Hello sweet friends! It is mid-January and I am thinking about all things gardening, so much so, I’ve even ordered seeds…zinnias, sunflowers, and marigolds should arrive tomorrow !
“The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing.”
Isaiah 35:1-2a ( ESV)
Find a comfortable spot, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and come along as I share my garden journal!
To view the original posts, click on the highlighted links.
Daffodils – The Harbingers Of Spring
In early February the cottage garden starts to wake up. Green shoots begin to break through the soil and the bright yellow daffodils, the harbingers of spring, start showing their happy faces by middle to late February.
I can’t help but smile when I see the blooming daffodils while everything else is still sleeping in the garden!
One of the first early spring blooming shrubs/trees is our Snowball Viburnum. Our late frosts can certainly nip its showy blooms. The blooms are large, about eight to ten inches in diameter, and resemble snowballs. Many people mistake their blooms for hydrangeas. These flowers start out lime green and then open to pristine white.
Lady Banks climbing rose is considered by many to be the quintessential cottage garden flower. The Lady Banks Rose blooms in early spring. Its buttery yellow double flowers are held in clusters and displayed on thornless slender branches.
Peonies & Other Garden Happenings
By late April, peonies become the stars of the garden! With its gorgeous white-ruffled blooms and enchanting fragrance, Festiva Maxima is a stunning cut flower!
Vernique Blue Speedwell was planted in the cottage garden spring of 2023. It is a perennial and features dark purple-blue flowers. It attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds!
Sarah Bernhardt is a stand-out among peonies. We had to move her last fall, hopefully she will bloom!
In our June garden, daylilies are in full bloom! They are one of my favorite garden flowers; easy to grow, almost maintenance free, survive drought, and virtually disease and pest free! They can range in color from sunny yellows and blushing pinks to deep purples and electric greens. ‘Endless Beauty’ is a prolific bloomer!
There is something that is old-fashioned about the gladioli. My grandmother always had them in her small flower garden. I bought the bulbs at Lowe’s a few years ago and didn’t really think they would come up. The past two years they have spread and need dividing. Their blooms open from bottom to top. I love the way they look in the June garden and rarely cut them. I just enjoy their beauty from my kitchen window!
I had said I would never plant cosmos again! But last year when the I saw the ‘Double Click Bicolor Pink’, in the seed catalogue, I had a change of heart! They were beautiful for several weeks, but they quit blooming even though I tried to baby them. I have given up!
My sweet RM has been planting sunflower seeds for many years. I can’t imagine the summer garden without their happy faces! They are one of my favorite flowers to photograph.
Bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies are attracted to sunflowers!
Limelight and Vanilla-Strawberry hydrangeas are the stars of the July garden! In the rear corner is the Black-eyed Susan that the gardener at The Swag passed along to us in a cup two years ago!
The focal point of the garden is an old bronze statue that was originally a fountain. It has aged to a patina that is more suitable for a country garden!
Zinnias: Summer’s Colorful Flower
Zinnias are a perfect summer flower. They love full sun and can withstand our hot Alabama weather!
Zinnias are annuals, but we always have some appear from the prior season. They do not like to be transplanted, planting from seed produces a healthy and happy crop.
The garden’s two crape myrtles had one of their prettiest summers!
Are you making garden plans?
Thank you for your visit and gracious comments. Wishing you a joy-filled day!
Linking with: Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda
Good morning, dear Pam. What a lovely way to start the day, with your beautiful garden of flowers. I am so looking forward to seeing you in a couple of days!
Thank so much, my friend!
I always love it when you share your garden journal. It’s always filled with color and when I see it in the midst of our winter it reminds me that spring and summer will come again and with them, the glorious blooms.
Thank you, Jeanie! We are having a colder winter than usual. I do look forward to spring!
Good morning, dear Pam! It is 22 here, and I have a cup of coffee while I strolled through your garden. So many beautiful flowers to enjoy! I need to order my zinnia seeds since yours are about to be delivered. Time is going by so fast, but I am enjoying these cold days of being cozy and not worrying about watering plants. Do you have snow in your forecast again for next week? Looks like we might get something again next Wednesday! Stay warm!!
Good evening Roxanne. It was about the same temperature here. I am not looking forward to the severe cold next week. We may get snow on Tuesday. They are predicting 3 or 4 days that will not get above freezing! Yikes!! Stay warm and safe!
Thank you for the flower therapy on a cold January morning Pam! 🌸 I would love to have a raised bed or two to plant those gorgeous sunflowers to keep the seedlings safe from all our bunnies. 🌻🐰 What a spectacular display of blooms on your crape myrtle! Stay warm and Happy Thursday 💗
Thank you, Mary. I thought of you this morning when it was barely daylight and I looked out my kitchen window and saw a rabbit hopping around. There isn’t much to munch on now. Stay warm!
What a great idea to show us your garden waking up as it’s so cold here and we are expecting sub zero weather this weekend. It always amazes me that out of this hard cold clay soil that a tiny shoot can appear out of the ground that becomes the beauty that God intended for us in Spring. Praise Him🙏🏻
Praise Him! Thank you, Alice. We are expecting a few days that will not go above freezing, very rare for us. Please stay warm and be safe, my friend!
I loved seeing your garden throughout the seasons, it is always beautiful Pam, and your hard work shows. Your peonies are breathtaking and I always love your colorful summer zinnias and beautiful smiling sunflowers! I know you are excited to receive your new seeds, and hopefully the weather will be warming soon and it won’t be long until you are happily planting again!
Thank you, Jenna. This cold weather and extreme cold predicted for next week has me longing for spring. Stay warm and safe, my friend!
Hello Pam,
Your garden flowers are so beautiful all year around. I cannot wait for Spring and Summer to plant some beautiful blooms in our new place. It will be fun to have a little bit of a yard to play in the dirt. I love peonies and I hope I can plant some here. Yours are gorgeous. Big hugs my friend. Have a great day. Kris
Thank you, Kris. You will enjoy having space for flowers and playing in the dirt. Big hugs to you, my friend. Stay warm!
Pam, your gardens are always stunning! Looking back at your blooms is the perfect flower therapy for this winter’s day. These photos belong in a magazine! They are telling us to prepare for pipe bursting cold this weekend. The weather man is predicting 140 hours below freezing. I hope he is wrong. I’m ready for spring to arrive. Wishing you a wonderful day and weekend ahead, sweet friend!
Thank you sweet friend. Oh my, that is almost 6 days. We are predicted to have 3-4 days below freezing. I hope you don’t have any pipes bursting. I normally enjoy the stillness of winter, but bitter cold makes me long for spring. Stay safe dear one!
Quite a treat this morning, Pam, thank you!
I associate gladiolus with the sweet old ladies of my childhood…like you mentioned…one thinks old fashioned…I think some should be added to my garden this year. And maybe hollyhocks?
Your Zinnias always bring happy smiles…better add Zinnias to my list too.
Thanks again Pam, for such an inspirational treat on this cold morning in January, our garden is yet covered in snow.
Your photos are such a delight! 🌿🏵🌿
Thank you, Sue for those sweet comments. The glads have been so pretty, hopefully this year they will be just as beautiful. I have never tried hollyhocks but they are lovely and also old-fashioned. Stay cozy and warm, my friend!
No doubt that your garden will be lovely as ever dear Pam. I am afraid I lost quite a bit of my beautiful plants with frost and just not able to care for them this year. But it’s a new year and I need to start thinking about Spring flowers! Happy New Year to you. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Thank you, Cindy. I know that your garden will come back to life with your tender loving care. Hugs and blessings, my friend!
I love your garden journal! I so enjoy seeing your past garden flowers. I am always in need of flower therapy. It is extremely dry here in the desert, and I think we will not have a wildflower season like we have had in the past springs. Your garden flowers made me smile! Thank you, my friend! Enjoy the rest of your week dreaming of Spring Flowers!
Thanks so much, Nancy. I am so sorry about your drought. Are y’all susceptible to fires where you live? I am so glad you enjoyed the flower therapy, my friend!
Yes, we are susceptible to fires especially out in the desert areas. 🙏
Pam, sheer joy seeing this post! I love this look back through the seasons. Just what we all need on this cold winter day! It’s actually sunny here today, so beautiful to be outdoors if dressed warmly. We are anticipating another severe freeze early next week. Never fun here because we have to cover things to protect them. I do love the winter months, and the thought of spring bulbs and wildflowers which follow. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Sarah. It was sunny here today, but next week is going to be really cold! Stay safe and warm, my friend!
Cheers to you Pam reading and ordering your seeds and of course dreaming of spring! The journal is a real inspiration!
Thank you, Mary. We are expecting really cold temps here next week!
Yes, I am making plans for the garden. I ordered some bare root perennials last fall, and those are holding in pots in the Carolina room waiting for spring. I hope to get the whole front flower bed converted to perennials from the bulbs and irises that I tore out.
Happy gardening, Carole!
Pam, what a nice respite to revisit your garden while we are STILL under snow and ice from Jan 6. I especially love the look of that Vernique speedwell, the color is so striking! The Lady Banks is so beautiful too. It makes me want to find a spot for that on a trellis within my own landscape. So many plants, so little space. I will enjoy a larger landscape vicariously through yours! Thank you for sharing the year in blooms.
Thanks, Rita. Will this new blast of cold bring you snow and ice?
Veronique is a gorgeous color. I saw it for sale at Trader Joe’s this past Tuesday. Rita, we just hope we can keep up what we have. Having plenty of space tempts us to enlarge the garden. We are too old to keep adding. Don’t tell Butch I I said that!
Beautiful, and spiritual, work, Pam. I believe caring for God’s creation is an act of worship.
Amen and thank you for your visit, Mitch!
Pam, your garden is absolutely beautiful. Thank you for taking us on a tour. I know you are looking forward to spring and all the renewal your garden will bring.
Thank you, Velva for your sweet visit and comments!
Ahhhhhh…simply Ahhhhhh ~ You inspired our Lady Banks plantings, Pam, and have lured me
toward other beautiful additions since. On a bone-chilling day, strolling through yours and
Butch’s exquisite gardens warms the heart and feeds the soul. We are slated for some below-
freezing temps this week and as Southern architecture is constructed for ventilation in Summer
heat, I’ll be wrapped in a downy comforter sipping hot ginger tea and revisiting your gardens.
Keep warm and enjoy snuggling. Blessings +
Just what I need on a cold winter day. Your flowers are so gorgeous. Love the different varieties. Truly looking forward to spring.
Thank you, Linda. It is extremely cold here.
Always enjoy your garden posts, Pam. I wonder if you find that things that worked 20 years ago don’t now because of climate change. I know we have a whole new set of weeds I’ve never seen before in 65 years of gardening. I was my mom’s gardener at age 10 or so…Hugs, loved all the photos, Sandi
What a stunning line up Pam!
We’ve just had horrendous storms through here, over the past week, that have taken out a great deal of our Summer foliage.
But I’m sure there will be new growth once again as the seasons pass.
Blessings, Jennifer
Jennifer, I am so sorry to read of your horrendous storms. It is extremely cold here. Take care my friend and thank you!
Your garden colors are beautiful and I know you are anxious to plant as soon as the ground thaws a bit. LOL. I especially love the sunflowers as they remind me of Kansas. The sunflower is the state flower and I am so happy that we can grown them here in Florida. We can’t grow peonies, lilacs and daffodils (anything that requires cold winter holdover.). Thanks for sharing and letting me live vicariously through your gardens. Hugs my friend.
Thank you, my friend. We are definitely in the deep freeze! Wishing you a wonderful week!
What a beautiful garden journal Pam and I loved seeing all your gorgeous flowers! They are all beautiful but I especially love that snowball viburnum – I just checked and they will grow here. Hmmm. Your flowers bring a longing for spring which is still several months away for us. I’m sorry about the awful weather there and I hope it passess quickly. Take care down there my friend!
Thank you, Kim. You would really love the snowball viburnum. Maybe you ca. plant one. It snowed several inches on our Gulf Coast beaches today, now that is almost unthinkable. We are not used to days and days of cold weather. There was no snow in Northeast Alabama, just way down South. Take care, my friend!
I was just thinking how your blog is really a work of art. The photos are just stunning! I mistook the one plant for a hydrangea, too. It looks so similar. I love your beautiful crepe myrtles. It made me miss our old home. Kevin and Zach had bought me a beautiful crepe myrtle that we planted by our garage. I just wonder how big it is by now. I hope all is well with you and your family. It has been a long time since I got to visit with you. I have been working hard on finishing my next book. Trying to get caught up today.
Thank you, Cheryl. I know you are excited and wanting to finish your book! I am so glad you dropped by for some visits!