I know that for my online friends who live in the Southern Hemisphere, the season is turning from summer to autumn. But here in northern New England, we’re beginning to see signs of our long-awaited and, we like to think, well-deserved Spring.
And So It Begins
The trees are still bare and patches of snow linger in the shade. The newly-revealed ground is littered with last autumn’s leaves and the skeletal remains of last year’s perennials. But look! Right at my feet, pushing up through those decaying leaves and dead branches: the first crocus, tiny cups of brightest gold holding the promise of spring at last.
Are You For Real?
The earth is waking up from her long winter’s sleep. Last week I noticed a few green shoots of bulbs poking up through the soil, and this week there are dozens and dozens.
Ready or Not, Here We Come
Leaf buds are swelling in the lilac hedge.
Potentiality
There are more crocus blooming in the bed out back.
Old and New
And I’m not the only one happy about it.
Ecstasy [218/365]
Ah, Mother Nature, I knew you wouldn’t let us down!
OK, I admit I didn’t get far for Walk and Click Wednesday this week. The weather has been chilly and the wind has been blasting for most of the past couple of weeks. It’s the kind of wind where small trees in large pots get blown right over and your patio chairs go missing. They might — if you’re lucky — be found later up against the neighbor’s fence. But in between gales I did take a stroll or two around the yard to see what was blooming.
The first stop was the apple tree outside my bedroom window. The sweet scent filled the whole back yard and there were so many bees at work that it sounded like the tree had a motor running.
Next, the Lady Banks’ Rose. Each flower is barely an inch across, but the mass of them is amazing. They have only a slight fragrance, which in this case may be a good thing.
There are several pots arrayed beneath the roses. These little Paludosum Daisies reseed themselves and come up every year. They’re one of my sister’s favorites and she gets excited when she sees their first tiny leaves popping up around the yard in the spring. The tiny purple flower sharing the pot is filaree, one of my favorite “weeds” — I think it’s as pretty as the daisies.
We were all excited to see the grape hyacinth. The bulbs were planted so long ago that no one quite remembers where they came from, and this is the first time they have bloomed.
Rosemary is a plant that does well here. It’s heat and drought tolerant and, best of all, the rabbits don’t like it! We have many varieties around the yard. They bloom in different shades of blue, but they all smell wonderful.
This hot pink Autumn Sage is a lovely contrast to the blue rosemary. Unfortunately, the bunnies think this is delicious. I keep a cage around it, but removed it for the photo.
My French Lavender has been blooming almost continuously since I got it last fall. The rabbits won’t eat it, but they sometimes nip off a few branches and leave them lying underneath it. Maybe each new generation has to try it for itself? Mother Rabbit: Leave that alone, you won’t like it. Baby Rabbit (trying it anyway): Ptooey! You’re right, Mama, it’s yucky.
And have you ever seen a lavender flower really close up? They are surprisingly intricate.
The Mexican Poppy shrub in the corner of the front yard has just begun to bloom. I love their texture. They look like crushed tissue paper, and they fade sort of like old tissue paper, too.
The California poppies were started from a six-pack of seedlings from the nursery a few years ago. They’ve seeded themselves over a large part of the yard and spread farther every year. The rabbits don’t bother them and their cheerful orange faces are always a welcome sight.
There’s even more, but that’s probably enough for now. Wind or no wind, I know I’m fortunate to have warmth and flowers when my friends back east are still waiting for snow to melt. I hope you enjoyed our little garden tour.
And So It Begins
Are You For Real?
Ready or Not, Here We Come
Potentiality
Old and New
Ecstasy [218/365]
