And don't we all buy those grocery store primroses at the end of winter? Mine will be planted out once they fade, and they do return reliably for me.
But the very, very start of the spring garden season is not a flower at all. Late winter is when sedum Angelina really shines. While it's a lovely chartreuse green all summer long, this time of year it comes in all shades of yellow, orange and red. Just when the rest of the world is drab and bland, this ground cover can give your garden much needed pizazz. It spreads quickly, but is never invasive.
Hellebores start off the garden season for many, but not for me. My hellebores are early, but they aren't the first to show up. They usually bloom in March, even though the buds form long before that.
Now many people might think that snowdrops are the first flower of the year. Maybe they are at your house, but not here. I really should plant more of these. This little guy is the lone snowdrop found. I've heard others say they spread like crazy, but that hasn't been true for me.
Maybe crocus is the first flower to bloom at your house? Not for me. I did see a lawn full of crocus today, and it really made my heart swell. Maybe someday I'll be ambitious enough to try planting a lawn full of crocus. But in the meantime, I'll enjoy my own spring favorite. The first to bloom at my house is always iris reticulata Harmony. It's such a gorgeous periwinkle blue, but the reason that I love it so is simply because it's the first flower to bloom after a long, cold winter.
It was so warm and pleasant here today that I was able to finish up the winter cleanup outside. I don't think I've ever been able to complete that task in February. It was at the end of this chore that I found this cute little iris. I think it was my reward for a job well done.
EDIT---No word yet on our possible change of venue, except that it's highly likely that we'll be able to stay here after all. Nothing certain yet, but should be soon.
Well, your plants are ahead of ours and you are ahed of me. The sedum is wonderful and the iris simply gorgeous. Here, yes the garden is tilled, but it will be weeks before the vegetables are planted. Potatoes and peas can go in early, but we have to wait until Mid-May before anything else goes in to avoid frost. I do hope you get to stay in your home because moving is a horrible pain and you have a lovely home and wonderful gardens.
ReplyDeleteWe generally plant our cool season vegetables in early April, but this year we may be able to do so in late March if the weather continues seasonable. Mid May is also when we plant our warm crops. Hubby built some new raised beds for the garden this past fall, so I hope we get a chance to use them!
DeleteIt's a great time of year. Spring is on its way. The sedum looks nice in the sunshine. Your little snowdrop is lovely; over the years they should multiply.
ReplyDeleteMy snowdrops were nearly hidden under some shrubs that have since been removed, so maybe now they will have a chance to spread.
DeleteBeautiful spring flowers...didn't know there was a spring sedum variety. Nothing at all blooming here yet, though I did see some chives poking out of my herb garden. We got 4" of icy snow yesterday and more snow coming tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteIt's not really a spring sedum, it's a year round sedum that looks its best in the chill of late winter and early spring. In summer, it will simply be a bright greeen.
DeleteHi Robin! Spring is here, for sure! I don't have mass plantings of spring bulbs in my garden, but I see spring flowers popping up here and there. Even one bloom can warm a heart.
ReplyDeleteAs for Angelina, I'm getting more interested in it after seeing 'The Tiny Tetons' Angelina/Iris 'river' at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show (http://tanyasgarden.blogspot.com/2016/02/glimpses-of-nwfgs-2016.html).
Have a wonderful March!
The color of the sedum you saw at the Northwest Flower and Garden show is how it looks in summer. It thrives in hot, dry areas. But in the chill of late winter and early spring, it takes on these beautiful colors. That's when it really shines!
DeleteHi Robin,
ReplyDeleteYour spring is ahead of ours, but I do have a few clumps of crocus blooming. My iris like yours are not blooming yet. I hope you get to stay in your home! I scrolled down and looked at your other post to see if there were more details about a possible need to move. I don't know if I remembered you had knee replacement surgery. I'm glad it's healing up. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I am hoping to make good progress cleaning up the flower beds this weekend, especially Sunday and Monday, which are my days off from having grandkids over.
Job changes may force a move that we don't really want, but nothing definite yet. For a few weeks, we thought it was certain, but then the possibility of staying got stronger. I think our waiting period is almost over!
DeleteI hope your waiting time goes by quickly.
DeleteThe sedum is striking, but I really adore the iris reticulata. I once had a mystery plant show up early one spring. A sweep of bright blue plants that looked exactly like iris reticulata appeared in my woodland garden, though I had not planted them nor ever seen them anywhere in my garden before. And they never appeared again after that year! I keep hoping they will come back.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, mysterious iris appear, then disappear? How very strange!
DeleteHello Robin girl .. I find that true with the few snowdrops I have had .. they don't colonize for me as other gardeners have had them do so I gave up on them.
ReplyDeleteThis post is at the end of February so I imagine much more is going on in your garden and hopefully you can settle with the question of staying or not.
Angelina from your experience and pictures is why I planted her in my garden in two areas .. so hopefully she will show off as well for me.
We are still clawing our way out of wintery weather here .. but some Spring bulb heads are peeking ? up .. so there is hope !
Joy : )
It hasn't been necessary to claw our way out of winter here. It was the mildest of winters, and spring is arriving quickly and early! It's only March, so I suppose we'll still see some snowflakes yet. I know better than trying to do anything foolish like planting summer annuals or flowers! But I do have my window boxes full of pansies, and the cool weather veggies are going in today.
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