The First Snowdrop

 

Giant Snowdrop (Galanthus elwesii 'Mount Everest')

 

Giant Snowdrop 'Mount Everest'

 An extraordinary break in the weather sent the thermometer up to a delightful 72 degrees today! I took the opportunity to look around my yard to see what, if anything, might be sprouting, and found the first blooms of the Snowdrops I'd planted last fall.

Nearby was one small species crocus flower--yellow with purple feathering on the outer petals.

 

Yellow Crocus

Along the bed on the east side of the house I saw that my Hellebore 'Flower Girl' was displaying its first bud! I planted this one the fall before last, but it didn't bloom at all last spring, so this will be its first flower! Let's hope my plant will bloom profusely later on.

 

Bud of Hellebore 'Flower Girl'

My other Hellebore, 'True Love' is well-established now, and bloomed well last year; I hope it will do as well this spring, but I've yet to see any buds on that one. The buds of the witch hazels are still tightly closed, but the early daffodils are starting to nose up through the mulch. I hope the coming weather won't be so inclement as to blast all these buds. After all, we still have two more months of winter to get through... somehow it seems harder to accept that after getting a taste of spring with a beautiful day like today!

February Dreams

Crocus tommasinianus in two colors.

 

It's late February, and my early spring bulbs are starting to put on a show. The rosy purple tommasinianus crocuses are emerging now, about a week behind the lighter mauve ones. It's wonderful to see how they've formed thick clumps in the front garden over the years under the cherry tree.

Front  yard under the cherry tree.

 

The 'February Gold' daffodils have started to bloom; in the fall of 2021 I divided these and now have two large clumps--one by the driveway and another in the front yard.

 

'February Gold' daffodils by the driveway.

Spring seems to be just around the corner, but I know this is a treacherous time of the year. We may yet get some snow, which we haven't had this winter. These spring bulbs don't seem to mind the cold and will easily survive a snowfall. The hyacinths are starting to break forth, but it may be a few weeks before they open fully. One of the early spring bulbs I don't have in my garden are snowdrops--I must buy some to plant in the fall this year.

Delft blue hyacinth

This afternoon I spotted the first buds on my Hellebore 'True Love'; the other Hellebore I planted last year, 'Flower Girl' is showing a few new leaves.

Hellebore 'True Love' buds.

My witch hazel tree 'Diane' is also blooming. I'm hoping that my little tree will grow tall enough this year to be able to be freed from its protective deer enclosure--it's difficult to admire or take good photos with that nylon netting around it. 

The two viburnums I raised from seed and planted on each side of the witch hazel appear to be developing into leatherleaf viburnums (V. rhytidophyllum), in which case I may have to dig them up and plant them elsewhere. That variety of Viburnum can grow to 6'-10' tall, and they would soon overtake the witch hazel if left there.

 

Witch hazel 'Diane'

It seems like a good time to start my spring clean-up, prune, and clear away the old stems of perennials. I usually don't do this until later in March. I'd love to start re-edging my beds now, and move a few plants around into new flower beds, but the earth isn't ready to be worked yet--in another week or two, perhaps. One can always dream!