Early spring blossoms: Crocus and snowdrops

March 24th, 2008 by Kathy Purdy · 14 Comments

The temperatures are still dropping into the teens every night (last night’s low: 17.5F or -8C) and even when the high hits 40F (4C) the brisk wind makes it feel chillier. But at least a hurried stroll around the premises is now rewarded with signs that Spring is slowly making inroads in Winter’s territory. These crocuses started blooming yesterday, but despite the sunshine they just can’t bring themselves to open fully.

The snowdrops have finally opened, but still don’t look really enthusiastic. I can’t say I blame them. I know I should be out there pruning shrubs and raking road grit out of the lawn, but when that wind blows, I want to get back in the house just as soon as I’ve checked for new sprouts shooting out of the still semi-frozen earth.

Does my reluctance indicate traces of remaining sanity or lack of horticultural ambition?

Stumble it!

Categories: What's up/blooming · Snowdrops

Keywords: chores · crocus · mud season · snowdrops

Add a keyword:

14 responses so far ↓

1 kate // Mar 24, 2008 at 5:34 pm

I’ll vote on the side of remaining sanity. In these early spring days, wind and cold temperatures don’t make for a pleasant experience. Besides those snowdrops look as if they are shivering. That is an impressive patch of snowdrops!
2 entangled // Mar 24, 2008 at 6:35 pm

I think those snowdrops are showing much more enthusiasm than mine ever do
3 Carol, May Dreams Gardens // Mar 24, 2008 at 6:45 pm

Hmmm… sanity or lack of ambition? How about the need for a warmer coat?

I know what you mean, sometimes that wind blows so that no coat can keep it out, no matter how warm the coat is or how think the long underwear.
4 Kathy Purdy // Mar 24, 2008 at 6:52 pm

Yeah, I was wearing long underwear, too. The wind makes all the difference. I know I’ve gone out on walks on sunny winter days when it didn’t get above freezing, and had to unzip my jacket.
5 David Perry // Mar 24, 2008 at 8:37 pm

Stunning Work!
Having spent a bit of time in your company, I’m pretty sure it can’t be traces of remaining sanity. You strike me as perfectly, delightfully crazy. Hmmmm, but lack of ambition? You?
Are those really our only two choices?
6 mss @ Zanthan Gardens // Mar 24, 2008 at 9:26 pm

In a couple of weeks, you’ll be in Austin and you’ll have to get our your shorts and a sun hat…possibly mosquito repellant and definitely sunscreen.
7 Amy // Mar 24, 2008 at 11:19 pm

I vote for sanity
8 Annie in Austin // Mar 24, 2008 at 11:47 pm

There are so many snowdrops in that photo - I quit counting after 60. And remember how thrilled I once was when 15 bloomed at once in Illinois.

Hat, yes- definitely a hat, Kathy!

Annie at the Transplantable Rose
9 Mr. McGregor's Daughter // Mar 25, 2008 at 11:18 am

I hope you have somewhere to sit near those Snowdrops because when the wind finally dies down & the sun shines, it is going to smell heavenly! I think you’re suffering from a lack of ambition brought on by gray skies & howling winds.
10 Kathy Purdy // Mar 25, 2008 at 7:37 pm

MSS and Annie,
Sun hat: check. Sun block: check. Shorts–shorts!! in April!! Um, my lily white legs aren’t ready for shorts. I’ll consider a denim skirt.
11 cyndy // Mar 26, 2008 at 11:00 am

Oh Kathy, I think that your reluctance indicates the decision of a wise and seasoned gardener…like those crocus, your ambition will bloom when the time is right!
12 Dee/reddirtramblings // Mar 26, 2008 at 5:38 pm

Kathy, the better weather will come soon enough, and you’ll get your chores done. Can’t wait to see you next weekend.~~Dee
13 Kim // Mar 26, 2008 at 7:54 pm

Wow… I would say that your snowdrops look pretty enthusiastic! Numerous, at the very least.
14 Kathy Purdy // Apr 2, 2008 at 2:10 pm

Mr. McGregor’s Daughter, I had never realized my snowdrops were fragrant before! Why is that? Maybe it’s usually not warm enough? Yesterday it was in the 60s, and I detected a sweet but elusive fragrance on the air. I walked over to the snowdrop patch, stooped down, and took a big whiff. Yes! That was the fragrance I had noticed.