put a little stock tank pond in (tank is awaiting leveling). Leveling is hard to do! Pam has generously offered me a division of one of her miniature water lilies, so Pam, the pond is ready! And in exchange, I'm giving Pam some of the daffodils I rescued from an old house.

A co-worker lives near this old house and told me about the many varieties of daffodils blooming there. When I showed interest in them, he kindly found the owner and asked if we could dig a few daffs up. The owner's son agreed (the owner is 100 years old!) and we had a really interesting time looking and digging. I think it was a grand old house at one time.

Pine trees, privet and other "weeds" had invaded the property, but the daffs were still along a drive, near the house, and in the culvert.

I'm just learning my daffodils but I think we saw Lent lilies (Narcissus pseudonarcissus), 'Butter and Eggs', 'Grand Primo' (or else 'Early Girl'), campernelles and 'Sweeties' (sometimes called 'Louisiana Sweeties' or 'Sweetness'). Pam - I dug some Lent lilies for you.

As Texans go wildflower peeping and Northeasterners go leaf peeping, I go daffodil peeping in early spring.

OK, Duba doesn't have anything to do with blooms but I thought he was cute.

Please visit Carol's blog to see what other new spring beauties abound (in the northern hemisphere at least)!

This post was written by Jean McWeeney for my blog Dig, Grow, Compost, Blog. Copyright 2010. Please contact me for permission to copy, reproduce, scrape, etc.

Well, Carol's Garden Bloggers Bloom Day was yesterday and Pam's Foliage Follow-up is today, and I'm barely getting anything together for either. I had planned to post some photos of my lettuce and kale for Foliage Follow-up but the previous two weeks of extended below freezing weather has killed them! But I'm happy to say I can show two different blooms for GBBD, even if I'm a day late. My little Lenten rose is still thrilling me with its blooms. Funny how something so little yet so new to my garden is such a thrill. When I purchased this online, it said "multi-colored," meaning they probably didn't know what I'd end up with. Well, I'm happy with this color. The other one is not blooming so that'll probably be a surprise for next winter.

My little ol' Meyer lemon is blooming up a storm inside. Now that all the blooms are opening, I can smell it when I walk in the door. I may have to take it outside this weekend (we've had temps in the upper 60s here!), just so some stray bee can pollinate it for me. I want some lemons!

I hope you all can visit both Carol and Pam's blogs to see what other gardeners have going in their gardening worlds.

And don't forget the Great Backyard Bird Count starts this Friday, going through Monday. It only takes a little of your time to become a citizen scientist!

YES!! I have blooms for this Garden Bloggers Bloom Day! I was anticipating not a bloom in sight until I remembered my African violet. I got this freebie a few months ago at the Garden Writers Symposium. The Optimara folks had a huge display of all colors, some a bit gaudy for my taste. I gravitated to this one because it reminded me of the first African violet I tried to grow. I think I got it from my then-next door neighbor and friend Brenda, who had a whole lot of them at one time (back in the 70's when houseplants ruled, ha!). This has been a nice steady bloomer since I brought it home. And I haven't even fertilized it yet.

And here's another surprise. I got this Little Women rose at the same symposium from the Storybook folks. It was pretty teeny at the time so I put it in a pot instead of the ground. Plus, I wanted to keep it near me on the deck so I could enjoy its perfume. When the cold weather arrived I decided to try it indoors in the hope that it would bloom. Well, here you go. The guest bedroom smells lovely. I believe I will keep it in a pot since it's not supposed to get that big - only 24-30 inches high by 12-24 inches wide.

And can I be allowed just one aside? Remember all the baby greens I harvested last week? (See my last post.) Well, I just saw the goldfinches eating my chard and lettuce!! Is that the thanks I get for giving them nyjer and sunflower seed?! Geez.

If you've never participated in Garden Bloggers Bloom Day before, I encourage you to give it a try. It happens every 15th of the month and it's a lot of fun to see what's blooming in other people's homes or gardens. Even if it is January! Now, stay snug and warm and be sure to visit Carol's blog to see what else is in bloom around the world today.