Thursday, March 20, 2014
And so it begins...
Today is the first day of spring. Is there any sweeter sound? Spring is always welcome, but this year, even more so. Everyone is so happy to know that the official spring is here, but I'm trying not to get my hopes up. You see, next week we might get a little snow! Still, the trend is warmer. I can make it now. Especially now that the spring flower parade has arrived. Just in time for the first day of spring is the arrival of iris reticulata. Isn't that a sight for winter weary eyes?
Those dainty little iris are always the first guest to my garden. But the next arrival is always a race between the crocus and hellebores. I'm never sure which will bloom next. These hellebore buds may say that the they will come next, but they are notoriously slow to show up. The crocus may still beat them to the race.
I depend a lot on my sedum Angelina for garden color this time of year. The cold makes the foliage turn all shades of lovely, making it my favorite winter interest piece. And I use it with abandon. When summer comes, it will revert to it's bright green color, and that's okay too.
Early spring means it's time to buy pansies. My neighbors, who aren't gardeners, often seem so puzzled to see blooming flowers in pots all around my house. They just don't know the beauty of the pansy. Pansies like it chilly!
When the heat arrives, pansies will fade away, and I'll swap them out for something summery. But that's a good two months away, and I need color NOW. So pansies it is, in the hanging basket by the front door, in a pot on the back step, in the container on the front porch, and in the window boxes under the dining room windows.
Now I love pansies, but soon, there will be even more to see. I can hardly wait!
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I love pansies. I plant mine in pots during the fall, and they last all winter. They do hunker down during the coldest spells, but then they bounce back. I recently fertilized them, and they look good as new. And I also love the new foliage of hellebores as they emerge. My hellebores were late this year, and I was very happy when they finally began to put out new growth. Happy Spring!
ReplyDeletePansies don't over winter very well here. But I do put them in pretty early, and you're right, they hunker down when things get really cold again. I just need that blast of color after the long cold winters!
DeleteSome lovely Spring colours. It's such a nice time of year and the blue iris is fab!
ReplyDeleteThat blue iris is a real show stopper in early spring when everything else is gray or brown. There's a lighter color blue one that's also pretty, but I just can't resist the bold colors.
DeleteIf you were offering to send spring our way, yes please do...we are due for more snow again.
ReplyDeleteJen
Hi Robin, yes it is spring, and like you, I am tickled with the few blooms we have so far, but so ready for warm weather to be here to stay, and more flowers to be up and blooming. I only have pansies in a tub where other plants will be taking over the space when it gets hot. I have had pansies hang on for much of the summer before, though. Seeing yours makes me think about getting some more.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog, which I have been neglecting a bit. I'm a para-educator, which is a teacher's aide. I did that for 10 years, and then retired. For the five years before that, I also worked for the schools helping to take care of babies of teen moms. I am excited to be subbing, and plan to only work a day or two a week during gardening season.
It's nice that you can choose to only work a few days a week, what an ideal arrangement! I'm not working these days, so it's nice to have all the time I want to work in the yard. I hope you did get some pansies!
DeleteHi Robin! Sedum angelina never gets such pretty colors in my garden. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised to know your Sedum Angelina doesn't get such pretty colors there. I guess that's one good thing about our bitter cold winters!
DeleteYour iris looks so pretty against the backdrop of the sedum. We appreciate every bloom this year.
ReplyDeleteI do love the combination of Sedum Angelina with iris reticulata. It also looks good with orange violas and pansies.
DeleteFun Spring post, Robin ... can't wait to pot my pansies!
ReplyDeleteJoey, I bet you've potted up plenty of pansies by now!
DeleteI also love sedum Angelina, Robin. I love most sedums in fact -- so versatile. Your blooms are amazing! P. x
ReplyDeleteThank you Pam! I always feel that sedum Angelina is so under utilized in cold climates. That winter color is fantastic and lasts for a long, long time.
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