Welcome to Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day, hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens where we celebrate flowers that may have been given to a Valentine’s crush. Whether planted in the garden or gracing a vase after Valentine’s Day, flowers of all sorts are always worth gushing ‘n crushing about.
It’s been a mild winter in Austin, Texas–a very April-esque February, in fact. However, winter is apparently on her way back, reminding us that it’s not quite spring yet, folks. There are blooming lovelies though, ramping up with the longer and warmer days.
Coral Honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens, a beautiful native-to-Texas vine is showing off the first of its pendant-like bloom clusters,
…there will be more to come in the next months.
By March, this vine will be loaded with glorious, tubular goodness and hummingbirds (hopefully), as well as other assorted pollinators will be all over it.
Honeybees are still working the Leatherleaf Mahonia, Mahonia bealei, on warm days.
The blooms will fade soon and that’s when the bees will move on to other nectar/pollen sources. The resulting fruits are just beginning,
…and will fully develop in the next few weeks. Birds will swoop in–primarily Blue Jays and Mockingbirds in my garden. They love juicy Mahonia fruit.
Four-nerve Daisy or Hymenoxys, Tetraneuris scaposa, has blossomed all winter. There are definitely more dancing daisies as the days lengthen, 
…and visitors are stopping by for a sip of nectar or bit of pollen.
This lone bloom heralds the start of Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea, blooming season.
Yippy! I can hardly wait!
Valentine’s Day is behind us and spring (or fall, depending upon where you live), is almost upon us. May Dreams Gardens showcases plenty of blooms from around the world on this February bloom bouquet–check it out.
My Gardener Says... 