Daffodil Delight: Garden Blogger's Bloom Day

Daffodils are such cheerful flowers.

Each fall I put in a few more irresistible varieties.

Each spring I decide there's room for more.

 

These are all blooming in the south flowerbed, on the backside of the house.

The flowers out front are at least 3 weeks behind.

 

 

Mini daffodils make my heart happy.

I have just a few full-size varieties.

I need (ahem, yes, need) to add a few more.

The contrast between them and the minis is delightful. 

Hyacinthus orientalis 'Gypsy Queen'

These were added to this flowerbed last fall.

They have at least 2 stalks per bulb so far and of course that heavenly hyacinth fragrance.

Sometimes, if my day has been stressful, I go outside in the warm spring air and take a few deep breaths of the hyacinth perfume.

A tight place inside me eases up a bit and I can go back in to face the day.

This blue violet hyacinth is about done.

It was one of the first to bloom back here, actually.

Just 2 shy tulips blooming so far, but many others getting close.

And out front, all we've got is one lonely daffodil and these striped squill.

That's okay. It spreads the season out a bit to have the front beds so far behind.

 

Perhaps it's no coincidence that I was born in April.

I love spring!

See what else is blooming at May Dreams Garden.

March Flowerbeds: Shade

By the fence, looking out toward yard. 

 

Heuchera and fern 

 

Heuchera and red-twigged dogwood

New Growth:

 



Lady's mantle

Heuchera 'Georgia Peach'

 

 

March 15:

 still pretty quiet back in the shade garden

 

March Flowerbeds: Back

Overview:

 

About the same as 2 weeks ago, with just a few more green patches showing.

 

I'm pleased with the height the mockorange and the 'Topaz' rose put on last year.

The rose is a bit lopsided and I will probably prune it back a bit to even it out.

Both have leaf buds about to break open.

 

You can barely see the flowering almond here (beneath the window), but it too has buds ready to open. I'm hoping it doubles in height and width this year.

 

Everything looks pretty low to the ground right now, but that should change as the Asiatic daylilies, peonies, and shrubs start coming in more.

 

From the A/C unit looking down.

Daffodils about to pop!

Can hardly wait!

Geum 'Prairie Smoke' sprouting new feathery growth, with clumps of daffodils and tulips coming up close by.

My first daffodil of the year.

Love it!

Looking toward the A/C unit and the deck.

'What a Peach' rose in front.

 

March 15

 

Overview: 

Tulips and daffodils 3-4 inches high.

 

Crocuses blooming!

(These have since been nibbled off by something--rabbit is my guess.)

From A/C unit, looking down.

And...from the other end, looking back toward the deck.



March Flowerbeds: Front

 The overview:

(right panning left)

 

 

Top bed:

The elderberry and snowball bush both have leaf buds that are just barely breaking out.

 Got all the vetch weeded out of this bed yesterday.

 

Middle Bed:

 

 

Tulips about 3 inches high.

Front right: Shasta daisies

I need to decide quickly if I'm going to divide them or not this year.

 

I haven't gotten to this end of the bed for spring cleanup yet.

I may be transplanting the guillardia that got so long and floppy last summer.

 

Bottom Bed:

A few patches of crocuses blooming.

Daffodils just barely starting to poke up behind the English laurel.

A bit of new growth on the irises, and the boxwood starting to turn green again.

Just the Facts, Please

Fact: There are at least a couple hundred daffodils planted in my flowerbeds.

Fact: They will bloom in approximately 2-3 weeks.

 

Fact: Patience, when it comes to daffodils, can be highly overrated. 

 

Fact: Daffodil deprivation accelerates all known symptoms of spring fever. 

 

Fact: $2.99 is a small price to pay for early spring sanity, though it may be a bit much for 10 stems of  "field cut" [grocery-store] daffodils.

 

Fact: Buying 2 bundles of daffodils in no way makes them a better deal, but quadruples the happiness factor.

 

Fact: I'm glad I did it and I'll probably do it again next year!

 

Those Blessed Crocuses: March GBBD

All I've got is crocuses this month, folks.

 

 Some yellow, up on the slope.

A handful of purple, in the back flowerbed.

 

It is enough, for now, because it means that what I've got is spring on its way!

 

Happy Bloom Day, friends!

Spring Weeding

 

"Nothing is so beautiful as spring--

When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush..."

--Gerard Manley Hopkins

 

 And for the gardener, nothing is quite so beautiful as grabbing hold of those stubborn weeds that have taunted you for the past 6 months, and with one gentle tug, pulling them out root and all.

 

 This is a picture of satisfaction, right here.

Oh yes.

 

You know it has been a long winter when a morning spent pulling up dead weeds makes you feel glad to be alive.

 

Snow was all melted from last weekend; we were in mud boots and sweatshirts.

It was glorious!

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again:

5 minutes of spring weeding is worth 2 hours of summer weeding.

 

Hands down.