January Un-Winter blossoming...

Iris reticulata 'Beautiful Day'

Hermodactyloides irises (a.k.a. "reticulatas") are poking up their noses all over the garden. This appropriately named cultivar was the first to open (today, January 18). I am crazy about these--the cheapest thrill on Planet Earth (they are ridiculously cheap, notwithstanding the absurd "tariffs" imposed willy nilly by the orange stain on America: WHEN will we be delivered?). I planted this one ten years ago--it comes up regularly but refuses to clump up. 

Daphne mezereum

There WERE flowers open, but the picture of this budded stem turned out better...they call it the winter daphne--but the only time I've seen it blooming in nature was in April in Sweden. Oh yes, in June in the Alps!

Origanum dictamnus

Okay, not blooming but very cute! Dittany of Crete is of course de rigeur for me to grow...(it's endemic on my ancestral island--to explain the last sentence: you see it growing in pots all over Crete).

A draba that LOOKS like hispanica but came under a different namel

Sempervivum (one of Chris Hansen's psychedelic hybrids, not sure which one)

Tetraneuris (Hymenoxys) acaulis 'Sol Dancer' 

This amazing selection of Perky Sue from High Country Gardens blooms non stop--even in winter. Definitely a cut above.

Gazania linearis 'Colorado Gold'

Plant Select's fantastic selection of the highest altitude gazania is hardy at 9000' in Colorado and also never quits blooming.

Physaria bellii

Endemic to a narrow band of Niobrara shale from the edge of Denver to Fort Collins--this is perhaps our showiest local rarity. I'm amazed to see it starting to bloom already!

Helleborus niger

I don't know if the Christmas rose was blooming on Christmas (we were in California): but it was fully out on New Year's...

Adonis amurensis

This is from a week ago: neglected to take a picture today: the clumps are looking pretty full right now...

Daphne odora

Not (alas!) in my garden: my good friend Ross Breyfogle has not one but TWO robust specimens in his private garden near DBG. I photographed these a week ago, and hope they'll be open tomorrow when I drive by to visit. He got those and I got a rooted cuttings from Rod Haenni's wonderful garden where this supposedly tender shrub thrived for years. Mine is perhaps 4" tall--no buds. But it's made it through two vicious winters. Obviously it likes Ross' clay loam better than my lean sand!

And there was much more: Viburnum farreri 'Nanum' is devilishly hard to photograph: it has hundreds of little pink pom poms that waft heavenly fragrance everywhere depending on the time of day and wind. Cyclamen coum, crocuses. Erica carnea  and 3 species (and many forms) of Galanthus are blooming too.  And a whole cavalcade of blossom is about to burst if things don't cool off a tad! For once I'm joining the skiers and praying for snow and cold weather!