This is the closest I’ve felt to being grounded since I was about 15 years old. Any suggestion that I might head out into the wider world runs into intense spousal opposition. However, I can always go into the garden. Even when it’s too wet or cold to do any actual gardening, there is still the option of carrying out a close inspection of new developments. That’s something I do a lot of even in normal times.
Snowdrops (mostly Galanthus nivalis with some G. elwesii) have reached their peak in our garden (though our display is awfully meager to use the word “peak”, which ought to describe thousands of blooms).
Anyhow, the area where they have naturalized most freely is around the Annabelle Hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens) along the east fence. I cut the Hydrangeas back pretty hard so we can see them better. Annabelle doesn’t seem to mind.
There are small clumps of Snowdrops in a few other spots around the Back Garden.
I wonder if I should really lift these clumps and spread the bulbs around.
The very first Crocuses have begun blooming, poking their heads up out of the leaf litter. Here’s a couple of soft yellow ones.
I’m pretty sure these are Crocus tommasinianus.
Here’s a nice golden yellow one. So far there is little sign of the rabbits ravaging the Crocuses like they usually do. I’m pretty sure, though, that they are just trying to lull me into a sense of complacency.
Meantime, I am anxiously watching for my other early bulbs. The Tulipa kaufmanniana leaves have emerged, but no flower buds. There is almost no sign of the Glory-of-the-Snow (Chionodoxa forbesii) or the Siberian Squill (Scilla sibirica), even though the Chionodoxa are blooming at the Lurie Garden. It’s so hard to remain patient, especially when spending so much time (all the time, actually) at home.
Well, at least there are plenty of buds on the Lenten Roses (Helleborus orientalis).
This has been a slow spring so far, the March days being colder and wetter than usual. And so the garden creeps forward, moderately boosting the morale of the inmates but leaving us eager for more.
My, I enjoyed seeing those snowdrops, especially now that I know the difference between snowdrops and snowflakes. My favorite of the crocuses is the golden yellow one. There’s something about that shade of yellow that makes me smile, every time.
Here’s how fast spring is coming, here. When I left for work yesterday morning, the cypress trees still were bare-branched. When I came home last night, every single tree had begun leafing out and was covered with the most beautiful light green fringe imaginable. Amazing.
Yes, i also like the bright but deep golden yellow. Spring is much slower here, today’s temps are staying below freezing.
These are gorgeous. I love snowdrops.
Me too!
I love the crocus, in particular. Are you allowed to go To the Lurie Garden?
We could, but it’s probably not advisable. Sad! I hope they’ll post a lot of photos! If Jason does have to go to his office, he could take a walk there. But hopefully no office for several weeks.
Yes, better to stay close to home for a while I guess.
The garden is open, but since I’m not travelling to the office downtown, I don’t really have an opportunity to go there.
It looks like Crocus tommasinianus to me, but I really do not know. I have been studying it because I had been considering it for naturalizing. However, I have not yet grown any, and did not plant any for this year.
I have a few. It has been pretty slow to naturalize.
Well, at least they naturalize at all. Crocus might have been the first flowers that taught me that some plants prefer chill. I was told that they are the first to come up through the snow to bloom (I had never heard of snowdrops). I did not know what snow was, but, I later learned that it is cold, and that without it, some plants do not know that it is winter, so subsequently do not know when spring arrives.
Your spring is certainly on its way, once it starts, there is no stopping it! I think an awful lot of us gardeners are self isolating and our gardens will be our salvation! Stay safe and well.
Same to you, Pauline. I’m just anxious for the weather to warm up!
I really do hope you get some warmer weather soon and can get outside to save your sanity! We have been lucky, with plenty of sunshine this week, although the nights are still very cold.
Thanks. It’s got to warm up eventually.
Enjoy all your early spring bulbs, close up, and several times a day, because you can! I say yes, divide the snowdrop clumps. I’ve done it while they’re blooming and they didn’t bat an eyelash. Our spring in western Maryland has been a good 3-4 weeks ahead of schedule this year (which makes me wonder about a potentially beastly summer), so the very early bulbs are finished. I’m feeling a bit trapped at home, although I’m naturally somewhat of a hermit. After all, garden centers are open (or are they?) and the plants are calling! Sigh.
Our garden centers were closed the other day, along with other non-essential businesses. However, you can still order plants online, thank goodness! Hopefully this won’t last too long.
I wonder about large online nurseries… If they have large staffs for order fulfillment, how long will they stay open?
All through the season, I hope.
I don’t have snowdrops planted, so I’m enjoying your’s. Just lovely. My crocuses are also starting to poke their heads up but as you say, it is pretty chilly out there. It does indeed feel like being grounded and when I went to the grocery store yesterday I felt like I was going to get in trouble! So odd, this all is.
Very much so. Judy went to the grocery and said it felt kind of creepy with some shelves empty. Though an odd assortment of things were gone: potatoes, white flour, sugar, oatmeal, onions. Fortunately we have a decent amount of all those except for potatoes and onions. Potatoes is not a big deal, we have a few, but no onions is a problem. Oh, and English muffins! I miss those.
Yes, no onions is a problem here too. And English muffins~! How I miss those anyway, because of my reaction to gluten. 😦 And now we have snow all over everything! It IS pretty. I guess.
I would separate your Galanthus if I were you. I was once scared to dig mine up and spread them out. Once I did it was was thrilled with the results and I think you will be too. My garden is a bit ahead of yours. We are having a soggy cool spring so far too. Even though I am retired and normally lead a very quiet life I am feeling the sting of not being able to be with friends and family up close and personal. The garden is my solace.
OK, you’ve convinced me. I’ll spread out the Snowdrops when it warms up a bit.
You are exactly right about the rabbits — they love to make us complacent because then their destruction is so much more satisfying to them. Don’t trust ’em!
I never do.
The snowdrops are lovely. I was amazed to see several of mine in bloom in the grass; my guess is squirrel transplant, or do snowdrops self seed?
They do spread by seed – they’ve done so in our garden as well. But they also create new bulblets that grow into full bulbs.
I’m with your spouse, am glad you have the garden to spend time in, and look forward to the hellebore unfurling. Some of those thick G. elwesii clumps do look as if splitting might not come amiss if you have some moments to fill.
I have lots of moments to fill right now, so I think I’ll get to that when it’s a bit warmer.
Oh, those snowdrops! To the best of my memory, I can’t recall ever seeing them in person. Someday! I know they bloom in Maine.
They should, they are very hardy.
Yes, the snowdrops are simply exquisite. Thanks for posting those lovely photos.
We gardeners all planned ahead for this, didn’t we? Even though we didn’t know we were–gardens are a profound comfort at this moment.
Stay safe, stay well…
Thanks, same to you.
I like the snowdrops but I don’t have any here.
Spring has always been an impatient time for me so I know how you feel. I wish it would hurry up but then I’m sorry to see it go.
Always comes too late and leaves too soon.
Yes. It’s snowing here.
i think we are lucky to have our gardens to retreat to. Although I was jolted today when sowing seed to realise that I wasn’t going to be able to buy any more potting/seed sowing compost this year. Your snowdrops are lovely – I consider a small clump to be a ‘show’! Enjoy your time with the garden.
No potting soil? Can you at least order it online?
No …
Lovely and relaxing seeing the first of your spring flowers.Good to know you are home too. I’m with Judy, no outings for my hubs either!xxx
Best to play it safe, I suppose.
Cheery sights indeed, Jason. Thanks for this. Our snowdrops are blooming too, but the crocuses are under a thick mat of leaves, so if they are blooming, I can’t see them!
We have just a few Crocuses, and most days they stay shut because of the cold. We just got another inch of snow.