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The magical life of flowers

What I love so much about growing flowers is the way that they constantly surprise us. I've never had much luck growing annual Sweet Peas, although that hasn't stopped me from trying.Poissenteur3 A few days ago, I wandered out in the back garden to see if anything was still alive after the 17 cm (7 some inches) of snow had melted. 

Imagine my surprise finding splashes of red peeking out from the Clematis vines. I couldn't believe it and ran inside to grab my camera. It was as I needed some concrete proof that my eyes weren't deceiving me. And they weren't — here's a photograph of one of the blooms. Delphy1


I was also amazed to find a Delphinium lying on the ground amid the remnants of the snow. Why both of these flowers wereeven in bloom continues to mystify me- it's not exactly their usual blooming time.

It's magical, I say.  

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25 responses to “The magical life of flowers”

  1. nikkipolani Avatar
    nikkipolani

    Like a twirling skirt – that sweetpea bloom!
    It really does look like one – thank you for that image, Nikkipolani!!

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  2. Lisa at Greenbow Avatar
    Lisa at Greenbow

    I think the garden fairies were all tending these beautiful plants for you. They didn’t want to let them go for the winter. I can just imagine your delight in finding these beautiful colors popping out from under their blanket of snow. What a sight.
    I agree – the garden fairies do incredible things when we aren’t watching!

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  3. teeni Avatar
    teeni

    Wow. But I always thought you were magical anyway, with that special touch you have with flowers. I think you get such great blooms because they know you love them and they love you right back. 🙂
    Ah Teeni, that was sweet of you to say. I do love my blooms!!

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  4. Billy Goodnick Avatar
    Billy Goodnick

    Kate: thanks for spreading the word. Indeed, there are no rules in gardens and nature. Just enjoy it while it lasts and leave the door open for more unexpected treats.
    I hope there are more unexpected treats … tomorrow is supposed to be warmer!!

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  5. wiseacre Avatar
    wiseacre

    Glad you were surprised. By the flowers and not the snow 🙂 Snow predicted as possible today but I don’t think it’s going to happen – rain has been steady.
    Not much left in bloom here – only a few confused plants in their second childhood.
    I like those confused plants … and the way you’ve said they are “in their second childhood.”

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  6. Aiyana Avatar
    Aiyana

    That is interesting. I do know that our Sweet Peas here in the desert don’t like hot weather, so they are usually gone by March or early April. I’ve never seen any in fall! (Sweet Peas are my favorite scent.)
    Aiyana
    I love the scent of sweet peas too! In this area, sweet peas usually bloom in early summer … when it gets really hot, they die off.

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  7. Chloe M Avatar
    Chloe M

    Magic indeed!
    Here in Southern California we must plant Sweet Peas in October/November – blooming in late January or February, by May they are spent and mildewed.
    Chloe M.
    It’s interesting how the growing seasons differ from one region to another …

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  8. Sandy Avatar
    Sandy

    Kate, I found a couple of things blooming again just before the frost. And, have you ever noticed how beautiful the geraniums get in the cool weather of fall? I just put three very large pots down cellar, where they live in the winter, and all of them looked better than they did in July.
    We didn’t get snow today, but it is only 44º here right now.
    The frost season is upon us, I guess, in the northern region. I did notice my neighbour’s geraniums as I was helping her bring them inside.

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  9. kris Avatar
    kris

    Thank you for the beautiful flower photos. It was 39 F degrees here today in Northern Michigan and they are a welcome sight. I also wanted to say it was SO nice to see that someone else loved the movie I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing. I bought the Lakme Opera after seeing it. One of my favs.
    At this time of year, any flowers that survive are a real treat. I love the movie too – it remains one of my all-time faves!

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  10. Jean Avatar
    Jean

    What fun to find a blooming surprise. And a sweet pea no less! Actually, I’m personally surprised to hear about snow (but I lead a sheltered southern life I guess). 🙂
    Jean
    Jean, I wish I led a sheltered Southern life … and didn’t have to deal with snow! I miss my garden so much!

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  11. pRiyA Avatar
    pRiyA

    i’m glad that you are back in blogland kate. it was so good to see your comments on my blog once more. the flowers in this post are gorgeous. we get the blue flower, but they are deep purple in colour here. its lovely to see them in this shade of light blue too.
    I have the deep purple shade of Delphinium too, but I love the light blue one the best. They have these delicate green markings that I love. It was good to read your blog again!!

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  12. maya Avatar
    maya

    Hello Kate, what a pleasant surprise to see you are posting again on your blog.Must be amazing to find evidence of summer and winter altogether in your garden.
    It made me smile to see blooms poking through the snow! I was happy to have a visit over at your blog!

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  13. VP Avatar
    VP

    Kate – lovely to hear from you over at my place 🙂
    I hope things are well with you.
    From shorts to snow in the space of days is quite a challenge! Good to see the flowers are up to it though.
    VP, I enjoyed visiting your blog … I’m hoping some of my flowers will do a bit more before the snow comes and stays!!

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  14. Annie in Austin Avatar
    Annie in Austin

    That’s the reddest sweet pea I’ve ever seen, Kate – no wonder it caught your eye and made you run for the camera. This has definitely been a year to appreciate whatever flowers choose to survive, whether cold in Canada or heat in Texas. Like you, I’m giving up counting on any plant but will just enjoy them.
    Annie at the Transplantable Rose
    PS Your comment on the pond song meant a great deal. It might even give me the nerve to keep making videos ;-]
    The more I garden, the more I realise that plants often do their own thing! We may plant and nurture them, but they have a mind of their own!
    I certainly do hope you record more videos … they are wonderful. You have an incredible voice!

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  15. Kate Avatar
    Kate

    Good to see you posting again…I’ve missed your blooms and words. I just love Sweet Pea flowers- the smell is so amazing.
    Happy belated to Benoit!
    Ah the scent of sweet peas is wonderful. That’s why I’d love to be able to grow them in profusion!

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  16. Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening Avatar
    Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening

    I found some larkspur blooming today, after several hard freezes. I think of them as “last gasp” flowers.
    Kathy, that is a good way to see them … their final glory before they completely die off.

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  17. ren Avatar
    ren

    i don’t remember ever having seen delphiniums but i do love that a.a. milne poem about the sick dormouse:
    There once was a Dormouse who lived in a bed
    Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red)
    And all the day long he’d a wonderful view
    Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue)
    The poor dormouse … at least it had a view of beautiful flowers!

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  18. Selma Avatar
    Selma

    I can’t believe those blooms survived the snow. To discover them would have been such a gift!
    Selma, it was incredible to find these blooms. I’ve had a few more discoveries that I will post. They were amazing to find!

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  19. gardenauthor Avatar
    gardenauthor

    You’ve got to love the serendipity of it all! What a magical way to ease the journey, as you bid adieu to another season of gardening. Tender blooms, with such rugged constitutions. There’s a term in politics… “October surprise”… I’d say this was yours! ~ Deb
    yes … it was definitely an October surprise. And now I have a November surprise too. I’m glad that flowers can be unpredictable.

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  20. Barbara Avatar
    Barbara

    It is always a joy to find a surprising, blooming plant in the wrong season of the year…This also happens here from time to time (unfortunately no sweet peas this year!). Actually I have rhododendron blooms. The were looking through the snow last week!
    It is such a joy to find a flower blooming when it isn’t supposed to be … it’s hard to imagine the rhodos blooming now!!

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  21. Curtis Avatar
    Curtis

    Sometimes nature just surprises us. They are pretty!
    They are wonderful surprises!!

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  22. Karine Swenson Avatar
    Karine Swenson

    I do admire the tenacity of plants and flowers. They inspire me!
    It’s nice to see you back in blogland, Kate. You were missed!
    Plants are amazingly tenacious … I’m inspired by them too!

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  23. Anne Avatar
    Anne

    Magic, indeed. Most definitely, one of my favorite subjects.
    I just planted my sweet peas for this coming spring. My pet bunny is no longer around to incubate them but I remain optomistic.

    Cheers!

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  24. Anne Avatar
    Anne

    oops. tried to add a photo of my bunny sitting on the sweet peas, but it didn’t work.

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  25. Terra Avatar
    Terra

    Isn’t that a blissful sky blue in the Delphinium petals? Love that color.

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