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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Spring Is Determined

Despite snow shower activity today, lows in the thirties predicted to continue all week, temperatures ten to fifteen degrees below normal predicted  to continue through the end of the month, spring is determined to work its magic in the garden.

Late winter is a time of dangly bits. Corylus avellana 'Contorta'

Garrya

Stachyurus praecox

Euphorbia wulfenii 

Each walk in the garden offers new surprises at this time of year like these emerging Meconopsis grandis.  They've increased over the three years that they've been grown in big pots. 

Powerfully fragrant Daphne odora is bursting into bloom.

Despite my accidental digging or placing pots on top of them in the summer, crocus in the beds continue to increase.

Inherited crocus in the lawn have brought delight for nearly 20 springs.  Some years the squirrels  or some varmint decides to chew the flowers off and leave them lying on the ground.  We've lucked out so far this year.  Every year I think that the crocus in the beds need to be relocated to the lawn; each year I forget.

Berberis foliage will be popping out soon.  

What an exciting time of year.  Of course it would be more exciting if it weren't so damned cold! Has spring made itself known in your garden yet?

14 comments:

  1. I've noticed a few signs...but not as many as I should be. Damn wet cold!

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  2. That Euphorbia is a stunner. All those big shrubs with dangling catkins are things I keep lusting after. I am sure there must be one that is hardy here other than Harry Lauder. One Hellebore up and blooming, three different snowdrop varieties in flower and a couple of other ones poking up, at least a half dozen different woodland peonies have buds pushing up. Warmer today and tomorrow but so windy that I don't think the temps will reach predictions. Very cold overnight lows will keep the action suspended.

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  3. You know I'm a big fan of dangly bits. Your Garrya's dreadlocks are gorgeous. Did you get a bit of snow down there in the valley? I'm sick of winter.

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  4. It's cold here too. And grey. And wet. I too am sick of winter.
    Loving your Stachyurus praecox though. I saw one once in a sale. Even at half price it was still expensive so I left it behind. And regretted it ever since.

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  5. Loving your Garrya, its such a spectacular tree/shrub. I have always loved crocus too, only wish I had a large enough lawn to plant some in.

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  6. Haha - gotta love those dangly bits. Not much going on here except for a few Hellebores. The buds are emerging though - which is always nice. As of yesterday, my Euphorbia had one - or maybe two - open blooms, and many more to come. After this winter, I'm grateful (and surprised) it has any at all. :)

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  7. Wait, is it still winter? So weird this weather. We dip below freezing once a week or so, but it's been so warm. Your garden STILL has more going on in it than mine though. PNW magic I guess.

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  8. Extremely jealous of your Daphne odora, not just for the amazing smell, but it seems to survive the winter without any blemishes.
    I've had Euphorbia wulfenii for a couple of years now. It's has grown quite abit but the bottom 2/3 of the branches is bare. Is it suppose to be that way? Should I chop it down (after it blooms) so it gets fuller branches again?

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  9. I'm glad to see that spring is defiant of winter's cold embrace. That Garrya is gorgeous. Mine is still alive and still dinky.

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  10. My few crocus seem to have given up. Sad.
    I noticed today that the full moon maple outside my window has swelling buds. When we finally get some warmth, there will be an explosion.

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  11. Spring is in full swing here in SW England, it is very wet, but this week is going to be warm, so more flowers will open. We are only a few miles from Rusty Duck but she is higher than we are on Dartmoor. Love all your dangly flowers and your crocus.

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  12. Lovely first signs of spring, Peter. The nature awakes and enjoy warmth weather. We have about 0 C too (32 F)the soil is still hard and icy.
    Nice color of crocus!

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  13. I'd say determined, but fickle. Love the Crocus buds!

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.