Thursday, March 15, 2012

Spring Forward… way forward it seems.

Siberian Squill
Here just, like much of the rest of the country, spring has erupted with a blast. I fear there won't be anything left to bloom once spring actually arrives!

Spirea 'Ogon'
The record temperature today just caused my Siberian Squill to pop out of the ground and into full bloom in less than a day! I've had this little clump for several years and each year I dig a few up and move some around the yard. Cold and snow don't seem to dampen their spirits but I thing them must be particularly fond of the current weather they way they are blooming this year.

Hellebore 'Ivory Prince'
Just to the right of the Squill is a newly planted little Spirea 'Ogon'. I had one here several years ago but one particularly bad winter did it in and for years I wasn't able to find another one. Last year I happen to be driving by one of the local nurseries and there sitting in their display were just two of them. One wild right turn later this little baby was in my car and ready for planting. I noticed the other day that it is covered with buds with a few of the sweet little white blooms starting to show themselves.

All of my Hellebores are in full bloom, finally, lagging behind some of the others who've been posting their lovely blooms. Last month the Royal Heritage Strain was out in abundance, as were several others but this little Prince was holding out. But he's out there now!

Out back the usual suspects are showing their happy faces. The daffodils are now coming out so by another week of this I should have a full backyard of them. They are all intermixed with lots of other perennials so the foliage can wither down. However I'm just too much of a neat freak I guess I end up cutting them back :(

I don't usually get both beautiful hellebore blooms right beside my daffodils! Maybe by next month I'll have hellebore blooms and hosta, that occupy that bare spot in front of them. Maybe even the daffodils will still be in bloom, who knows.

I've always loved Heathers and have for the most part just considered them annuals in my yard but I just keep hoping one year one will make it thru. I guess if it was going to make it this would be the year. I bought one last year at Lowes, on sale, in anticipation that I probably wouldn't see it this spring but I noticed buds this weekend when cleaning out the bed and today while taking pictures I see they are beginning to open up. So maybe I'll get to enjoy it for another year.

One of my really old clumps of crocus is also up and blooming profusely. They too have been transported all about the yard with transplanting. Currently the crocus are replaced in a month by Hosta 'Shade Parade' so I will have nice round little leaves with spikes for a good portion of the summer! A fun contrast.

Lastly this one lone little spring beauty has popped up in one of my perennial beds. As a child I recall our back yard just covered with these each spring. It was a site and so when it showed up last year it made me happy. I need to find some more of these and cover the back easement with them. Something to beautify it in the spring!

So that's about it for May, I mean April, oh no I mean March. What month is it, anyway!