Flowers of Winter

I thought I would show you some pics of flowers I have blooming right now. A lot of people assume daffodils are the first flowers of the season to bloom. Not so. There are several kinds that bloom when daffodils are still only short green buds. Blooms in midwinter. Above is a purple Dutch iris. I have a small patch of these by the walkway. They grow from bulbs. These rich, lush blooms serve to remind me spring is on the way soon... but not yet. It's snowing as I write this.
Above are double snowdrops. The flowers hang down like that naturally. Since they are double, they're a bit heavier than a regular snowdrop. I love these cheerful and cute little flowers. I planted the first bulbs here almost twenty years ago and they have formed a nice little colony.

Lenten Rose (Helleborus) are incredibly lovely perennials that are always a nice surprise this time of year. I love these and they reseed themselves and spread easily. The colors of the blooms vary from rosy pinkish purple to white and green. Below is a white one.






Above is another type of Hellebore (Helleborus foetidus) with green flowers. Not as showy as some of the others but they are unusual and interesting looking. Some of the blooms appear to be wearing lipstick. :-) They are only starting to open and will stay on the plant for a few months. These also reseed and form large groups.
I hope you enjoyed this glimpse of "spring" in the midst of winter.
:-)
Vonda

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, I did. I truly did, Vonda. So much so, that I sent my blog viewers over to visit you today. Gorgeous shots! Thank you for the lift. Much cheer.

ShawnaMoore said...

Vonda, your flowers are gorgeous! If I look outside the den window, snowflakes are squalling. Those beautiful blooms are what I needed to trend my thoughts toward spring and warmer weather :) Thanks for sharing the pics!

Smiles across the miles,

Shawna

Corrina Cowan said...

Beautiful flowers, Vonda. After another foot of snow overnight added to the ridiculous amount of snow we've already had, I needed this glimpse of spring.
Thanks,
Corrina

Anonymous said...

what a lovely collection of flower photographs.

Vonda Sinclair said...

Thanks so much everyone for visiting and looking at my photos.

Elen, thanks for sending your friends over! I'm so glad you enjoyed them.

Shawna, I know what you mean. We have over 8 inches of snow now too. The flowers are hiding in snowy dens.

Corrina, Spring will come, my friend. Since you live much further north than I do, I know you've probably had your fill of the white stuff.

theysaywordscanbleed, thanks so much for visiting and for the compliments!

Anonymous said...

Vonda, these are GORGEOUS!!! The flu has our household in a choke-hold, and this was just what I needed. :)

Vonda Sinclair said...

Thanks, Veronica!! I'm sorry to hear about the flu that has hit your household. Hope you all get well soon!! Take care.

Carol Burnside aka Annie Rayburn said...

Beautiful! You truly have a green thumb. What a joy it must be to see all the lovely things growing around your home.

Anonymous said...

If you like Hellebores especially those with Green flowers - You have to see the Heronswood Nursery collection which includes Helleborus x hybridus 'Phoenix'. Masses of olive green flowers with a burgundy margin bloom in early March.