What a beautiful weekend. A little windy, a little cold… actually if you went by the commentary which followed nearly everyone’s observation on me working outside you would say it was a frigid weekend… but it was perfect. I cleaned up the front yard, it looks amazing in my opinion but others do not like all the autumn leaves which mulch the street bed. Okay maybe it looks a bit messy and they could have been mulched a little more, but if that’s what’s distracting you after weeks of frozen soil and cold winds well then I can’t help you. Color is back and I’m ready to enjoy.
Some of the first snowdrop plantings here have matured nicely. This is a favorite spot along the front of the house and the shelter from the wind brings everything on a little earlier.
‘Straffan’ in front and ‘Brenda Troyle’ in back. Also a sheltered spot, right up against the porch. Normally ‘Straffan’ is a little later, but I guess this year everyone is anxious for spring.
The rabbits have been caught off guard and didn’t realize the first crocus (‘Tatra Shades’) are ready and waiting. They should find them by tomorrow.
Hamamelis ‘Barmstedt Gold’ is amazing this spring. I might need to collect even more witch hazels 🙂
The driveway soaks up the sun’s warmth and keeps this bed warm enough to bring on a full flush of snowdrops and winter aconite. Cyclamen coum are on the way as well!
The winter aconite in this bed are a mix of the straight species Eranthis hiemalis, plus pale yellow ‘Lightning’ (which is already starting to look tired), and the faded yellow of ‘Schwefelglanz’. I love them all.
The newer snowdrop plantings need to fight for their space. This Dryad Gold snowdrop was planted a little too close to the giant reed grass patch, and I’ll need an axe and a pick to free up the delicate little thing.
‘Bloomer’. I’m showing this just because none of them sold at the gala and it’s one of my absolute favorites. On the plus side I replanted the unsold ones as a second clump, and perhaps next year will be their year!
So that was a hit and run post. I don’t think anyone will miss me prattling on about all kinds of nonsense and I wanted to get these photos up before I take another twenty or two hundred tomorrow! Enjoy your week 🙂
sorta like suburbia 
Gorgeous! I love everything, especially the mixed bulbs. I am so ready for spring. I did a tour of my garden this afternoon also. The ice and snow are receding, and only a few areas have been noticeably destroyed by rabbits. (I haven’t dared to look outside the fence yet to see what the deer have done.) Snowdrops are up in the frozen landscape, but not yet open. Some specks of red are visible on Hamamelis buds. Salix ‘Mt Aso’ is killing it. And, um that’s about it here in the northern Catskills.
Glad to hear that the ice and snow are in retreat. It must be nice being able to walk again without all the slip and slide hazards!
One of the ‘Mt Aso’ cuttings you gave me made it, and I can see what you mean. I love the catkins but now I have to figure out where it’s going since it’s still sitting in the pot it rooted in. We fortunately? didn’t have much snow all winter and the rabbits were able to eat blue fescue and evergreen sedges all winter rather than evergreens and shrubbery. Only the blueberries look damaged, and I think all the witch hazels have enough bark left to recover since they’re apparently bunny candy. Please don’t ask why I didn’t just cage them…. I only got around to the camellias before I lost my motivation….
I keep chicken wire around the base of my witch hazels year round because the rabbits love them so much. I also wrapped my Fothergillas that are inside our fence but the snow was so deep that the rabbits ate them down to where the wire started. I didn’t cage the Fothergilla that’s outside the fence in the bed by the road, and nothing bothered it. Go figure.
Duh. I don’t know why I never thought to put some chicken wire around the bases year round as well. Usually the whole plant gets it since mine are still fairly small, and I want to be ready for deep snows, but the day to day nibbles are probably worse.
You have it looking wonderful.
Thanks Paddy!
All looks terrific. ‘Bloomer’ appears remarkably yellow for you this season. Others I have seen previously have had a significantly greener tint, and mine never looked that nice. I’ll have to move it into more sun.
One day we can talk on the yellow. Many of them are exceptionally yellow this spring, but for the first time every ‘Lady Elphinstone’ is leaning towards green. ‘Bloomer’ is not always this yellow? faded? but this spring he is and I do like the look, but ‘Rosemary Burnham’ looks better in green than she does in pale lime.
You might want to warn your MIL that there may be a random woman wandering around your yard with a camera around her neck one of these warm days this week!
Truly, I am impressed and more than a little envious! I want winter aconite NOW!!!! Immediate gratification is what I’m after, lol!
No signs of the snowdrops yet.
I should start digging things up now for you. You need plenty of snowmelt bloomers for that Highlands gardens of yours, and it’s crime to not have a bloom or two already. As Kathy says plant where the snow melts, and plant stuff that’s real early to begin with to amplify the effect!… and I guess plant what deer hate, although your little monsters might eat it anyway just out of spite.
Aah, spring has arrived in your garden too. You are barely a week behind us I think, as my Crocus are also just starting. A definite yes to more witch hazels! Yours is quite stunning! My ‘Diane’ really glowed this spring, lighting up the chilly garden for weeks before it warmed up at the end of last week. Your driveway bed is beautiful too!
Oh excellent you have a ‘Diane’! I lost mine to the construction and drought and haven’t been able to find a replacement. It’s such a great color, and just what I need to complement the gold and yellow 🙂
It’s been warm enough to start most things growing, but I think a few are holding back and waiting for a good spring rain. Without a nice soak I’m still finding frozen earth down a few inches in the shadier parts of the garden.
So nice to see things waking up in your garden, Frank. I applaud your leaf mulch, one simply has to educate the naysayers to the fact that the way nature does it is best!
I ‘cheat’ a bit by putting snowdrops next to the south-facing foundation near the front porch and yesterday was pleased to see about 3″ of buds poking through. Woohoo! My official proof of spring’s arrival. 😉
Yay! Glad to hear spring is finally coming through for you! -and I still wish I had more leaf mulch, it really is the best thing for a rich soil.
Before my trees matured, I would collect bags from friends who had huge maples in their yards, it’s my favorite mulch.
Wonderful spring scenes! I love the tapestry of early flowers you’ve made.
Thanks! I love the colorful mess but it takes a level of ruthlessness I don’t have to open up spots for new goodies. Also the title referencing sun is code for I can’t take good snowdrop pictures in bright light, so out of focus ‘scenes’ is what it became!
Such a cheery bevy of spring flowers, I love it! That witch hazel is a stunner.
I’m starting to obsess on witch hazels as much as I do snowdrops… Actually no super-early flower is safe!