(C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
This Valentine’s Day was greeted with a nice dusting of snow, one of those that makes everything really pretty. The Valentine’s Day snow to remember, though, was in 2007, when much of the Midwest, including Indianapolis, was blanketed with heavy snow.
I had to cancel plans to go to Chicago for a sustainable landscaping conference. It took three days for me to dig myself out. This year’s snow job took about 15 minutes to remove from the driveway.
A white Ashwood Garden hybrid hellebore lurks below the snow. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
The snow also gave me a good opportunity to take the photos and assess the garden for this month’s Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day, which is hosted the 15th of every month by Carol Michel at May Dreams Gardens. This begins the sixth year for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day.
It’s been an exceptionally warm winter. Oh, it’s not like Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where I was a few weeks ago. But it’s been in the 40s for weeks with only occasional dips below freezing.
(C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
The 2012 Valentine’s Day snow did cover up any flowers that braved the elements. In addition to ‘Cinnamon Snow’ (Helleborus), which is still quite showy, a white Ashwood Garden hybrid hellebore was blooming. But you’ll have to use your imagination because of the snow.
Imagination also is required to appreciate the Iris reticulatas that have broken ground and soon will begin their beautiful, but brief appearance.
(C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
Thanks to fellow garden writer Veronica Sliva for introducing me to snow flowers, a lovely term that describes many shrubs and other plants.
And, I’m grateful to my Epimedium, a truly beautiful ground cover any time of the year. Right now, it has its winter color. Soon, I will cut it to the ground to make way for the delicate yellow flowers that come in March.
The holiday container takes on a Valentine’s color combo and still looks good, even though the salal (Gaultheria shallon) has taken on a dried hue.
Amaryllis cheers a winter day. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
But, for the most part, the last few weeks have increased my appreciation of amaryllis (Hippeastrum), which have done a great job of cheering the indoors.
Holiday container retains beauty through Valentine's Day. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sahrp
Yes, that snow was very fleeting, wasn’t it? I didn’t shovel my drive, and it was cleared by the sun by noon, I think. But the snow was good for bloom day pictures if you caught it at the right time! Thanks for joining in.
You make me totally appreciate my Middle South climate zone!
Totally. Although, we rarely have snow cover to protect plants, it seems to appear right when late winter wants to be early spring! gail