Early Bulbs

The calender seems to think that Spring does not start until March 20th this year, but the bulbs in the garden think differently. Although it has been a snowy winter, the temperatures have stayed a higher then normal, especially in the last few weeks. The warm sunny weather seems to have shaken the bulbs from their winter slumber and are poking their heads up throughout the garden.

Crocus tommasinianus 'Claret'

The Dutch Crocus are always the first spring blooms in our garden. We planted a small meadow of these tiny bulbs at the back of our property between the gnarled roots of a mature Tulip Tree. The past few days colorful cupped flowers were pushed above the grass-like foliage in a show of color that can be seen glowing from our porch, over 100 feet away.

Crocus tommasinianus 'Ruby Giant'

Crocus vernus 'Jeanne d'Arc'

Lilly

Narcissus

Allium giganteum

Daylilies

Other old favorites are showing themselves as well. I forget how fast spring arrives once the warm weather begins. What was only a nub pushing through the soil is now, like in the case of our Allium, opening to greet the sun and expanded to almost a foot tall. The Narcissus, a mid-season blooming variety that was here when we bought the house, was just budded yesterday when I took this picture, but it is now almost open. 

Its hard to deny the signs of Spring are everywhere. We are even having our first thunderstorm in months. This time of year I can't wait to get home every day and stroll around the garden to see how much things have grown. Even the sight of buds uncurling gets be excited for the months ahead. After the long days of winter, the garden is waking up.

"Look at us, said the violets blooming at her feet, all last winter we slept in the seeming death but at the right time God awakened us, and here we are to comfort you."  ~Edward Payson Rod