10 April 2008

What a difference a day makes


When I decided it was time to take a break from work and go out for a walk around the yard yesterday afternoon, Tigger came bounding gleefully across the yard burbling excitedly. Perhaps he thought that we'd go inspect the catmint again like we did on Tuesday, or maybe he was just glad to get back into his role as chief gardening assistant, feline division. Tigger's a senior feline, twelve years old now, but warm sunny days make him very blissful. Catnip, or catmint as a last resort, makes him even more blissful, but we're still a few weeks from any significant amount.

We've now had 4, count them, FOUR days of mild, fine weather. The glacier is now completely vanquished from the yard and garden, although there's still a bit of dirty residual snow in the ditches and along the pasture edge. On Tuesday afternoon, I photographed these dear little crocus, barely out of the ground and showing off their colours...

They must have been the advance scouting party, because today they were joined by quite a few more, all basking in the sun's gentle smile. I even saw a bee--I think it was a honeybee, though it might have been a bee-mimic fly; I couldn't get close enough to get a photo.


A few feet away, another host of crocus stretched forth to sing their song of joy to spring.


Having pulled the mulch away from pretty well everything that I did protect, I'm amazed at how far along some things are. This euphorbia is a polychroma cultivar, the variegated 'Lacey'. I guess there are no worries about its hardiness here in my garden.


Little colonies of snowdrops are now emerging to warm my heart too. I know, I know...some of you had snowdrops MONTHS ago. But we didn't. And I simply love these perfect little plants, so fresh and clean looking. It took them a few years, but now that they've well established, they're starting to multiply in earnest.


We have single snowdrops too, as I showed in the last post. I can never decide which I like better. Each has its own particular charms, of course. The thing about the doubles is that you really do have to flip their little heads up to admire their petticoats of petals, where the singles just stand tall and elegant like little white tuxedos.


I've decided that Sedum 'Angelina' is definitely a star in all seasons. Aren't the colours in it almost undescribably lovely? They remind me of the heaths and heathers that turn such flamboyant colours. Beside 'Angelina' is another sedum, a variegated species the name of which escapes me right now, but both are quite happy. And as with the rock garden at NSAC, these little bursts of iridescence cause me to slow down and enjoy each little gift, before the song of spring becomes more of a full orchestration.

One last happy observation; the ice is gone from the pond, which means we should be hearing the green frogs in a few days, if the warm trend continues. And that will be just fine with me.

I know there are messy days yet to come, but we'll take each day that comes like this as a real gift.

15 comments:

  1. Jodi, so glad you are out and about. The double snow drops are lovely-I don't remember ever seeing them. Aren't crocus early spring's gift after a long dull winter? Your sedum is decidely a keeper!

    ReplyDelete
  2. You've had to wait for a long time for spring to come but now that it is there it seems to me like you're having an Instant Spring. Everything is just popping out of the soil in double quick time, wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  3. No wonder Tigger came running when you went outside, I too can feel your joy at finding all of those marvelous "firsts" of the season. Spring is a joyful time of year. You can feel the sun warm the bones as well as the soil. I never tire of looking at snowdrops. Your doubles are really pretty. I must remember to plant some of those fancier varieties this fall. Did I just mention fall? UGH... I want to enjoy sping a little while longer.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jodi .. wow .. I love those double Snowdrops ? .. and that sedum .. beautiful .. I have lots coming up now too which surprised me. So much has amazed me, hiding under those damp leaves (I'm sure it protects them very well over the winter) .. Tigger looks very happy indeed ...one thing you have that I am so wanting myself .. frog song ... that is the most glorious sound of Spring I miss .. enjoy it whole heartedly for me too !
    Joy
    PS .. Dexter is just the right name for the little guy !

    ReplyDelete
  5. Such a joyful time to be in the garden (for you both!). Every day is full of discoveries. I still have crocus in bloom here, and the front garden is a sea of blue--Siberian squill and chionodoxas--that will soon be joined by the white blooms of bloodroot and Dutchman's breeches, and finally by daffodils. It's awlays exciting to me to see what survived the winter, and if it actually spread, there's a real bonus. Fun times ahead!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm so envious of those snowdrops -- I've never managed to get any established in my garden (the odd one or two, so perhaps someday . . .) and every year I say I should try to transplant some from a friend's garden just after they've bloomed, but that being in mucky, wet, cold February when work is overly busy, that never seems to happen. Yours are beautiful with those layers of white and green. Can't wait to see your garden come alive over the next few weeks -- Gardeners Bloom Day this month should really be something!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Red cats are the smartest! I, too, love Sedum 'Angelina'. You are right and I need more of them!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I live in Missouri and my plants are just now bursting through the ground. We are still having cold rainy weather. I'm sure once the sun is out for a few days, the plants will start to look better. Love your snowdrops!
    Catherine

    ReplyDelete
  9. Congratulations. Your snowdrops are way ahead of mine. I'm still waiting to see the grand unveiling of my northern Canadian garden (grows snow really well).

    ReplyDelete
  10. I've got one crocus flower bud showing and my yard has been snow free for over a month. Isn't that strange? They popped up their leaves and then just sat there for weeks and weeks.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm with Tigger - "yay! spring! flowers!" those sedum are lovely and warm-looking.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm a big fan of the Sedum 'Angelina' too, after just one season. I inadvertantly learned it's really easy to propagate - just break off a little piece and stick in the ground.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jodi, it looks like you're not far behind us here and doesn't it feel GOOD?? (Think: "Walking on Sunshine")

    Love your garden helper. He looks like the twin to mine! (Max)

    ReplyDelete
  14. That is a really appropriate comparison, the 'Angelina' to the fiery colors of heaths and heathers. And yet they also look good next to the deep pinks, like in your emerging sedum.

    Are those first, double snowdrops 'Flore Pleno' by chance? If so, do they stay relatively short for you? I ask because this is my first year with them, and I was surprised by how low-to-the-ground these are. (Not that I thought they'd be tall... but you know what I mean.)

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting and for taking the time to comment! It might take me a bit, but I will return the compliment whenever possible.
Spammers--need not apply. Because I delete your comments and they will never make it here. Kthxbai!

Search Bloomingwriter

Custom Search