Wednesday, March 16, 2016

GBBD: Signs of Spring

On this windy day in mid-March, signs of spring are everywhere...


Crocus blooms dot portions of the lawn . . .


. . . and stand out amid the debris in the flower beds.


I'm delighted to see I have more than one clump of snowdrops--several, in fact.  


The Hellebores haven't waited for me to cut back their foliage to start blooming.


'Red Lady' is rather shy.


The white ones are a little more revealing.


Near the miniature Japanese garden--still put away for the winter--the first narcissus are blooming.  'Topolino' is a miniature narcissus that is only 4-5 inches tall.


Even smaller are the Iris Reticulata, but their blooms make me so happy!


Though blooms are few on this Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, there are many more than last year, and signs of much more to come very soon.  Above, the first primrose beginning to open.


Fat buds on the lilac.


Hyacinths just waiting to emerge.


Soon the small fence line will be bordered in cheery yellow daffodil blooms.

The signs of spring aren't just visual--the happy sound of birdsong awakens me in the morning, and Monday evening as I drove home after dusk, I heard hundreds of frogs all along the ditchbanks.  The forecast for the rest of the week is much colder, and there is even a mention of that other "S" word, but I know that winter is truly coming to an end.


Spring--I love it!!

I am joining in with Carol of May Dreams Gardens and other bloggers across the world to celebrate spring this Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day.

50 comments:

  1. Oh, you are so much farther ahead than we are! Sometimes it seems like our seasons are very similar, but you definitely get spring a bit earlier down there :-) We are also seeing a forecast with that S word, but the ground is warm, so I'm optimistic that it will melt quickly if it happens. We had lots of thunder and lightening last night, and today the winds are kind of scary. Still, I can't resist heading out each day to document the additional 8th of an inch of growth.

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    1. I like that, Cassi--"the additional 1/8 inch of growth":) At this time of year any bit of color, including green, is something to be celebrated.

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  2. Spring - I love it too!
    Such a beautiful selection of flowers you've shared with us Rose. I have spent some lovely moments enjoying them all, thank you.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Glad you enjoyed them, Jan. I'm enjoying every new and tiny little bloom I find these days.

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  3. The color of those purple crocuses is just amazing. Happy almost spring to you.

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    1. I really like the striped lavender ones, Dorothy, which I don't have pictured here, but the darker purple really stands out, doesn't it?

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  4. Happy gorgeous spring! It's so nice to see you back to blogging. You've been missed although I understand the need to be offline when family needs you.

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    1. Thanks, Sarah. It's taken me awhile to get motivated to start blogging again--I think the longer you're away, the harder it is. But spring is really helping--have to show off all these new blooms!

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    1. Hellebores take a while to get going, but once they're established, they're a welcome sight in spring.

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  6. Everything is looking so good Rose. Love all your crocus. I just wish they would last longer. I can't believe you get primroses to live in your garden. I have tried them several places and I can't seem to find a spot where they are happy. Happy GBBD.

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    1. I wish all these blooms would last longer, too, Lisa. The first primroses I had have disappeared, but they came back for several years. This is one I planted last year, so we'll see how long it lasts.

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    2. I wish all these blooms would last longer, too, Lisa. The first primroses I had have disappeared, but they came back for several years. This is one I planted last year, so we'll see how long it lasts.

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  7. I love your Crocus pictures. Such gorgeous clumps of bright color! Did you have to crouch to get that picture of the red Hellebore?

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    1. I definitely got muddy knees for several of these photos, Jason:) That's the only trouble with hellebores--seeing all their blooms requires getting up close.

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  8. It's not nice to be jealous, so I will be inspired instead. I have no early spring bloomers in my new garden - so far. Bulb planting in the fall is on my list. Your garden is just beautiful.

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    1. I'm sure you will have some pretty blooms to share with us next spring, Pat. I keep adding more and more bulbs each fall--I don't think I'll ever complete the vision I have of rivers of daffodils:)

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  9. It's not nice to be jealous, so I will be inspired instead. I have no early spring bloomers in my new garden - so far. Bulb planting in the fall is on my list. Your garden is just beautiful.

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  10. There's just nothing like the first spring blooms! I love your 'Red Lady' - so pretty! It's been such beautiful weather lately. Sadly, I think winter needs one more last laugh here in New England.

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    1. We had a beautiful week, Indie, but unfortunately, I was too busy with other things to get any real garden work done. I'm hoping we've seen the end of winter, but I wouldn't be surprised either to see one more blast of it.

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  11. Such glorious little jewels of colour, and some lush hellebores. Lots to boost the spirits there. Enjoy!

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    1. Thanks, Janet. Yes, they're definitely spirit boosters--I get so excited every morning I find something new!

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  12. My hellebores, which I planted because of you, are flourishing this year. They've really taken - at least three of the five that I planted have! - and I look forward to them going from strength to strength. I still haven't pruned the foliage. I must do that at some point.

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    1. I'm so glad your hellebores are doing well, Liz! They do take a couple of years to get going. I haven't gotten around to cutting off the dead foliage on two of mine yet, but even they look good.

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  13. Your post has made me so hopeful that spring is just around the corner!

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    1. We're supposed to have a freeze this weekend, Jennifer, but at least we don't have snow! Did you get all the snow I've seen on the news?

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  14. Your post has made me so hopeful that spring is just around the corner!

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  15. Hi Rose, We made it to spring! I am tickled, and hoping those with fruit trees do not have a freeze that prevents them from setting fruit this season.

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    1. My dad said the same thing yesterday, Sue. He's worried about his peach tree. And all the magnolias are blooming around town, which can also be affected by a freeze. That's the only disadvantage to things blooming early.

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  16. Wow Rose girl you have so many signs of Spring here with such pretty flowers ... I am jealous .. we are supposed to have a "winter" storm this week ... but Easter Sunday it goes up to 7 degrees and sunny .. so there is a quick turn around at least .. I do have some hellebore flower buds .. but I have to clean out the old foliage ..
    Sprouts YES ! you can trust your own and that is why I do mine .. last about a week in the fridge and they are great in salads and sandwiches ! Sprout on girl ! LOL
    Joy : )

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    1. Hope the winter storm missed you, Joy! We're supposed to dip below freezing this weekend, but then bounce back up to the 60's. Considering it's still March, I can't complain.

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  17. So many lovely spring things blooming in your garden! I've had mixed feelings about the many early blooms this year. Our forecast is so up and down lately. Anything that blooms will struggle when the temps dip into the 20s later this week. Your Irises are so pretty!

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    1. Same here, Beth, though not so bad. Most of my early bloomers are tough, so I don't think I have to worry yet. I love those little irises, too; just wish they lasted longer.

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  18. Oh definitely signs of Spring. Beautiful signs of Spring and of course wonderful photos.
    Maggie x

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    1. Thanks, Maggie. Spring is early this year, and I'm loving it.

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  19. The Iris reticulata is lovely! I had some of those one year and then the voles ate them. It's so nice to see Iris early in the year.

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    1. I love these, too, Sweetbay. I wish I had thought to plant more last fall. Must remember to take some notes this spring--and check them in September:)

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  20. Lovely spring flowers in your garden Rose, I think crocuses are so pretty when they are planted in large groups – they deserve to be planted like that!

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    1. I'm not sure if I planted them like this on purpose, Helene. But it does make planting easier--I must remember this come fall.

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  21. Much the same is in bloom here, but you are still ahead of us. My Hellebores are just getting ready to open. I like how the crocus push through the garden debris. Tough little plants often have snow fall on them too.

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    1. Yes, Donna, quite often I have crocuses covered in snow--always such a hopeful sign!

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  22. Looks like spring! Bird sounds make me so happy. I cannot get snowdrops to grow so instead grow snowflakes. Love them both!

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    1. Tina, I wish I had taken some pictures of all the robins in our yard--they are really busy right now! The snowdrops haven't done as well for me, either. I guess I expected them to multiply much more quickly.

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  23. Wonderful photographs, spring is looking glorious in your garden. My Hellebores all tend to be rather shy as well. I'm, told there are newer varieties that are more upward facing. You seem to be a week or two earlier than I.

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    1. I keep looking for hellebores that are more upward facing, too, Jason. Often times the catalog descriptions don't mention that, though.

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  24. Wonderful spring photos, Rose! The crocuses are some of my favorite spring flowers, and I missed them all this year, as I was traveling. Seeing yours makes me understand that I need to plant many more!

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  25. Oh, I love your beautiful spring flowers !!
    Happy Easter !!

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  26. Rose, congrats, your garden is in bloom, it's really nice spring came to your place.
    Happy Easter!

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  27. Gorgeous flowers. Spring is so fleeting. Enjoy every minute Rose. ~~Dee

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  28. Beautiful photos. Spring has arrived at your home. Love the hellebores. Every year I look for them in my area and never see any. Oh well, it gives me an excuse to visit the garden centers and buy some other plants to help heal my disappointment.

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