Friday, February 25, 2011

Belated Bloom Day - February 2011

I had intended to have a post up for February Bloom Day but fate intervened and my dear hubby took another ride in an ambulance to the hospital with pneumonia again on the evening of the 15th.
The pneumonia is gone, I'm extremely thankful to report, but he's still recovering his strength in the hospital and we hope to have him home on Monday. 

On Bloom Day this Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera or Zygocactus) had one bloom open, but now, 10 days later, it's loaded with blooms and is the belle of the ball!

Aren't these flamboyant white blooms, with the touch of fuchsia pink, absolutely glorious? 

Just what we need to brighten these late winter days and remind us that lots of color lies ahead when spring finally breaks through. Posted by Picasa

We've had the worst snow storm today that I've seen all winter.
Last Saturday I drove the 35 minutes to the hospital in very nasty weather...snow and very high winds...scary conditions.
But today I stayed home.
Hubby rested and read a lot....and watched cars sliding up and down the hill opposite the hospital from his 5th floor window view. He was glad I stayed safely at home. So was I!!! We missed our afternoon visit but the roads were just too horrible to risk driving.
We had blowing snow all day, with very low visibility, and ended up with about 9 or 10 inches accumulation, on top of what we already had. I felt very bad for everyone who had to drive in those conditions.

There are quite a few more blooms to show, including the lipstick pink cactus, but they'll have to wait a while. The lovely white cactus deserves a post to itself anyway, for putting on such a beautiful display.

I hope everyone in the path of this latest storm stayed safe.

Remember that Carol of May Dreams Gardens has a long list of bloggers offering their February blooms for your enjoyment. Just click the link to see them.



28 comments:

Robin's Nesting Place said...[Reply]

Kerri, I'm sorry that your husband is in the hospital. I hope that he recovers quickly and is home soon. I have an aunt in the hospital now with pneumonia and I know of several others who have had it this year.

Such pretty blooms on the cactus!

BernieH said...[Reply]

So sorry to hear about your husband's nasty fight with pneumonia and I'm glad to hear it's now gone. I'm sure the break in hospital will do him a whole lot of good.

Sounds like the end of winter conditions are just horrid. I don't know how anyone can drive in those conditions at all!

Your beautiful white Schlumbergera is an absolute stunner! What a great show and I know just how wonderful it must be in reality! Stay safe and well ... both of you!

Annie in Austin said...[Reply]

What a winter you are having, Kerri! Hope both your husband and the weather will improve enough soon so you can bring him home safely.

The white Christmas cactus is so delicately beautiful - it does deserve its own post!

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Reflection Through The Seasons said...[Reply]

Dear Kerri....
I am so sorry to read the Ross has been ill with pneumonia. I know this must make you very anxious. John and I send our best wishes for a speedy recovery and pray that he will be well enough to return home soon.

Goodness! what weather you continue to have.... certainly best to stay off the roads at such a time.

Let me bring a little ray of sunshine to you from Wales...... drifts of daffodils are blooming in gardens and on the road side verges in abundance now. Snowdrops have been a beautiful sight, but now almost over and the flowers on a witch hazel tree I see on my morning walks has been glorious..... Spring will soon be with you too Kerri.

Your Christmas cactus is exquisite... the wonders of creation!

My Clivia plant is just coming into bloom. I must take pictures of it this year.

Take care Kerri and our best wishes to Ross. Blessings - Marion

F Cameron said...[Reply]

Thoughts and prayers that your husband's illness is behind him now and that he gets his strength back.

I empathize -- Pneumonia is such tiring illness--when I had it many years ago, I broke a rib from coughing and it was months before my lungs weren't out of breath from the least effort. I didn't do all of the breathing exercises as I was instructed. I had mine in the summer and not in the cold air which makes it even more difficult to breathe. I do hope he takes it easy and gets plenty of rest.

The Christmas cactus blooms are so lovely!

I wish I could send you our sunny days and blue skies.

Hugs.
Freda

Alice said...[Reply]

That Christmas Cactus is a real showoff .... better than tinsel.

As I read about the dreadful weather I kept thinking how glad you'll be when Ross is back home and you don't have to miss him any more and he doesn't have to worry about you on the roads. Then I was cheered up by Marion's description of the daffodils in Wales. I hope it won't be long before you will be blessed with cheerful daffodils in your garden, Kerri. They'll be doubly welcome this year.

paperkicks said...[Reply]

Your Christmas Cactus is so lovely...makes me want one again! Hang in there---spring is coming! Hope you and your husband are doing much better now.

Christy Woolum said...[Reply]

How nice to return and be greeted by your lovely photos. We are dealing with horrible weather also. Very sorry about your husband, but glad he is on the mend. I always love your bird photos also. Spring will arrive... won't it?

Sissy said...[Reply]

I am so glad to hear that your husband is recovering and will be home soon.
This winter has not been an easy one. It seems like February has gone on forever!
Take care, Kerri!

garden girl said...[Reply]

So sorry your husband has been ill Kerry. Best wishes for his quick recovery.

Wow - your Christmas cactus is gorgeous - definitely worthy of a post of its own!

Anonymous said...[Reply]

I am glad you didn't go to the hospital in the storm, and I am sure Russ was, too.

We must have had the same storm, it was our worst one so far this year, too. Portland is still a mess this afternoon.

I think I like the white cactus the best. What is your favorite color?

sweetbay said...[Reply]

I hope your husband is feeling better soon. Sounds like you are really being walloped by the winter weather and it was best to stay home for the day. Your white cactus is beautiful.

Lisa at Greenbow said...[Reply]

I am glad you stayed home safe and warm Kerri. I am glad to hear that your husband is on the mend. I agree that your white christmas cactus deserves its own post. It is one of the prettiest I have ever seen. Do take care. Healing thoughts and prayers for your hubby.

Charley "Apple" Grabowski said...[Reply]

Very happy to hear that he'll be coming home soon! I hope the weather cooperates.

The white blooms are beautiful!

Mountain Mama said...[Reply]

Prayers for your husbands complete recovery Kerri. The temperatures have been very cold here too but I am not getting as much snow as some surrounding areas. All that is blooming here are my snowdrops and that tiny blue flower that grows close to the ground.
I have been enjoyting all the wonderful garden catalogs that are coming in the mail. Oh my goodness If I were just younger and richer I could fill my entire property with flower gardens.
Your white cactus is glorious! I have a bright pink one showing off for me right now. It's so encouraging to have some kind of flowers blooming in the house when old man winter has totally worn out his welcome!
God bless you & hubby dear. Keep warm.
Hugs

sonia a. mascaro said...[Reply]

Dear Kerri,
I am so sorry to hear about your husband, but I hope that he recovers quickly.

Very beautiful flowers!

Cherdecor said...[Reply]

Kerri, I just came by to see your beautiful blooms and was surprised to hear about your hubby. I am glad that the pneumonia is gone and hope that he regains his strength quickly.

Your state hangs on to winter a little longer than ours even though we are not that far from each other. I am wondering if you have to do all the snow removal around your place while your hubby is in the hospital.

Hope your hubby came home today. It is always a good feeling to have everyone home where they belong.
Blessings,
Cheryl

Christy Woolum said...[Reply]

I made reference to your beautiful blooms from last year on my blog post today. You will find it here:
http://gatheringaroundthetable.blogspot.com/2011/03/bloom.html

Kathleen said...[Reply]

Beautiful cactus Kerri.
So glad your husband is doing better. Pneumonia is a scary thing. My daughter was in intensive care over it last winter (it developed after she contracted the nasty Swine Flu) so I have a healthy respect. I hope he bounces back quickly ~ some warm spring weather would help, right?! Take good care.

verobirdie said...[Reply]

I'm so sorry to hear your husband has been in hospital, and that the weather was really bad at your place. Hopefully, he is home with you now?
Take both good care.

Michele said...[Reply]

Hello, I hope your husband is feeling better. I was garden blog hopping searching for images of plants and found your BEAUTIFUL blog. I'll be adding to my reader and pouring thru your archives. I hope you don't mind, I posted, linked and credited a picture of your obedient plant in a blog post. I'm trying to record and visualize what I'm winter sowing and hoping to plant in the spring. Regards, Michele

Shanae Branham said...[Reply]

These photos are beautiful. I am glad I stopped by today. It's fun to see flowers when winter is still heavy upon us up here in Alaska.

HORIZON said...[Reply]

Kerri l just wanted to send prayers and best wishes your way for your husband Ross to have a speedy recovery.
lots of love
sarah

Digital Flower Pictures said...[Reply]

I hope your husband recovers quickly.

That storm was all rain here (over 3.5 inches) and flooded out a lot of roads. I had the same idea about staying home.

Tabor said...[Reply]

Here is hoping by the time this is posted, hubby is clearly on the mend and heading home. Glad you were smart in that nasty weather and stayed home. Lovely photos as always!

Sissy said...[Reply]

I was just thinking of you and your hubby. Hope recovery is going well and spring is warming you both!

Barbara said...[Reply]

With a great delay I am touring again in blogland and just reading about your dear husband's illness. I do hope that he is well and safe again and wish him all the very best for a good recovery. The same wishes are for you too as I know how we suffer with our dear ones when they are ill.
Take care!
Hugs, Barbara

em said...[Reply]

hi kerri, glad to hear your hubs is home safe. i hope the worst of the weather is past... we had some flooding here, but seeing what's happening in japan i just feel thankful... i'm prepping the potager and thinking about how bliss just got chickens! which i could get some, but can't convince hubs. is your soil still frozen, or thawing?