On Monday it reached into the low 70s (F), constituting a one-day heat wave, at least in the context of early April in Chicago, especially for a cool spring like the one we are having.
A single day of warm temperatures causes a small leap forward in the garden. For example, we got our first Narcissi blooms of the year. These were first more because of their sunny location, I think, than variety.
Also we got the first blooms from our Species Tulips – Tulipa turkestanica, to be exact.
Speaking of Tulips, I have to include this picture of ‘Early Harvest’ that Judy took, because it’s so much better than the last picture of them that I posted.
And I hate to be repetitive, but all of a sudden all of the Glory-of-the-Snow (Scilla forbesii) are blooming, rather than just a few. My intention was to have a wide stripe of blue flowers along the driveway. If these bulbs are happy here, we may achieve that goal.
Siberian Squill (Scilla sibirica) are suddenly peaking.
Suddenly the Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) are covered with buds. So far the rabbits have left them alone. I’ve got a secret weapon against the fuzzy-eared marauders, to be revealed in a future post.
The Hellebores (Helleborus orientalis) are filling out and displaying more of their color range: from dark maroon, to pink, to almost white.
I picked another dozen or so to take inside.
While inspecting the garden we found a rabbit’s nest, complete with baby bunny. It was right behind the Clematis ‘Jackmanii’ in a spot that was not very well concealed.
This discovery posed a difficult dilemma. On the one hand, rabbits in the garden are my sworn enemy. On the other hand, how does one dispose of a baby bunny? I tried and failed to harden my heart. Instead, I delayed action by moving on to another bed. When I returned, the nest was evacuated. Dilemma solved.
By the next day the heat wave was over and the temperatures were back in the 50s. It was certainly nice while it lasted, but I don’t want spring to move ahead too quickly.
gardeninacity 
Everything looks beautiful, Jason. We see a few rabbits here, but not too often, probably due to all the predators in our rural area.
It was almost 70 here today. Beautiful and sunny for this time of year.
It’s freezing here today – to cold to garden, even for me.
Your spring blooms are lovely and I applaud your kind heart for avoiding the bunnies’ nest. In Kentucky we’ve been lulled into complacency with high 60s to low 70s since Monday. This is due to come to a screeching halt this weekend back to frosts overnight and 40s to low 50s by day. Patience!
And here we are going into the high 20s next week. But I recognize it is only a temporary slowdown.
We’ve had two days in the upper 70’s, quite unusual for early April. Thankfully, the next two weeks will be cooler.
We have more rabbits in our neighborhood now, as folks are keeping their cats in, finally. I rather like them for the moment, since they’ve been non-existent for the 12 years that we’ve had this house, and were also barely present in our garden in the Upstate of SC before.
I actually hope that the chipmunks make a comeback, too. The outside (and feral) cats have pretty much eliminated them, too.
I can’t wish for a return of the outdoor cats because of the fearsome toll they took on the songbirds. A few foxes or coyotes might not be amiss, though.
Yeah, fatten it up a bit first.
Braised rabbit, yum.
Rabbits are not much of a problem for us. My main complaint is that they do not get big enough for anyone to do anything with. If they cause a bit of damage, they are allowed to continue with the damage, because no one bothers trapping them.
It’s good you let the bunny be. Who knows? You might have given a reprieve to the Easter bunny! The Tulipa turkestanica are fabulous.
Don’t want to be responsible for knocking off the Easter bunny.
Your spring bulbs are an inspiration! The wonderful orange Tulipa turkestanic are eye-catching in the sun, and the Glory-of-the-snow are lovely too. Enjoy your spring garden.
Thanks. I’m glad I gave the Glory-of-the-Snow a try.
I’m interested to see what your secret weapon against the rabbits are. I’m wondering if it could be adapted to stop squirrels digging for bulbs and pigeons eating the blossom buds? This could be your “millionaire idea moment”!
It could be … probably not.
Seventy-one here yesterday and 37 degrees this morning. The only thing I have blooming is squill. And lots of weeds. Used an entire gallon of weed killer yesterday. Never seen it this bad in my 48 years in this house. I need a feral cat or a few more coyotes. The rabbits are back destroying everything coming up. And don’t get me started on squirrels.
I’m with you on the coyotes. Feral cats kill too many songbirds.
In looking at the flowers in this post, it occurs to me that the orange tulips and the squills would make a splendid combo. Just imagine the ‘early harvest’ with a blue carpet beneath! Come fall, I think I’ll tuck a few early orange tulips in the squill bed. Thanks for helping me see this, Jason. Your spring is advancing nicely (jealous of the Va. Bluebells)!
You’re right about that combo idea!
All your fall hard work is paying off and providing a beautiful landscape to enjoy while housebound.
I like to think so.
Love all the blues in your garden. I had one Species Tulip show up from a planting last fall. After seeing yours I wanted to give them a try.
Species tulips are great! Much more perennial than hybrid tulips. Flowers are smaller, but plentiful and colorful!
I wouldn’t have been able to harden my heart either. A gardener’s dilemma is right! Despite the rabbits, your garden is abloom with beauty.
When it comes to rabbits, I’m just a paper tiger.
I understand. Same here.
We seem to be having slightly different weather up here near Wisconsin. The warm days were delightful but, like you, I’m just as glad for it to cool back off so spring doesn’t sprint on us. Your bulbs are doing wonderfully. I dread finding baby bunnies, because of the dilemma. I spared one last spring and was “rewarded” with lots of rabbit damage. I swore I’d be harder this year but doubt I’ll be able to. My terrier may take care of it for me. Can’t wait to hear about your secret weapon.
I’ll write about it as soon as it comes in the mail.
What lovely signs of spring around you! Except for that rabbit, of course. Any gardener who has a good secret weapon in the war against rabbits is duty-bound by the sworn oath of gardeners to NOT keep it a secret! Does it include a recipe for hassenpfeffer?
No, but I’m always interested in a good recipe for hassenpfeffer (with spaetzle and red cabbage, yum).
What a tough decision – don’t know what I’d do if I found a nest of baby voles (unlikely – but they are my sworn enemies!). Your tulips (esp T. turkestanica) are gorgeous.
Fortunately we don’t seem to have voles. We have mice and chipmunks, but they don’t do much damage.
Rejoice – voles are grim. Covid-19 is grimmer!!!!
Nature’s show here last night was about rabbits and hares, so good timing. Beautiful bulb flowers, especially those tulips.
I found a juvenile Desert Cottontail in the garden recently, though it had been dispatched by a coyote that must have heard me coming and dropped it. When I went back a few minutes later the bunny was gone. Coyotes are good that way. Raptors here will abandon their kill if startled, but the coyotes come back for theirs. .
Surely more warm sunshine is on the way for you soon. Enjoy!
There are some coyotes in the region, though I don’t think they come into our neighborhood much, which is a pity.
I’ve found a few rabbit nests in different gardens over the years and I too let them be.
I like the orange tulips!
They are my favorite.
What a great variety of spring flowers!
I have high hopes for our Scilla too.
Some consider the Scilla sibirica to be invasive, but I don’t live near any natural areas so I don’t worry about them too much.
I love seeing them in the lawns of heritage neighbourhoods. I guess it takes that long to naturalize in the whole lawn!
Beautiful flowers, lovely colors.
Thank you!
I’ve planted a “carpet” of Crocus, and a “carpet” of Scilla… it is never quite grows as I envisioned it in my mind. I must have patience, maybe with time the holes in the “carpet” will fill in. Beautiful photo of Tulipa turkestanica.
Late last year, I made the acquaintance of the neighborhood rabbit. I stood not 5 feet away and watched it nibble on my purple aster, then the blueberries, then back to the aster… it’s was just too cute. I’m going to make my peace with it.
I can’t bring myself to commit violence against the rabbits, but I fantasize about it.
So that’s what that is – Glory-of-the-Snow. I have a sparse few in the back yard that planted themselves and they are all I have blooming at the moment so I am thankful for them.
If conditions are good they will spread.
I love your spring bulbs, Jason. As for the bunny, I’ve discovered nests more than once in my garden – I cannot bring myself to hurt them either, I’m always impressed by the thin veil of fur spun above the nests that keep them from discovery. They do a little damage here but the garden can absorb it – the predators (hawks, owls, raccoons) keep them under control too.
Didn’t notice the thin veil of fur. We need more predators around here. Raccoons eat rabbits?
It has been a wild spring here temperature wise too. Frome 85 down to 32 in one day. Needless to say we had a big storm blow through here. Isn’t it fun to walk out daily to find something else blooming and what was previously blooming looking more full and gorgeous! As to the bunny…ugh. As much as I detest the creatures when they are treating the garden as their smorgasbord they can be cute. What did I just type??? Ha… Here is an essay about Rabbits and Hares you might like to read if you have a bit of free time. https://www.terriwindling.com/blog/2020/04/folklore-rabbits-hares.html Have a blessed weekend.
Seeing something new every day is one of the wonderful things about this season. Thanks for the link – interesting article.
Tulips Turkestania, is one of my favourite species Tulips. I know I’ve got some in my garden some where, I will have to see, if I can find the container they are in tomorrow.
Oh, I never thought of growing species tulips in containers, though I have done that with hybrid tulips.
Loving all your spring bulbs. So glad you spared bunnikins! We’re enjoying lovely weather at the moment.xxx
We’ve got a snowstorm right at this moment – watching it out the window.
What a dilemma! We have hares near us but they do not seem interested in coming into the garden. However, friends that are not far away have rabbits nesting in a bank just outside their garden with the obvious illegal entries from time to time. Amelia
Perhaps you are in a more rural area where there are more opportunities for rabbits.