Thank you Margaret.
I think Edelweiss has both of them. They love our PNW weather.

Lynn, it's too cold for them here, but they sure are pretty.

Sorry Margaret. I forgot that you are in Canada.
But they will sure work for Julia.

yes, i'm on the hunt. Like I need another plant I really like the 2nd one. Well like them both but, the 2nd one talks to me.

Those colors do reach out and grab a person.

Thanks for the welcome. Lynn, your gentiana acaulis is blooming! Mine is not yet, despite being near you. I'm at 700 feet elevation, and my yard is usually 2 weeks behind other areas around here. Saxifraga, my spring favorite, is on the verge of blooming along with the gentiana.



Bud vases filled with blooms from the yard---camellia, heather, muscari, hellebore 'blue metallic lady', and pieris


I don't really like Pieris japonica, but I think the blossoms are gorgeous when you remove the foliage and put them in a vase.

I learned at the Flower Show that pieris is an early draw for mason bees.

Stephanie that makes such a lovely picture. I am at 300 feet here in Dallas. Which saxifraga do you have?

Deb I didn't know that about the pieris blooms. Good thing to know.

Just noted my vinca is starting to bloom. Beautiful sunny day with a clear calendar, what a treat!

The alders are blooming - I love their soft pink haze.

How pretty Deb! Yes I noticed my vinca also blooming! Fun, spring is almost here!!

A few more blooms in the yard. Temps were in the 60's today, and it was sunny down here.


Viola 'Tiger Eyes'. I started these from seed in 2012, and they are back and blooming again.



Anenome. I love these. This one was wide open in the sun today. She is closing herself up for the night in this photo.

Those are beautiful.

Totally great photos Stephanie!

Stephanie those are beautiful. I tried Tiger Eyes from seed about 6 years ago. Not a single seed germinated.
I wonder if the seed was no good. I will have to give it a try again. That is so pretty.

I have not had much luck with viola germinating either. Stephanie, do you have a secret for getting them started?
I walked the yard today and have a few things in bloom.
a very early rodie

The sedum are growing!!!
Saw this bird at my feeders today. Anyone know what it is? Was blue with a white breast.

Looks like a camp robber. Great color in the garden!

Julia, those primroses are gigantic. Very nice. Is your bird a scrub jay? I remember Willowwind in DG had the same question about a scrub jay in her yard last year. I've seen mine out lately. They tend to live in pairs, at slight elevation 300 ft-1000ft. Common here in the Willamette Valley.

RE: violas and pansies from seed---I've had enormous success with those. I generally get about 80-90% germination. I started around 6 or so varieties last year, and maybe 8 different ones this year. I recall having closer to 50% germination, however, with 'Tiger Eyes', 'rose shades', and 'sweeties'. I do not do anything special---I start them in black gold seed starting mix. I use heat mats with both the violas and pansies, then remove the heat as soon as they sprout. I start them in the greenhouse, where I maintain a minimum air temp of 50-55, though inside the house will work fine, too. I get all of my viola seed (and most of my flower seeds, over half anyway) from Thompson and Morgan. Best flower seeds on the planet.

The easiest viola to start from seed (I have just sprinkled this one outside) seems to be the 'Bowles black'. Also johnny jump ups self sow like crazy for me, so I assume you can just sprinkle those outside in Jan/Feb/March also. However, I'm starting my johnnys in the greenhouse also this year. My favorite pansy from seed is 'karma blue'.

Sorry, pics are off topic, b/c these are photos from years past, not currently blooming in March.


Pic is of volunteer johnny jump ups These, and many more, self sowed from winter hanging baskets hanging above this bed that I let go to seed.


'Bowle's black', result of sprinkling seeds and doing nothing more, in a hosta bed. (seed came from Territorial)


Pansy 'Karma Blue' I mentioned above. Blooms all spring and summer. (seed from Thompson and Morgan)

Wonderful photos Stephanie.
I have Johnny Jump Ups all over, they do reseed easily. Do the Tiger Eyes reseed?

Very pretty!