There is nothing blooming at my new (to me) garden. That lack will have to be rectified. But my daughter Cadence was going right by the old place yesterday, and I asked her to take pictures. So I can tell you that the winter aconites (Eranthis spp.) are now blooming.
The old and the new. This year's winter aconites snuggled up with last year's hydrangea blossom. And I think that hellebore in the back is trying to bloom.
I was there less than a week ago myself, and there was no sign of their leaves or buttercup-like blooms then. They move fast.
From one clump, many snowdrops eventually grew.
This photo gives you an idea of the “river” of snowdrops (
Galanthus nivalis) flowing along the path to the Secret Garden. Sadly, I didn’t write down the date my friend gave me that first clump, but it was at least fifteen years ago. Every other year or so I dig up some clumps, divide and replant.
They persevere through the vagaries of March, encouraging us to persevere as well.
If you look in the first snowdrop picture, you can see a few blooming right in the path. These snowdrops are doing some propagating of their own.
I thought, with the mild winter we had, that everything must be so early. But I think I had to go back to 2008 before I found a March “bloom day” post that had nothing blooming. True, things started blooming earlier this year, but the Crocus Bank, which faces north, is just beginning to send out the first scouts of what will soon be an invasion.
Both early and late crocuses are planted in the bank along the driveway.
But this Siberian squill (
Scilla siberica) is definitely ahead of schedule:
How many flowers do you know of with blue anthers?
Hmm, where should I plant them in the new garden?
Inspired by the words of Elizabeth Lawrence, “We can have flowers nearly every month of the year,” Carol of May Dreams Gardens started Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. On the 15th of every month, garden bloggers from all over the world publish what is currently blooming in their gardens, and leave a link in Mr. Linky and the comments of May Dreams Gardens.
Tagged as:
crocus,
eranthis,
Garden Bloggers Bloom Day,
scilla,
squills,
winter-aconite
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.
Now, the digging and dividing of perennials, the general autumn cleanup and the planting of spring bulbs are all an act of faith. One carries on before the altar of delayed gratification, until the ground freezes and you can’t do any more other than refill the bird feeder and gaze through the window, waiting for the snow. . . . Meanwhile, it helps to think of yourself as a pear tree or a tulip. You will blossom spectacularly in the spring, but only after the required period of chilling.
~Adrian Higgins
in
The Washington Post, November 6, 2013
Awesome… Nice post .. i like to read that types of gardening articles. Thanks for sharing
Beautiful flowers..
Love the river of snowdrops!
I love that snowdrop river. I moved a few bulbs from the ‘orchard’ to the herb bed in front of the house so I would know when they began to bloom. That is all I have at this time of the year – but it is nearly a month earlier than usual.
I wish I had blue anthers.
Plant them everywhere! (Hah – there’s a good answer.) Love that snowdrop river.
I am so with you on the spread a little more each year work ethic, Kathy. That is how one gets those rivers. Your blooms are so sweet, and how nice to have so much from which to *borrow* when planting you new garden!
Your snowdrop river is breathtaking!! Happy Bloom Day!!