Friday, April 27, 2018

Spring, Please Stay!

Like so much of the country, our spring has been quite temperamental this year. I didn't think it would ever get here! I'm sure you thought the same thing where you are. But here in Central Ohio, the worst is finally behind us. We're not past the frost free date yet, but almost. I think I can make it now. Whew!





Despite the frequent return of winter weather, spring flowers slowly appeared. The earliest bulbs wore snow hats several times, but then shrugged it off and continued on. One good part of a chilly spring is that the blooms lasted much longer. My first daffodil showed up at the end of March, and it was nearly a month before it finally faded away. The early daffs are gone now, but the late ones have arrived in their place. You just have to love their sunny faces.






I do have some miscellaneous bulbs out there, and they bring me joy regardless of their small size. I especially like these charming checkered lilies. Nature is amazing sometimes. How does it "print" this checkered pattern on these flowers?






At my house, tulips are the queen of the spring bulbs. I anxiously await their arrival each year. I'm so glad that I got a few nice pictures of these first tulips, as some nasty deer came along and ate them up! Grrrrr. I hurried out to spray the rest of them with stinky Liquid Fence, as there were many other tulips just about to pop open. I would have been devastated to lose them all.




I'm sure you've seen sedum Angelina here on my blog many times. Since I have such a sunny garden, it's a good fit for me. I have it everywhere. I've always called it enthusiastic, and not invasive, since it's easy to remove. But I'm beginning to wonder if invasive might be a better description, as it's trying to take over many parts of my garden. I have some work ahead of me to rein it in. I have to admit that spring is the main reason I grow this particular sedum. It turns into shades of yellow, orange, and red, right when your winter weary eyes need some color. And it looks lovely underplanted with early spring bulbs. Look back at the other photos on this post, and you'll see it featured several times.


Most of the spring garden is focused on bulbs, but there are a few highlights that do not come from bulbs.









I am inordinately fond of spring flowering trees, and this is where it all starts. Soon there will be redbuds, then crabapples. Those are my real favorites.


If I haven't told you lately, I am pleased and honored to have you here reading my blog. I started keeping it about ten years ago, as a way to journal what is blooming on any given day. In that time, blogs have gotten very popular, then faded somewhat as other forms of social media took over. I still like to keep track of what's happening in my garden each year, but I'm starting to wonder if I'm wasting my time. Blog comments have steeply declined, and I don't really know how many others are here reading. In case I decide to discontinue blogging, please take a minute to follow me on Instagram or Facebook, so we don't lose touch. For me, it's my photography in particular that I like to share, so that's why I've stuck with it. And if you still enjoy the blog format, by all means, feel free to add your comments. Most of all, I like to share thoughts and ideas with all of you here in Robin's Nest!




12 comments:

  1. Your spring is certainly ahead of ours and how beautiful it is. I love the helibores and have often wondered if I should try to plant them here. Your garden is lovely, even with the overgrowth of sedum.

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    1. Our spring may be ahead of yours, but it’s much behind the usual!

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  2. I just remembered, seeing your beach. My cousin moved to Leland last summer. She is right on the lake. I am hoping to go visit her.

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    1. Leland is a charming little town, a favorite of mine!

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  3. I'm still here, enjoying your blog and all your beautiful flowers!

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  4. Spring has definitely arrived in your garden, Robin, and is looking beautiful! I hope you don't stop blogging. I've been blogging for about ten years, too, and comments have dropped off, but there are enough to make it worthwhile for me. And I like to record the changes in my garden. I publish a shorter post than you every couple of weeks. I also post on Instagram every day, but it doesn't tell the story of my garden in the same way as a collection of pictures with a narrative. I hope you continue your blog, although of course I will continue to look for you on Instagram. Pam x

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    1. I do post a garden photo to Instagram on most days, but I do like the journal aspect of blogging. I plan to continue, for now.

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  5. All your spring blooms are such a wonderful sight Robin. I love your combination of the bulbs with Sedum...simply beautiful!

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    1. That combination happened by serendipity, but has become a favorite of mine!

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  6. Hello Robin girl .. you have much more "Spring" where you are than we do but at least we have slowly begun again .. my daffs have opened up and the tulip foliage is well over the soil line finally ... I feel the same way about blogging but again it is more for a personal record than followers .. not that I don't appreciate people stopping by, I do !
    But I have neglected the blog a great deal and now that I am ready to truly dig into the garden I don't know how much energy I will have to post .. but I will leave it open ended and try here and there. I don't do other social media .. too private a person for that.
    Good luck with what ever you are doing though .. you have wonderful photographic skills so keep up with that !

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    1. I hope by now you have an abundance of spring!

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