Monday, March 31, 2008

Signs of Life


One advantage to blogging is that I can look back and see what was going on in my garden a year ago at this time. That was actually one of the biggest reasons I started blogging in the first place. This year, it seems that spring is taking its sweet time in getting here for real, especially when I looked back on 2007and we were just returning from a week in Florida.

On
April 1st, which is fast approaching again, we had all kinds of spring flowers in bloom. The transformation from winter garden to spring garden happened in a flash - while we were gone - but this year, we get to see it happening before our eyes. Anxious to know whether this or that made it through the winter, I take daily trips around the yard to look for those things whose arrival is due. I'm happy to report that it's happening!

This weekend, with camera in tow, I found an abundance of evidence that in the midst of all that brown mush and mud, life goes on and what appeared to be dead over winter, was merely sleeping.
If you don't take the time or make the effort to get down and really look at what's happening at ground level, you might not think there's much going on out in the garden yet. But kneel down and take a closer look and you'll be quite surprised, I think.







Euphorbia 'Chameleon' is very much alive with its red spears shooting forth.











This one really pleases me. I've not had the best of luck growing delphiniums even during their growing season, let alone have them winter over. I've tried different species and it looks like we've got a winner here! It's Delphinium elatum 'Magic Fountain.'





Campanula 'Kelly's Gold' has looked like this for the entire winter. I've got C. 'Dickson's Gold' too, and it also stayed green.








Pulmonaria 'Trevi Fountain' has been putting forth new foliage for a couple of weeks now. Last year, it had flower buds on it by this time.
















Both tree peonies have bunches of buds, especially 'Sahohime'. I'm really looking forward to its gorgeous blooms again this year.












The native ground orchid, Nodding Ladies Tresses (Spiranthes cernua), is greening up.












The hollyhocks have had green leaves for a couple of weeks now.









The honeysuckle vines have leaves!













Lots and lots of Asiatic lilies will be adding wonderful color to the gardens in a few weeks. They've multiplied like crazy!


Numerous other things are up and running, too: Shasta daisies, Rudbeckias, Daylilies, Heucheras and Tiarellas, Gaillardia, Iris, and more.

We've been known to have a snow in April, but I'm going to think positively that this year will not be one of them. Carry on, Your Greenness!


15 comments:

growingagardenindavis said...

You certainly have a lot of life re-appearing! That's one of the gifts of snow country...you really see when things reawaken.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Isn't it exciting seeing all these little lovelies poking out of the ground. Welcome spring...Welcome April.

Trader Rick said...

We know it's spring, when the flies start showing up!

Shady Gardener said...

What fun to have a tour of your early-spring gardens! Isn't exciting to be able to see so much new growth happening? :-)

A wildlife gardener said...

A veritable cornucopia of delights awaiting to fill you with the joys of Spring :)

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Looks like we're growing a lot of the same things! Though my garden is a good month behind yours. Fingers crossed spring comes soon to my neck of the winds. I am very weary of snow... Love your photos - K.

Tom Arbour said...

Go SPRING!

Tom @ Ohio Nature

Unknown said...

I think we've suffered enough in March! I agree--no snow in April this year. :)

Cindy Garber Iverson said...

Congrats on the delphinium, Kylee! I've had the same poor track record with them as well but have been pleasantly surprised to see that two of mine wintered over. So we're both doing well in the delph department.

Cindy at Rosehaven Cottage

joey said...

Little but mighty! I'm envious, Kylee ... you are still ahead of me. I'm getting bored shooting inside photos ;)

Yolanda Elizabet Heuzen said...

Hurray, your garden is waking up at last. How nice to see so many green shoots and buds appear. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that April will be without snow for you this year. You've had more than enough of the white stuff already.

Muum said...

looks wonderful. I need to make another pass thru my yard and see what else is up, too! Yea, spring!

Unknown said...

Hey Kylee... I see now that you mentioned the euphorbia is coming up out of the ground. Do you think that's why my 'Efanthia' looks so bad? Because I should cut it back and watch for it to come up out of the ground instead of looking for signs of life on last year's branches? (They just look so full yet, so I'm afraid to cut them back!)

Kylee Baumle said...

Leslie ~ I agree! This is such an exciting time of year, seeing the rebirth of everything!

Lisa ~ Yes, it sure is! Makes me smile! :-)

Rick ~ Yep! I even mentioned that in an earlier post!

Shady Gardener ~ Yes, it is exciting AND miraculous!

A wildlife gardener ~ I know! And it's amazing what just one week later brings at this time of year.

Nancy ~ I can't wait, either! It can't be long now, can it?

Kate ~ Thanks, Kate. I too am tired of winter and snow. I hope spring is just around the corner for you!

Tom ~ YEAH!

Kim ~ Okay, that settles it then - No nore snow until next winter!

I wouldn't prune 'Efanthia' yet. Mine looks very different than 'Chameleon'. Mine is quite full yet, too. But dead. LOL. It may come up from the ground, but I don't know, so I'm leaving it like it is for now.

Cindy ~ Yay! Glad to hear your delphiniums made it, too! I wouldn't have thought you'd have problems with them wintering over there. Anyway...I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of yours when they're in bloom!

Joey ~ I know what you mean! While I love the indoor blooms, I need to see

Yolanda Elizabet ~ Yes, we had more than our fair share of snow this winter!

Muum ~ It's changing every day, too! More and more is coming up every time I go out and look. :-)

Unknown said...

That's what I've been doing, too, so... I'll keep on ignoring it for a while, and look for any new sprouts at the base. It's so pretty that I hope it comes back for both of us this year!

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