Cold Climate Gardening

The Crocus Bank is looking glorious (click any photo to enlarge it):
But I was pleasantly surprised to see this wee thing:

Popularity: 19% [?]

Odyssey Bulbs has long been a favorite of mine for unusual bulbs (including unusual varieties of colchicum) that you’re not likely to find elsewhere–not even at Brent and Becky’s. I recently learned it was featured on Martha Stewart’s tv show on January 22nd. If, like me, you missed it, you can still view it on marthastewart.com or go straight to Odyssey, where they’ve conveniently profiled those selections. The video clip makes it sound like they can all be planted this spring, but I don’t think that’s the case with the crocus. I am probably shooting myself in the foot telling you about my favorite micro-bulb nursery before I’ve placed my own order, but I …

Popularity: 12% [?]

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:

Popularity: 14% [?]

This is a photo of my beloved crocus bank. The driveway runs roughly east to west, downhill all the way. On the south side of the driveway, the lawn runs down fairly steeply to the driveway, forming a bank that I have planted quite densely with crocuses. The crocuses are just getting started, but it is obvious that depredations occurred over the winter under cover of snow. Voles. This bank faces north and, with snow shovelled off the driveway piled on it, is one of the last places to lose its snow cover. Although I have trouble with voles all over the property, they had never found the crocus bank before.

Popularity: 6% [?]

I don’t keep consistently good garden records, but one detail I have tracked faithfully since I planted my first flower, is the date of the first bloom around here. For you Southerners who have things blooming throughout the winter, I’m talking about the first visible bloom, when the snow has melted enough for me to see it. One reason why it is always recorded is because it is such a long awaited event. An equally important reason is that there is not much else to do, garden-wise, and writing a factoid down makes you feel like you’ve Done Something.

So, for those cold climate gardeners who haven’t kept records, and for those who have, but are interested in comparing notes, here …

Popularity: 13% [?]