April Blooms: Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

April 15th, 2007 by Kathy Purdy · 13 Comments

In contrast to what gardeners in many other parts of the country have endured, where Spring arrived in full force, only to be slapped down by Winter’s last stand, Spring has not really made its grand entrance. It’s only been peeking through the window, wondering if it really wants to come in.

The snowdrops are dangling the last of their bells. The crocus bank would look pretty good–if only their blossoms would open, which they won’t do without sunshine. The daffodils have been on the verge of blooming for a week, likewise just waiting for a bit of sunshine:

But are we going to get sunshine? No-o-o. Not for the forseeable future. As a matter of fact, thought it’s raining now, we’re supposed to get snow:

Snowfall accumulations of 8 to 12 inches will be possible
overnight… especially in the higher terrain . Total snowfall
accumulations could well exceed a foot by Monday evening… with 12
to 18 inches possible in the highest terrain along the Interstate
81 corridor.

In addition to the snow… strong north winds of 15 to 25 mph with
gusts to near 40 mph will cause blowing snow and whiteout
conditions. The strong winds combined with heavy and wet snow will
likely result in downed trees and power lines and power outages
throughout the area.

All I can say is, I hope they’re wrong. But if the choice is between snow or ice, yes, I will take snow. If we do get snow to the depth they are predicting, it will be the heaviest snowfall I can remember this late into April. I mean, hate-pril.

Cornelian cherry, forsythia, Siberian squills, glory-of-the-snow: all are waiting for the sunshine which will be delayed for yet another week. The only flower newly blooming for April is this plum-colored hellebore, which Ellen Hornig of Seneca Hill Perennials included in my 2003 order because she felt something else in my order was undersized. The something else has since died, but this hellebore just gets better and better.

Stop by at May Dreams Garden for all the other Bloom Day reports.

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Categories: Miscellaneous

Keywords: bloom dates · bloom records · crocuses · hellebores · spring

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13 responses so far ↓

1 cyndy // Apr 15, 2007 at 6:57 pm

Your “bloomage” sounds much like mine…not much happening yet, but lots of “budding up” going on.
Congratulations on the nomination!
2 Pam/Digging // Apr 15, 2007 at 7:14 pm

Yes, congrats on your nomination. Your blog was one of my top picks for Best Design.
3 Ted B // Apr 15, 2007 at 7:34 pm

Kathy,

That snow seems like no fun! It’s interesting to me that our crocus seem about as far along but my daffodils aren’t even close to as far. My hellebores are a little behind also, but close. The nasty weather has all stayed south of us, so maybe we’ll be caught up by the end of the week.
4 Carol // Apr 15, 2007 at 8:28 pm

I love that hellebore. We had a bright sunny sort of windy, cool day here, but like you, I had stuff going on all day so couldn’t get to the garden.

Here’s hoping they are wrong on that snow forecast. That much would crush the flowers you do have, wouldn’t it?

Thanks for participating in Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day again. You’ve been a good sport with your zone 4, late spring, garden. Just wait till summer, right?!
5 Tracy // Apr 16, 2007 at 9:18 am

It looks like you’re about 2 weeks ahead of us. The crocus, hellebore, tulip and daffodil foliage is up, but no buds or blooms yet. Soon, soon.
6 Annie in Austin // Apr 16, 2007 at 9:53 am

What quantities of bloom potential are in that daffodil photo, Kathy! I love to see things that have some substance to them, and hope you all make it through another bout with hate-pril.
If anything happened to the wonderful plum Hellebore it would be hate-pril, for sure. What a beauty!

Annie at the Transplantable Rose
7 The Red Scot // Apr 16, 2007 at 10:48 am

Ahh, it appears that the weathermen were right. We’ve received 8 inches of snow so far, and it’s only 10:00! I guess the daffodils will have to wait a little longer…
8 Kim // Apr 16, 2007 at 11:20 am

“Crocus bank” conjures up such lovely mental images that I can’t help but wish I had an area planted that heavily with crocus myself.

Sorry to hear (via The Red Scot) that you are indeed getting snow. I hope it doesn’t do too much damage via the weight, and that you finally get some sunshine to convince snow to stop peeking and come right on in.
9 Brooke Heppinstall // Apr 16, 2007 at 3:29 pm

Hahahaha! Finally, there’s justice in the climactic cosmic arrangements! It’s so nice to hear non-subarctic gardeners complaining about snow in ‘hate-pril’ (I love that moniker!). I thought winter and sub-zero (Fahrenheit) temperatures would never quit. We’ve blown completely through the wood pile and the gas bills on the greenhouse furnace are killing me. Of course, in another 15 years I’ll be sitting pretty with waterfront property enjoying zone 5 garden while you’re all moving to higher ground. And I won’t have to shoot any polar bears to keep them out of the garden because there won’t be any left to bother about. See, this is what ‘climate change’, ‘global warming’, or just generally ignoring mother nature does to normally cold-hardy gardeners. But, ‘hate-pril’ is almost over, will someone please pass the Prozac? Brooke

ps…yes, Kathy. I admit I grew up in South Miami. Been in Alaska since 1970. Airline brat.
www.dirtdivasgardening.com
10 Chigiy Binell // Apr 17, 2007 at 7:09 pm

What a beautiful little ocean of crocus. I love the hellebores.
I hope they’re wrong about the snow.
11 Oldroses // Apr 17, 2007 at 9:21 pm

I just read the story of your crocus bank. I admire your patience planting so many bulbs so precisely! I love the color of your hellebores.
12 Kathy Purdy // Apr 18, 2007 at 6:22 am

All–I have to agree that that plum hellebore was the best free bonus plant I ever got. Annie–The first two photos in this post show that same bed of daffodils in full bloom.
13 Pat // Apr 18, 2007 at 12:23 pm

Just got back from Washington, D.C. The poor cherry blossoms there have the same fate as the daffodils here. And residents tell me it’s not the snow that spoils the blooms–they are hardy enough to withstand the blanketing–but the wind is the real culprit, and they had plenty of wind when we were there.

earty