There's no shortage of things to photograph!
Green anole (with a loropetalum in the background, providing all that pink):
A few rosebuds have begun to appear on 'Peggy Martin' (a.k.a. "the Katrina rose"):
Purple oxalis is springing up here and there:
Trixie, enjoying the nice weather:
Strawberry begonia (Saxifraga stolonifera) with pink "confetti" from the loropetalum above:
Next, here's more strawberry begonia, this time with Spanish bluebells. No flower buds on the bluebells, yet, but at least the foliage means they've survived another year!
Hedychium 'Elizabeth'. This and the common white butterfly ginger have both started putting up stalks. I thought February was awfully early for these gingers to make an appearance, but looking at the last year or two of the blog, maybe it's actually right on target... Some of our gingers ('Scarlet Fever' curcuma, for instance) don't usually do much until around May.
Salvia madrensis is up, too. (And I noticed that the bit down in the southwestern corner of the yard has started to grow, too, so it did survive the winter in that damp spot.)
Unfortunately, the wasps (and carpenter bees) are also out early, this year. There are a few jobs I should've done a month ago that will now probably wait until next winter, because I'm terrified of disturbing a hidden wasp's nest and being stung repeatedly. (Yes, I am a wasp-wimp. I will go out of my way to avoid wasps.)
Salvia purpurea is popping up, which is always cause for celebration. Every winter, I worry it will die. I'm still holding my breath over the 'Pizzazz Purple' salvia. No sign of life from that, yet, though some of the Mexican bush sage have already sprouted leaves. (I tend to wring my wrists a bit over these salvias. I never have complete faith that they'll return.)
'Sunshine' ligustrum is sprouting bright new chartreuse leaves-- which makes me very happy! Love that color!
Neither of the spirea at the bottom of the yard look exceptionally happy, but at least one of them is blooming a little:
Likewise, the pale Japanese magnolia in the backyard has less bloom than usual, but at least there's been some:
There are early signs of life from 'Tea Cup' and 'Black Ripple' elephant ears-- as well as some of the plain ones. No photos, but the canna lilies are also all sprouting new growth.
More flowers from the camellia...
Moss, just 'cause I like it...
Wild white violets have the tiniest flowers. They grow in a weedy way, here and there-- wherever-- but as long as they don't overcrowd the "real" plants, I'm happy to have them around.
The roses always look their best early in the year-- spring and maybe early summer. The leaves are at their fullest and most flawless, then. Fresh, new leaves that haven't had a chance to go spotty and fall off...
The dianthus by the garage (south-facing wall) is still hanging in there. I never expected it to live this long.
Only a few more days of February...
When the cooler air returns, I need to make the most of it and get some more mulching done!
