The Thrill Of Spring Flowers

For me early spring ephemerals in the garden  are an exciting waiting game.  Some of my favorite plants look mostly dead or missing.   This year with all of the rodent tunnels the possibility of them being gone for good is a bigger concern.  This delightful blue carpet of Giant Glory of the Snow makes me almost giddy! The flower stems are 4-6 inches tall.  Someday I will cut one and bring it indoors, but I really like them where they are.

 

I adore blue flowers and this Siberian squill  hiding in the grass made me get down to get a close up of its blue pollen.  The flowers are like tiny little blue stars growing here and there in the grass.  The original bed where these were planted became overgrown with tall grass.  The survivors are right next to the old bed where Ed keeps the grass cut. 

The first Windflower opened today. These are planted where I can watch them dance in the wind from  my bedroom window on chilly mornings.  While they last they are a special treat.

I gave the windflowers an encore because I could not choose between the pictures. The dark pink bud will be coming right along.  The soft grey leaves are a nearby Rose Campion that will bloom after the windflowers are gone except for the stone marking their place.

Ed and I have become very interested in Native plants.  I have been watching and waiting for the arrival of these Sharp-lobed Hepatica flowers.  Most years last year's leaves remain but this year they did not. That was worrisome.  It is a real joy to see these flowers.  I know my plants will return if they can.  They want to grow and are just waiting for their chance in the rain and the sun.  Spring is a wonderful time in the garden. This is just the beginning!

Tired And Happy

This was without question the best day that we have spent outside this year.  Temperatures near or above 70 degrees just made everything seem right.  My first task was to carefully cut a wheelbarrow load of conservation roses and wild berry canes.  At the top of the lane we have a decent start on a border stone wall.  Transplanted Periwinkle is spreading nicely but briers make the area look nasty.  The briers are nearly gone and a drive up the hill will now make a great first impression on all who see it.

This is the first Pickwick Crocus blossom of the season.  Freshly open today, this may just be the best picture that we have ever taken.

This other first flower is either Glory of The Snow or Giant Glory of The Snow.  These two names are on either side of the same stone label.  With the ground ice finally disappearing, we began the huge task of cutting away Siberian Iris leaves.  The how to book for these plants recommends cutting the foliage in the Fall but the author lives in a southern state.  We believe that the crown of dead leaves insulates the plant parts from our severe Winters.  Our timing is perfect since no new growth is present.  We have far too many plants so some trimming will require working around new growth. 

We used the truck to make the trip to clean out bird nest boxes.  That required a 1.8 mile drive so the truck was a big help.  Interesting rocks were spotted and the truck provided the means to move them to the developing shade garden at the other end of the property.  The pictured rock is unusually heavy for its size.  It is obviously not native bedrock.  It gives every indication of having been in a marine environment.  The last glacier that passed by could have moved this rock from near Syracuse where salt mines and limestone are common. This interesting rock will look out of place edging one of the paths in our shade garden but we did find it on this land.

We took advantage of an end of season sale to purchase a new garden bench.  It surely displays the structure of business in the world today.  A company located in Texas is responsible for the design and delivery of this product.  The wood is similar to teak but grows in Vietnam.  Milling and partial assembly happened there.  Individual pieces are no larger  than they have to be.  The bench is solid but surprisingly light for its size.  The weathered teak chairs nearby are more than twenty-five years old and each is heavier than the new bench.  Working together, Becky and I moved the assembled bench from the basement to the patio using cooperation and a hand truck.  Both the bench and the people made the move injury free and no blue smoke ever filled the air.  They say that an old dog cannot learn new tricks but based on what transpired today anything is possible.

Fast Forward To Spring.

Now the spring flowers are coming fast. Usually I watch these Giant Glory of the Snow come up surrounded by white.  Frost in the morning gives way to temperatures in the high sixties.

My Dutch iris are beautiful, but are usually past before the crocuses bloom.

The snow drops have more competition for pollinators.  The peepers are peeping. The birds are singing.  All of a sudden there are beds to clean, plants to trim, weeds to pull, seeds to plant
and the grass is beginning to grow.  I found a fresh robin's egg shell in the flower bed down by the road.  New life is quickly emerging everywhere.  After all that waiting, we are suddenly falling behind.  I'm a little sore and tired, but I'm as twitterpated as the birds.  The fresh air and sunshine is exhilarating.  Only the stench from the fields of fermented cow manure dampens my spirits and that's just until the wind changes or it is plowed under.