First Blossoms of 2005

– Posted in: What's up/blooming
1 comment

Yes, the first of the snowdrops bloomed today, and not especially enthusiastically–their buds are scarcely open. It’s even more anticlimatic considering a lone crocus beat them to the punch, blooming merrily this morning while the snowdrops didn’t open up till afternoon. I think this crocus is the same one that bloomed first in 2003. And while it seems like it took forever for them to bloom, I see by my previous records that they are by no means the most tardy.

So now it’s officially mud season–over a hundred feet of muddy driveway, to be exact. Lots of birds are back, lots of snowdrops almost ready to bloom, and snow predicted for tomorrow and Thursday. But after that rain. Nice, snow-melting, ground thawing rain.

And to answer Don’s question in the comment section of the last post: no, I don’t know what kind they are. My records say I bought them from VanDyck’s in 1994. Back then my biggest concern was cost per bulb, not what they were named.

Thanks to Rundy for taking these photos. If they seem a bit blurry, it’s because he went through contortions to get in close without kneeling in the mud, and he wasn’t holding the camera quite steady as a result.

About the Author

Kathy Purdy is a colchicum evangelist, converting unsuspecting gardeners into colchicophiles. She gardens in rural upstate NY, which used to be USDA Hardiness Zone 4 but is now Zone 5. Kathy’s been writing since 4th grade, gardening since high school, and blogging since 2002. Find her on Instagram as kopurdy.

In its own way, frost may be one of the most beautiful things to happen in your garden all year . . . Don’t miss it. Like all true beauty, it is fleeting. It will grace your garden for but a short while this morning. . . . For this moment, embrace frost as the beautiful gift that it is.

~Philip Harnden in A Gardener’s Guide to Frost: Outwit the Weather and Extend the Spring and Fall Seasons

Comments on this entry are closed.

Laurie Gano March 23, 2005, 8:34 pm

I have snow drops, too! I planted them several years ago and this is the first year they have multiple flowers. But they are not the first. My snow crocus have been blooming for at least 3 weeks. Also a few days ago I noticed aconites blooming in their same little clump. I read that they spread, but not so far. Bulbs are so gratifying this time of year; I’ve got to plant some more next Fall.