I wasn't going to join GBBD this month. I was going to be childish and pout. I went to Frances's page and there were so many beautiful flowers. The Perennial Gardener had a beautiful collage of all sorts of things. What did I have? Frozen dirt. Even my compost pile is frozen solid.
Yesterday since it was actually nice for a change, I went for a walk around the neighborhood with some friends. There were no flowers here at all. Not one in bloom. We did see some new shoots coming up so the spring bulbs will eventually be seen, but nothing yet.
So why am I posting? I was out in the garden doing some cleaning up and lo and behold I saw a bright little patch of yellow and purple in the mint pot. It was a Johnny Jump Up that bloomed just in time to brighten up my day. The soil in the pot was still totally frozen solid. The mint has not yet started its new growth. But the brave little Johnny Jump Up wouldn't let something like solid ice stop it. Go Johnny.
I've always loved this plant. Its cheery little face pops up in the most unusual spots. It is totally uncontrollable. I had a friend that tried to seed it in her garden one year. It never came up, so I gave her a few little plants to start her off. I told her to just let them go to seed. They will come back every year. You can't plan when they are to go. You just have to accept them when they come.
When I weed the garden I'm always careful not to weed them out. If they are growing in a spot that needs to be turned over, I transplant them not far away. I do love my little pixies that jump up from the most unlikely places to greet me.
Ok so this particular flower is a little ragged and and lopsided. I love him anyway and you have to give him credit for blooming before any of the crocus.
Go Johnny! I love them too.
ReplyDeleteSpunky little fleur! We had snow this morning--the most GIGANTIC flakes I've ever seen. Now it's turned to a rainy sleety mess. I'm not going out there to take pics!
ReplyDeleteWonderful Daphne! I have frozen dirt here too nothing to show on this GBBD. :-(
ReplyDeletexoxo Tyra
I think we should rename them Daphne jump-ups! The little ones saved the day!
ReplyDeleteWhat a surprise for you!
ReplyDeleteRemember that when we are all getting blase about our blooms in a few weeks time, you will be experiencing the excitement of seeing all those spring blooms coming through!
They are such sweet little flowers, I love them more than their larger cousins the Pansies. I haven't seen any signs of mine yet this season, so you're ahead of me. ;)
ReplyDeleteI love these little guys and can't get them to grow...so I will enjoys yours! Very glad you discovered him ....he was a spirit lifter!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely little gift, all the more wonderful for being solitary.
ReplyDeletePerfect timing! My snowdrops are in the sunniest spot in the yard so they are blooming. Elsewhere there is solid snow and it is still very frozen.
ReplyDeleteYes, those perky little johnnys do have minds of their own! I love them too. And they do seem to have the magical ability to pop up just where you need them.
ReplyDeleteIn other years I have had nothing but frozen earth for March, so I can sympathize. But a bedraggled Johnny-jump-up is often my first bloom, too. Gotta love'em.
ReplyDelete