Outside, It’s the Yukon, Inside, It’s Miami

ROMULEA KOMSBERGENSIS, RAISED FROM SEED PLANTED IN 2008.  A SMALL SOUTH AFRICAN BULB SPECIES RARELY SEEN.

As the snow continues to pile up, we at least are getting a break today, with bright sunshine and temperatures that rose from a lost of -1 last night, to 28 deg. F today. In the greenhouse, it seems everything is beginning to bloom, the air smells like violets and the camellias and South African bulbs are all starting to open up with new species opening every day. Here are a few, to share for Friday Flowers.

THE BACK OF THIS ROMULEA IS PARTICULARLY STRIKING

CAMELLIA’S BLOOM IN THE GREENHOUSE, AS THE SNOW CONTINUES TO PILE UP OUTSIDE, IT WAS HIGHER THAN THE CURVED GLASS, BUT I HAD TO SHOVEL IT DOWN TO THE BOTTOM PANES. MORE SNOW TOMORROW, IT’S CHEST DEEP HERE.

THE SNOW IS HIGHER THAN MY WAIST, BUT I LIKE TO BELIVE THAT IT IS INSULATING  THE FOUNDATION. WITH SINGLE PANE GLASS, IT’S A LITTLE SCARY WHEN THE SNOW TOUCHES THE GLASS.

HYACINTHOIDES ARISTIDES, A FRAGRANT TINY RELATIVE OF THE COMMON HYACYNTH, BUT RARELY SEEN IN COLLECTIONS. IT MUST BE GROWN AS AN ALPINE PAN, UNDER GLASS.

Many small winter-blooming rare bulbs are beginning to bloom now. The Romulea’s are starting, and in a few weeks, the Gladiolus species and the Lachenalia will start. Even though it is cold outside, the sun already feels strong.

OXALIS

AN INTERSPECIFIC CLIVIA CROSS BLOOM

ASPHODELUS ACAULIS

Our State bird, the Black Capped Chickadee 

I really hate bringing up the snow issue again, but it is quite remarkable here in Massachusetts. We had another 20 inches this week, and more on the way this week. The roofs are all leaking, and we have had to pay a tree company to shovel off the roof because the ice dams that are forming near the edge of the roof are backing up water which is melting and coming into the house.  At least the dogs like it.