I’m planning to actually work in the garden tomorrow, but I went out on a break from homework today and found a bunch of flowers and neat surprises.

These fun little pansies from Fred Meyer are starting to show their potential.  The weather has not been super friendly for flowers–really windy and rainy, but these little plants are unphased.

From a distance, the Camellia looks pretty good.  Close-up, though,

One of my favorite surprises–this Kerria japonica (natural form) has been in the Doug fir bed for several years, barely hanging on, but here it is showing its very first buds.  This is the single form and the flowers will really light up the shady space there.

A close-up of the Epimedium in the woodland garden.  The flowers are just starting to open.  Unlike many of its kind, the flowers of this cultivar don’t turn completely inside out.

You can see the contrast between the delicate flowers and the bold, heavy leaves here.

From a distance, you can really see the growth habit.

Another picture of the GIANT Hyacinth flower.  It has held up well, even in the disruptive weather.

Closer-in photo shows some detail.

Great close-up shows the flower detail.

I’m so thrilled with this pastel yellow-salmon Clivia miniata seedling.  The color is wonderfully soft and drastically different from the typical orange/yellow.

I took photos of the Clivia spikes today–there are five or so that still haven’t opened yet.

Another promise for next week…this looks like it may have some pastel coloring.

Pelargoniums open hundreds of flowers–just gorgeous!

Tillandsia buds pushing their way into the open.  I hadn’t noticed these until today.  This plant has two buds coming on.

Another spike coming on.

A few Hippeastrums have spikes.  This is “Green Dragon”–a very strong growing hybrid.

Not sure which cultivar this one is–will be fun to find out when the flowers open.

A newly opening Clivia spike–these flowers are traditional colors, but the plant features a more compact habit.

Another spike–this is an even more compact seedling–squat, even.  And the flowers have a different form, too.

Richly colored flowering maple flowers in the greenhouse.

Veltheimia bloom back against the far wall in the greenhouse.

Seed tray with Dianthus, Tomatoes and Lettuce sprouting.

Pleione formosana clump ended up having eight flowers.  The divisions that I planted last year are growing well, too, although not all of them appear to have come through the winter.

  A bunch of Pleione flowers.

Gorgeous Clivia flowers.

Love this close-up of the pastel Clivia.  The flower form is beautiful.   The only other non-standard colored Clivia I had was a yellow cultivar and the flowers were more spidery–not nearly this nice and the plant was weak, as well.

Another view.

In the pots along the house, the Geranium “Summer Snow” seedlings are looking strong.

These kids are ready to go out to the garden tomorrow.

Little Japanese maple and larch seedlings waiting to be bonsais someday.

Osmanthus in full bloom and full fragrance–just wonderful!

Fritillaria imperealis lutea looking stunning in the spring sunlight.

Anemone blanda blooming in the Doug fir bed.  These plants seem to be fading away over time, but at least one is left to bloom.

Brunnera “Alexander’s Great” in bloom in the Doug fir bed–I noticed this the other day on my way to work.

Close up of the forget-me-not-like flowers.

This rambunctious ivy needs to be cut way back or eradicated altogether.  It is taking over big patches of the Doug fir bed and traipsing up the trunk with abandon.

Virginia bluebells popping up in the Doug fir bed.  I don’t think they will bloom this year, but they seem strong.

The Trillium flower has opened.

Another view.

Another view of the Fritillaria.

Primrose close-up.

Showy pots in front of the house.  Just gorgeous and cheerful!

Camellia flower close-up.  The flowers are spectacular when viewed individually.  I haven’t seen this cultivar anywhere else–or at least I don’t remember seeing it anywhere.  The flowers are HUGE!

I’ve always loved grape hyacinth (Muscari).  They pop up around the garden, helped out by squirrels, I suspect.  This clump is in the raspberry bed.

A great way to propagate berries–this is a blackcap raspberry that stuck in a pot last fall–it is sprouting now and can be cut away from the mother plant now.

So excited to see the Abutilon vitifolium “Suntense” seedling in the orchard bed with a few buds on it.  These seedlings are three years old and I was starting to think they might never bloom!

Bleeding hearts budding up–this one is particularly vigorous, with a dozen or more flower spikes.

Sister Cate’s Hellebore.

Close-up of sister Cate’s Hellebore.

Plum blossoms on “Beauty.”  Not sure there are any pollinators around, but hopeful…

You can see some of the petals got blown away in the storm yesterday.

“Beauty” tree.

This is a one-year-old seedling of Geranium “Summer Snow.”   It is really big and vigorous.

Front view of the patio pots near the porch.

Mixed hyacinths in a porch pot–gorgeous colors!

In the kitchen window, another hyacinth in an interesting lavender.  I might have a hyacinth addiction!

Gorgeous tulips forced in the cold frame and now in the kitchen window.  I’m not sure “forced” is the right word–the tulips outside are blooming now, too!

Love these little species tulips–so graceful!

You can see the color better here with some flash.

Both windowsill pots showing the colors with flash.