I find I’m not really a winter flower person. While I do go out and wander the yard with the dogs, I can’t muster any enthusiasm for something blooming now.

Not that I’m not excited when I see signs of spring (daffodils, lilac growth, etc) but I’m excited for spring itself, not something to tide me over until then.

Usually in the winter I draw up plans of where things will go but I’m already caught up on that so I’m mostly looking at pictures…lots and lots of pictures!

Librarian, your Hellebores are gorgeous. I have never grown any but looks like I should.

We have had a way too mild winter and that is concerning as well.

Last year was the first that I remember a water shortage. Oregon used to be known for its rainfall , not anymore.

Kristine, every winter I hope for a good amount of rain and it's really scary the years we don't have it. We don't have the infrastructure to live with drought and fires in the dry years. The western communities were built for a different climate than the one we're now getting.

I've also got some seeds started inside, though it's too early. I couldn't wait any longer, I started a few types of flowers and two small trays of lettuce. One will get just water and the other will get water plus the liquid seedling fertilizer I've got to see if it is even making a difference. I'm also re-doing my garden plan, something I always do a few times a winter because I keep changing my mind and/or acquiring new seeds. Plus we recently adopted 2 guinea pigs so I also planned a section of the veg beds to be a "guinea pig garden" because they eat so much fresh produce.

Also "winter blooms" is some luxury that zone 5 doesn't have haha.

Yes, I am soooo ready for spring!!

I've started my delphinium seeds indoors - last year I started them WAY too early and they bloomed at the end of April! I'm hoping I've timed it this year so they'll bloom with the roses in late May/early June. And I'm winter-sowing outdoors: poppies, larkspur, cornflowers, etc. I have tons more seeds to start, I'm trying to resist getting things going too early!

Librarian-gardener, your hellbores are magnificent! I love hellebores. It's too early here (and cold - single digits at night) for them to be blooming yet, but I can't wait. Other early bloomers I love are winter aconites (eranthus hyemalis) snowdrops, and my prunus mume "Peggy Clark". And of course the early species crocus! But I'll have to wait at least another month for all of these. Sigh.

I need to go check on my hellebores! Thanks for the reminder!

I really shouldn't start indoor seeds until the end of February. I've been browsing the seed and bulb catalogs I keep getting in the mail--even though I really don't need more seeds or bulbs. I might buy some anyway! And I saw a lot of clematis are back in stock at Brushwood Nursery; I want to buy at least one to climb up Poseidon but I'll probably take my time picking. I definitely browse future plants to cope with later winter.

@librarian_gardner_8b_pnw Your collection of hellebores is magnificent. Maybe i need to hit the nurseries in search for some more. LOL! I am in the hunt for Professor Sargent camellia but haven't found it yet. I saw it last year and have regretted not buying it ever since.

@oursteelers 8B PNW your comment makes me laugh.

Sounds like everyone is 'editing' their garden plans. I need to take more pictures this year to get me through the winter time.

@User I wish I could grow delphiniums but I'm told they don't like the heat and humidity here. Do yours stay perennial or do you plant them every year as annuals? What variety do you plant that blooms the first year?

Winter is so tough for me! It lasts quite a while here in zone 5 so by the time January comes along I’m more than ready for spring which is still months away! I get through it with online orders and window shopping when i can’t buy any more. Ha Ha! I checked on my hellebores last week and can see some new shoots making their way up but it will still be March before they open. Still, it’s the first whispers of spring and I’ll take what I can get.

MasLovesRoses, I grow Pacific Giants, Bellamosa, Guardian Blue, and Magic Fountains. You can get individual varieties (YES!) at Swallowtail nursery - I really prefer doing this, rather than getting mixes, because I mainly want blues and purples. For me, delphiniums will last a few years (particularly the bellamosums) but I can't always count on it. Though I have found that if I plant them with a big handful of lime, that helps. It also helps if the winter isn't too too wet.

They do bloom reliably their first year from seed. What has made a HUGE difference for me are these truly wonderful LED plant lights that my DH got for me. Before, starting them under flourescents, I couldn't get them to start blooming til late June/early July no matter how early I started them. And I want them to bloom with my roses in late May early June! But with these incredible LED lights, lat year I started them in Dec. and they were blooming by the end of April! So this year, I hope by starting them around now, they should be blooming end of May. We'll see!

Because I now have these amazing lights, I'm also going to try the Chinese delphiniums from seed. I never had any luck with them before, but I have high hopes this time around.

Frances in NJ do you know what brand of lights you got? I've been looking at plant starting lights but it's all a little confusing! Such huge selection to go through.

I've been coping with winter by buying copious amounts of seeds and searching for hard to come by roses that my heart can't let go of! Half of the fun of rose gardening is the thrill of the search. It makes winter actually doable.

I'm with everyone else. Lenten roses and crocuses are things I'm waiting with baited breath for. Also, there are fragrant pink forsythia! https://www.quackingrassnursery.com/plant/Abeliophyllum-distichum-Roseum

Ashley Smith, here are my lights: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QCT6Q4T?th=1

The brand name is Monios. They are great!

@Aaron Rosarian Zone 5b I've never seen pink forsythia before! Do you currently grow it? Talk about waiting for the forsythia to bloom to start pruning. That one looks delightful.

@User I already put an order from Swallowtail for all kinds of seeds. I might have to do another order with delphiniums. I've always admired them. Even if they only grow as annuals as long as they bloom the first year, it would be worth it. Is your soil normally acidic?

I went to the plant nursery yesterday to check out blooms.

Check out this camellia that was blooming. The blooms were as big as peonies.

Oh, WOW!!! Stunning in every way!! :) :) Did you buy it?

MasLovesRoses, my soil is acidic. if yours is alkaline, you might not need the lime - delphiniums like alkaline-ish soil, or neutral anyway.

I think it's well worth growing them, even if they won't be perennial, or perfect for that matter. I was in Alaska this past summer, and the delphiniums there are glorious - huge, tall as me, and they grow everywhere, even in vacant lots! Mine will never be like that, but those gorgeous blues and purples are like nothing else, and I love the graceful spike shapes - they always make me think of Debussy's "Sunken Cathedral" - the spires rising from the ocean. So beautiful! And just incredible with roses!

Nah Carol, it was $79.99. I’ve already spent too much on roses on all my additions this month. Maybe if it goes on sale.

Frances, I have acidic soil too but I’m excited to try the delphinium from seeds. Do you mind posting a picture of your grow light setup? I’m looking for ideas.

Frances - so true!! Delphiniums are truly gorgeous!!

Mas - yup...I hear you...expensive. :)

Nope, I love winter too. :-) I have too much gardening work to do in the spring: moving hundreds of roses from the old garden to the new. I don't mind the cold and snow, got too many lovely winter gears to chill. :-)

Yes, you have a lot of work with moving...and you're building a barn too? Enjoy winter, spring will come when it comes. :)

Thanks Carol. No barn is in the near future. We got a 12' x 40' Amish shed for now to help out with tractor and lawn equipment storage.