Helleboros

Yes, we all know these lovely Winter Flowers as "Lenten Roses."  The plants in my Garden have been at least three weeks later this year than former Winters. 

I pledged that I would publish better photographs this year.  Please note the stick that I used to hold the bloom in position to get a better photograph.  Also I used a backing board to avoid the distractions in the Gardens. 

Lenten Roses

In years past I have had these blooms as early as late December.  But the Winter of 2010-2011 is a bit different.  The Lenten Roses in the gardens here in West Bibb County Georgia started to show buds about two weeks ago.  The following three images were taken this morning, Valentine's Day.

 I have never purchased Lenten Roses by color.  In order to do that you have to wait until the plants are mature and have bloomed at least one cycle.  While I enjoy the mauve blooms, I am content to take my chance on the bloom color. 

These plants self seed rapidly.  I appreciate all the colors and was able to capture some pictures this morning.  As anyone who has these plants can testify, they are difficult to photograph because the blooms usually hang down.  I sometimes hold them in the correct position, but I usually resort to bending the stem back so I can get the picture.  Or, as you can see from the first picture in this post, I used a stick to hold the bloom upright.

 My favorite color.  Admittedly this bloom is a poor photograph; but I had to include it here because of the intense color.

2011 Southeastern Flower Show

Atlanta, Georgia

 I took these pictures during my visit to the 2010 Southeastern Flower Show.  I post them here today to simply show what is available in the cool or cold month of February when most of us are planning on how we can get our gardens looking great for the Spring and Summer months ahead.

I have fond memories of attending many Southeastern Flower Shows in the past and am looking forward to the 2011 Show.

Should you desire additional information to plan your own trip to this inspiring event please visit:

http://www.sehort.org/events/2011_southeastern_flower_show/

I can guarantee that you will suffer from sensory overload during your visit to this show.  In fact I would encourage everyone to bring their camera so that they can record the beauty and also use the pictures for planning purposes in their own gardens.

Enjoy the Show!!!!

A Review of "Gardening Tidbits" Progress

Today I took the opportunity to review the post that generated the most visits and also the audience of this Blog called "Gardening Tidbits."

The pages/post that were the most visited during the period of May 2010 through December 2010 were about the following subjects:

Night Blooming Cereus

Hydrangeas

Fringe Plant (Grancy Graybeard)

Angel Trumpets

The Audience by the number of page views are broken down by Country.  I found it quite interesting that a Blog that is linked from the Garden Club of Georgia has a readership of people from the following countries:

United States of America - 745

United Kingdom - 40

Canada - 31

India - 31

Germany - 23

Russia - 18

Brazil - 13

South Korea - 8

Australia - 6

Israel - 6

As the publisher of this Blog my Goals for 2011 are:

Better Photography with pictures that have greater impact

More Entries with an emphasis on Plants exterior to my own Garden

Meet the Author of This Blog

As we all conclude the year of 2010 I thought it would be appropriate to feature a picture of the author of this Blog.

I live on a one acre lot in West Bibb County which features many trees.  The plants and flowers that I feature in "Gardening Tidbits" grow here and enjoy the partial shade that many trees provide. 

I grew up in Iowa, the Oldest Son of a Farming Couple who raised 6 children on an 80 acre farm.  The U. S. Navy brought me to Middle Georgia in 1971 and I found a "home" here.  I enjoy the moderate Winters and can survive the Warm Summers.

I enjoy working in the Gardens that surround our home and I also appreciate the opportunity to share my love of all things beautiful here on this Blog. 

I Wish all of the readers here:

A Very Blessed Christmas 

Abundant Beauty

It is always nice to prepare for Christmas.  Everyone  desires to place the best on display.  This lovely flower just reached full bloom yesterday.  It was a gift to My Bride for her to enjoy as she recovers from a major accident where she broke both bones in her right leg. 

This is an arrangement that The Pine Ridge Garden Club placed on the Hutch in the Breakfast room at the Federated Garden Center in Macon, Georgia for everyone to enjoy during the Christmas Holidays.  This arrangement features all natural plant material.  In case you may be wondering, the white in the center is blooms from a Fatsia Plant.

Enjoy the Christmas Holiday!!!!!!

December Flowers

It is time for me to make a post on this Blog.  Enjoy the December Flowers.

 These paperwhites flourish on the Southern Exposure of our Home in Macon.  As you can tell I cut some and placed them in containers so that we could enjoy them in the house.  In addition to the beauty, the fragrance is wonderful.

Everyone has fond memories of the "Christmas Cactus" Blooms that adorned their Grandmothers house during the Holidays.