A flower profiled on a gardening blog–who woulda thunk!
Given the devastation from the February snow and ice storms, flowers have been non-existent in my garden these past few weeks. But this pretty-in-pink ‘Colorado’ water lily opened petals this morning to the cheers of the gardener and the feeding and pollinating efforts of a native Sweat bee, Lasioglossum.
My garden currently boasts a dreary range of browns and tans, highlighted by occasional burnished green–and those colors are on plants not yet pruned to the ground. That said, low-growing, spring-blooming perennials are coming on strong and flaunting their happy green foliage, blooms to follow very soon! Spring is just around the garden path!
The surprise water lily beat them all and its welcome spring color, with accompanying bee, brings joy and hope!
My Gardener Says... 
I can’t believe this! It certainly gave me a nudge, though. Everything around here is still sufficiently blah that it hadn’t occurred to me that things might be popping already — but it’s been two weeks, so it’s entirely possible. I’m going to bake some muffins tonight, charge my camera batteries, and hit the road tomorrow. I doubt if I’ll see a water lily — but you never know.
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I just noticed your Aquilegia chrysantha var. hinckleyana and had to go look. When I wrote about working on a boat in Port O’Connor, the boat was a Hinckley — the boat of my dreams. There’s no obvious connection, but when I read about your plants, this amazed me: “Aquilegia chrysantha var. hinckleyana is one of many yellow columbines popular in the nursery trade, but it is truly rare in the wild, native only to a single waterfall in far west Texas.”
Can you imagine? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a plant that’s native in such a small area.
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I think I remember reading that (from the LBJWC site??). My columbines have really perked up nicely; I think I’ll have a flower in the next week or so. I’ve also spied a couple of tiny seedlings, too. Every spring I say to myself: if these seedlings are here in the fall, I’ll transplant them then. Of course, after summer’s toast, they’ve been long gone. I have a couple of spots in the back garden and this spring I WILL MOVE THOSE COLUMBINES!
Good luck tomorrow–I’ll bet you see some nice things!
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Blah is certainly the right word, but there are a few signs of life, I’m glad to say. And btw, my mama owl finally shifted her position in the nest box (we have a camera) and there are 4 eggs!! They’re a shy little pair, but certainly no slackers!
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This is so beautiful and enlightening. Just can’t imagine anything blooming so soon after a week of intense cold. That was about two weeks ago maybe- I have lost track. Seems like it was yesterday. But there it is and it really is an inspiration. I can imagine that you were shocked to find that beautiful bloom.
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It was a very welcomed sight! I’m seeing spring signs all around. On a walk late yesterday, I saw a Red Bud tree beginning its blooms! Yippee!
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A water lily in bloom? Blimey Tina I’m still waiting for mine to send up some pads!
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It’ll sound odd, but I get most of my lily blooms in winter and spring. My back garden, where the pond is, is shady during the bulk of the growing season. The lily plants grow, the pads provide cooling for the water and protection for the fish, but no longer quite enough sun for blooming during summer/fall. In winter, the trees I grow are bare, the sun shines bright–blooms happen. I was please that the lilies did so well after our frigid week. My pond iced over, the pads remained green. Three weeks later–bloom!
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I don’t know much about water lilies, but I am surprised it bloomed. My garden is also brown, but I am seeing signs of life (future post). I’m heading out today to cut some more plants back.
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I was only surprised because of the Arctic temps a few weeks ago. Otherwise, it’s not that unusual for my lilies to bloom in winter/early spring. I still have lots of pruning, too. Ugh.
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Beautiful! Hurrah!
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Hurrah! Huzzah!
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Such cheer in new blooms that promise life for others on this big beautiful rock.
I had an accidental Thai basil or three in the pots I brought inside that are now blooming for the bugs. And one of the blooming succulents has joined the potted tomato blossoms on the porch.
This year already has, and will continue to have, its very own rhythm.
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Its very own rhythm, indeed. The lily blooms again today and I’ve found other signs of spring: Golden groundsel blooms, almost open, Rough-leaf Dogwood trees leafing out and in another part of my neighborhood, a Red Bud with blooms!
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A red bud!?! It must’ve timed it just right. I got a neat shot of a red bud encased in ice up here.
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Happy blooms to you. Today the official beginning of spring is just two weeks away, and we go back onto Daylight Saving Time on March 14th. Yesterday I came across my first flowering anemones of the season.
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There are quite a few things blooming, or just about to. So nice to see life reasserting itself!
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We got our first does of the Pfizer vaccine this afternoon, so we hope to reassert ourselves along with the spring wildflowers next month.
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I have nothing against female deer, but make that “first doses.”
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Congrats!! So glad for you. It’ll be a while for me…:( But that’s, okay. I want to see the vaccines go first to those who are in the most vulnerable categories.
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Tina the water lily is divine, I love it. I cheer with you, Tina, for the first flower in your garden devastated by the polar cold wave of snow and ice. But life has been reborn in your garden and you already have your first flower: enjoy it. Even the bees have come to feed on it: I love the photo. Luckily, life is beginning to be reborn in your garden like the spring-flowering perennials that have recovered and will bloom very soon, or your tree that is reborn, the aquilegia seedlings and more signs of new life: have hope in that your garden is going to recover and the plants are going to sprout from their roots. Yes, Tina, the lily pad and the bee bring hope !!! Tina take good care of you and your husband and keep you safe. I hope you have good weather. Thinking of you with my best wishes. Good weekend. Very affectionate greetings from Margarita.
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I hope your weather in Spain is nice and that you’re seeing signs of spring, too. Take care, be well, Margarita!
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Thanks Tina. We have had a few days with very pleasant temperatures of 15ºC. But today the weather has already started to spoil, raining for a while and lowering the temperature. A wave of cold is coming, but Spring is like that. And there is a Mimosa tree in bloom in a garden behind my house that is divine, magnificent, wonderful. I have taken two photos of him with my mobile and if the coldness that I have is removed, I am going to make a blog with him. If I do, I will let you know. Take good care of yourselves and enjoy your blooming water lily. Have a very good and happy week with good weather. Very affectionate greetings from Margarita.
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I’m glad your days have mostly been nice weather. I know rainy days can be unpleasant, but we need those days!
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Spring is just around the garden path, indeed. That is a beautiful bloom!
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Thanks, Beth. Everyday, there are more spring happenings in the garden!
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Wow! Amazing. I am still wondering if mine survived. I do see a few leaves and the fish survived too. Happy for that.
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My pond plants fared well, as did the fish. It had never frozen over, so that was interesting. More blooms are happening, or soon to: columbine, golden groundsel, spiderwort. All nice to see!
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It’s a good sign, for sure. Spring is definitely on its way, although somewhat delayed. I was wondering how you were holding up during all that. So glad you’re alright! The garden will green up again in no time – of that I’m sure. That said, I think Texans have some work ahead – both restorative and legislative. I had no idea it was that bad, and that it would need a near Arctic event to lay it bare. Here’s to more competent leadership ahead!
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