March Madness!

March Madness usually refers to the basketball tournament frenzy. In fact, the state high school basketball championships nearly always bring about a snowstorm around here, but not this year. And I'm not complaining one little bit. We're easily a month ahead of schedule, and I'm thrilled with this early spring we're having, to the point of being giddy.

I heard someone say that we here in Zone 5 just experienced a Zone 7 winter. There were only two snowstorms to speak of, and even those were barely enough to warrant calling off school for a day.  Last year the conservatory went through two tanks of propane and even though we kept it 5-10 degrees cooler this winter, we used just half of that.

This week, I worked three straight days in the garden and experienced the familiar soreness of using muscles that, like the plants, had been pretty much dormant all winter. While I was down on my knees, cleaning and pruning the dead away on most things, I was astounded at all the new growth I saw.

Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica)

Even late emergers like the butterfly bush (Buddleia ), which some years doesn't emerge at all, is leafed out.  The ninebark (Physocarpus), another late one, is unfurling its foliage, too. The Virginia bluebells are not only up, they're budded and showing color. I suppose the hardy hibiscus will be next.

I can't hardly keep up with all the new blooms.  Even as I put this video slide show together, another new one appeared. March is bustin' out all over!