Tuesday, March 15, 2011

GBBD: It Won't Be Long Now

For many years this day in March would have found me reminding my students to "Beware the Ides of March!"  But now that I've entered a different phase in my life, March 15 means just one thing--time for the monthly meeting of Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!



For the past few months, my Bloom Day posts have been rather pitiful as I strained to find anything at all in bloom.  Even my one amaryllis decided to wait until after the February Bloom Day to fully bloom, and now it's finished so that I don't even have an indoor bloom to show off in March.



But last week as I looked out the living room window trying to get a better photo
of the Downy woodpecker at the feeder, I noticed something.


The 'Georgia Peach' heuchera had taken on a rosy glow now that its snow cover had finally melted.  But that wasn't what really got me excited--looking beyond it to the shade garden, I spied something else . . .



 . . . tulips and daffodils were emerging from the soil! I know these didn't magically appear overnight, but it seemed that way to me. After a long winter where the ground seemed to be perpetually white, there is nothing like seeing the first spring bulbs emerging to get the heart racing.  In a state of excitement, I inspected the other garden beds and found bulbs coming up everywhere.  Inspecting the beds more carefully, I saw something else that filled me with delight . . .


. . . two tiny snowdrops blooming!  Their blooms are so small that I really need a super-macro setting to capture them, and they're hardly the large clumps I see on other blogs.  Still, I'm happy; you see, I planted them in the fall of '09 and didn't see a single bloom last year.  I'd given them up for dead, so I was so pleased to see these signs of life this year.


Not only do I have two snowdrops, but I also have the first few crocuses blooming.


Another tiny bloom that almost escapes notice, these small beauties give me hope that winter is almost over.


There's a chance of snow showers here today, but seeing the first tiny blooms and the buds on the flowering quince (above) as well as a few on the lilac are causes for joy.  It won't be long now until spring is finally here!


To see what else is blooming right now all over the world, be sure to visit our hostess and friend of the Garden Fairies, Carol at May Dreams Gardens.

36 comments:

  1. Rose, Happy GBBD! Crocuses and snowdrops, oh my! The waiting right before the end seems the longest, and it's so exciting to catch those first blooms.Your Georgia peach is looking lovely.

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  2. Lovely to see the buds and shoots emerging Rose, I am so glad Spring is at last thinking of putting in an appearance where you :) We are definitely ahead of you and have Daffodils in full flower now, such a welcome sight!

    I too would love a 'clump' of Snowdrops but yet again only managed three flowers this year :( they must have been in for three or maybe four years now, perhaps they would be happier if I moved them but the idea was to be able to see them from the dining room window.

    I hope your snow showers soon turn into Spring flowers Rose :)

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  3. Very pretty images and your Downy is a cutie. Happy GBBD.

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  4. Hi Rose, Isn't it fun to find some life in the garden!? Esepcially when the life has a bloom attached to it. Yipeee... Happy GBBD.

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  5. Yeah for the snowdrops! I love those little flowers! Won't be long and spring will be here indeed! Sunday!

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  6. Happy GBBD Rose! Glad to see that spring has decided to arrive in your neck of the woods. :)

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  7. You have so many signs of spring. The heuchera is very pretty. To have such color this time of year in foliage. Beautiful.

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  8. Exciting days for my friends awaiting spring...savour that feeling!
    Rosie

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  9. Congrats on outdoor blooms! What a welcome sight!

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  10. It just gladdens my heart to see spring arriving. After all the bad news in the world, we probably all could use a dose of spring blooms to cheer us up!

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  11. My snowdrops just got out today. Finally the spring is coming to my garden as well!

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  12. Yippee for finding spring blooms! One of these days you'll wake up, peek out the window and see spring has arrived. :)

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  13. I know it must be a bit difficult to see us southern gardeners with blooms when you long for them in your gardens. But now, spring is creeping your way! So when our spring beauties have fizzled, we can enjoy yours!

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  14. Oh Rose, winter needs to end!! You all have had a time this winter.
    Love seeing the tulips coming up...hooray! Spring IS just around the corner.

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  15. Yep, it happens in the blink of an eye....

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  16. Every bud and shoot is exciting this time of year. Spring is definitely on its way to you.

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  17. What lovely blooms for GBBD.
    I posted about my I'ds on this Ides of March day.

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  18. Such hopeful signs Rose!

    My oldest daughter has a huge colony of snowdrops, and some came home last spring to live here. They are tiny, but so wonderful having such early bloomers. I'm glad yours came back and have started blooming.

    Your amaryllis is beautiful! So glad you shared it, even if it is done blooming for now.

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  19. Happy GBBD Rose! You have so many beautiful spring babies popping up! It is a happy day indeed!!

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  20. I'm impressed with your patience. It has taken years for my snowdrops to have increased to the point where I can now spread them around. The happiest sight is the first bloom of the snowdrops and crocuses.

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  21. Its really heartwarming to see those little shoots and bulbs starting to appear.
    We are having similar Springlike things happening our way too and much warmer weather.
    Maggie X

    Nuts in May

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  22. Rose, we are not much further along than you: crocus, daffodils, and hellebore are blooming, but tulips only emerging from the soil and the tree buds forming very small leaves thus far. Interesting that last year at this time our Magnolia stellata was in full bloom, but currently blossoms are only beginning to emerge.
    PS: will be getting your seeds out in the morning. :)

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  23. Flowers! Hurray! Spring decided to return to Endless Winter after all. :)

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  24. Yay! So good to see all the bulbs happening all over. You all deserve that break from the snow!

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  25. Oh my goodness - snow drops, tulips and daffys, and crocuses!!! What a joyful find, Rose! Spring is on its way now.

    I still haven't had any birds at my feeders this winter, except for that lone chickadee.

    Beware the Ides of March ran through my head this morning as the washing machine overflowed into the basement. Kitchen sink and laundry tub were blocked as well. Called several plumbers and finally got one to come out right away. He stayed 1 1/2 hours and charged $225.00!!!!
    At least it's fixed.

    Can't wait for your daffys and tulips to bloom.

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  26. Hooray for the Georgia Peach! My heucheras are still covered with snow. Snowdrops will always be my favorite early spring bulb and I never see them growing in large clumps either.

    Hope all is well with you, Rose.

    donna

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  27. Nice! Especially when it's a surprise that you didn't expect. Cheers! I'll be your Tulips will be beautiful in a couple of weeks. Enjoy!

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  28. Thanks for visiting, everyone! Rather than reply to each and every one of you today, I will return the visit instead. It's great to finally be able to share some hopeful signs of spring this Bloom Day!

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  29. Congratulations on the snow drops! It is amazing what the first signs of green in our gardens can do for our spirits. I'll have to get out in my gardens and see if I can find any. :)

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  30. Your spring is farther along than ours, despite your forecast. I love those early blooms. Happy GBBD!

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  31. I love finding those first few signs of spring popping up. How nice Rose.

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  32. Hi Rose,
    When I saw your header photo, the words, "Now that's what I'm talkin' about!" came to my brain. I enjoyed your signs of spring. I hope if it snowed, it melted fast.

    I am raking a layer at a time off of the curb flower beds. The rest of the areas don't seem to have as many leaves on them. I think my next post is going to be about the lisianthis I discovered alive. They are normally treated as annuals here. I did put leaves back on those.

    It got up to 71, or something like that, but next week, when I am off work, the highs are supposed to be in the upper 50s. Well, I will have to bundle up a bit to work outside.

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  33. The first blooms are really the most coveted aren't they? March brings hope. Love your little blooms and the big one inside as well.

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  34. Beautiful blooms and much promise to come. I hope you have a beautiful spring to match Rose.~~Dee

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  35. Its funny how good seeing a couple of Snowdrops can be.

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  36. I'm about where you are, Rose. All looks awesome ... isn't is grand! Happy Spring :)

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