03 April 2010

Peeking at petals

Remember only a few short weeks ago, when the only way we could enjoy spring-flowering bulbs was to have them indoors, either as bulbs or as cut flowers?

Well, those options are still available, at least with tulips. I can't resist tulips as cut flowers, so I buy them quite regularly, and spend a good deal of time peeking into their silken secrets. I love the way tulip petals catch and hold and reflect light. It is no wonder that people have been maddened, and gladdened, by these luminous beauties for centuries.

But let's not mock the smaller, less showy bulbs of spring. The temperature has shot up gratifyingly in the past 36 hours. And with it, spring decided to kick into gear again in our soggy, still cluttered but happy yard.

I love crocus. Especially I love stalking them, watching them as they act coy in cloudy weather or early/late in the day.

I love watching them get happy in the sunlight and offer their petals up in exultation to the rites of spring. Nothing April Foolish about their colours. No photoshopping here. Just happy flowers in spring light.

I have a whack of pink chionodoxas planted in my gravel-garden-in-progress, and they are multiplying nicely every year. They also bloom before their blue siblings in another part of the garden.

And the striped squill, or puschkinia, are also multiplying nicely. These are all low-growing bulbs, barely out of the ground before they're in flower. They're tricky to photograph especially if you're like me: a gardener and writer who takes photos but isn't a real photographer. So I find the best way to learn is by experimenting.

The snowdrops are still doing their thing in great glee. In fact, some of them, in more shaded parts of the garden, are just popping up now. LongSufferingSpouse hasn't done a snowdrop count yet, but I suspect that will happen today. This darling double lifted her head enough that I could get an almost-focused look at her ruffled skirts.

Meanwhile, the big patches of doubles are happily stretching themselves a little taller, and opening their blossoms a little bit more with each passing day.


Friday afternoon, the sun really pushed away any lingering clouds, the temperature grew warmer and warmer, and the gorgeous orange stamens on the crocus proved irresistible for more than one honeybee seeking a lunch. I felt sort of like I was a peeping jodi watching this one snuggle gleefully into the flower.

And this one, basking in some fully open pink glories-of-the-no-more-snow, seemed to pause and pose for the camera. It's official, even in Scotts Bay. Nature declares that spring is with us, at least for a day or two.

I hope that whatever you may be celebrating this weekend fills you with great joy, and also that you have time to marvel at the perfection of petals. Let us all, like Margaret Atwood says, come into the house smelling of dirt.


41 comments:

  1. Jodi - I'm entranced by your photos. I have not ventured into bulbs successfully yet. A few years ago I tried crocuses, but all I got was some anemic greens and no flowers. You inspire me to try again this fall! Thanks!! :)

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  2. aloha,

    its so nice to finally see spring in your world...beautiful and also the photos too!

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  3. The crocus pics are what's capturing my heart. Love that color! Happy spring, Jodi.

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  4. I am sure you were so pleased to see alittle more colour appearing in the garden and the blue from the crocus is so intense. I hope the sun comes out today so I can find some of those "poser bees" in my garden. Its breakfast time here and as I look outside its dreek! - thats a scottish word meaning its wet and miserable. I was so disappointed when I looked out the window this morning as I had so many plans. I want to come into the house smelling of dirt - only if I got out now I'll be bringing the mud and clay back in with me too!

    Have a lovely Easter Weekend Jodi.

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  5. Dear Jodi, This for me has been an absolutely perfect way to emerge from the sadness associated with Good Friday into the joy of Easter Saturday. I love all of these spring bulbs and, despite what you say about your photography, you have captured them beautifully. You must too be so thrilled to see the way that they are beginning to colonise. All we require is patience! Not so easy in my case.

    I agree entirely with you about tulips and will, I fear to say, very often buy them for the house when out of season.

    My warmest wishes to you both for a happy and peaceful Easter.

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  6. Your garden is awakening with a beautiful smile Jodi. Please remind me that I must plant more bulbs next fall. We really should look back at these beautiful flowers then to be so inspired. I hope you have a great weekend too. Happy Spring.

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  7. Hi there Jodi girl !
    Great pictures and they make me feel very "Springy" ? .. my bulb circles are waking up and looking CUTE ? LOL .. it is too hot here , can you believe I am saying THAT ? .. really it is though .. I like fresh clean cool Spring air .. this is like being dropped smack into summer .. I know it won't last though .. phew .. just like I know the raccoon adventures HAVE to END some time ?LOL
    Have a Happy Easter weekend !
    Joy

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  8. Greetings Jodi from the other side of Canada. It's nice that Spring finally made it to you - enjoy!

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  9. Hi Jodi - my heart skipped a beat when I realized I'm a stalker too. It starts as soon as the snow goes and continues right through the blooming season of my crocuses. They are in their full glory right now - but with temperatures reaching 30 degrees celsius today, they'll be gone soon. Loved your photos. Enjoy the weather and Happy Easter.

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  10. Great photos Jodi! Our tulips are probably a week away from blooming I can't wait for that. The hyacinths are blooming and the crocuses have finally arrived. I think the voles have been munching on them as they flower.

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  11. Love all the pictures! Very beautiful! Especially fave the blue crocus! (haha, only after I submit my comment of your 4/1 post, I realized that is april fool post. You did very well!)

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  12. I confess to skipping everything else and came immediately to comment with a WOW!!!!!!! AND a question - what is that delicious sherbet of a tulip in the first shot? Oh, my! It's scrumptious and I WANT ONE!

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  13. Glories of the NO MORE snow -- ha, ha, loved the way you worded that. Such a gorgeous blue crocus! Is acid soil helping the cause there? I try and try, to no avail. My alkaline soil loves to change things from blue to purple.

    Happy Easter!

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  14. Lovely photos as always!
    We don't have any flowers to photograph yet.

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  15. I agree coming smelling like dirt is wonderful. Love your photos, they are great. Hope you have a wonderful Easter gardening, or just enjoying:)

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  16. Greetings from South Dakota. We maybe sort of south, but as of yet not a bulb is to be seen. The daffodils are popping up and soon we will have color. I love the color of your garden -G

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  17. Those are great photo's. Fabulous colour on the hyacinths, great lighting for the shot!

    Did you know that Margaret Atwood is on twitter?

    Have a great weekend!
    Laura.

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  18. I love Crocus too! And I think it's so fascinating that they have emerged already - seems like we had winter only a couple of days ago!
    Happy Easter Jodi!

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  19. Or the cats - as Aragon used to say to dear departed Henry, after she had been fishing for frogs - WASH me, I smell of pond!

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  20. Just beautiful Spring blooms and pictures Jodi. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  21. It happened SO fast, didn't it? Kind of scary, really. But I'm glad to see you're also enjoying spring blooms, as we are here. It's terribly windy in northwest Ohio today and the poor daffodils are getting whipped to death. I need to follow your lead and cut some to bring in!

    Happy Easter, dear friend!

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  22. That tulip color is incredible... I love the peach shades.

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  23. As I'm just starting to plant a few new bulbs for the year ahead I can't get enough of these glorious pictures Jodi! I have a tiny packet of mixed crocus to put in and now I wish I had a hundred. I do love the little bee snuggling in to the crocus and I am glad you were there for a little peeking photo!

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  24. oh yes, these are lovely, lovely spring sights. I too love crocus, they seem so brave.

    Do you grow erythroniums?? I love them and their little downturned faces.

    Spring blessings to you,

    Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

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  25. Jodi, I am so pleased to see the bees in your beautiful photos. Thank you! The joy of spring reveals itself in bulbs, buds and bees. Have a lovely Easter weekend. From 'smelling of garden and pond' Brenda))

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  26. Until now, I haven't been organized enough to remember to plant bulb in the fall so I can enjoy the blooms in the spring. Your blooms are breathtaking, and you have done a great job photographing them. You've inspired me to make a notation on my calendar to plant bulbs in the fall!

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  27. I was looking at the few parrot tulips in the garden and the water colored petals are delightful...I'm with you Jodi, I have to have fresh flowers in the house and tulips are wonderful choices in the late winter.

    The crocus and bee shot is wonderful...Happy Spring and Happy Easter. gail

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  28. I did come in the house smelling of dirt and loved it, Jodi. Spring blessings, dear friend. (Now, where's the Bengay!)

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  29. We can't grow tulips and crocuses down here. I miss them. Thanks for sharing.

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  30. Oh, Jodi, your photos are beautiful. I love tulips, but they don't love my hot climate. We have to grow them as annuals, and that is expensive! Still, I usually plant a few. I have a single tulip which has returned for many years now. I guess it has decided it likes the sunny South!

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  31. Exquisite top photo of the shimmering radience of tulip petals. They are so mysterious. I love all your photos, especially the bud ones. Not easy to do!

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  32. Tulips won't grow here (unless you want to grow them as half hearted annuals, People do though!) so I buy them too. They are probably my favorite cut flower, so I don't feel one bit bad about it either.

    Thank you so much for your compliment on my garden progress! Coming from a longtime gardener it means a ton. I'm blushing.

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  33. Gorgeous shots Jodi, a real delight.

    I just popped by to wish you a very Happy Easter,

    RO xxx

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  34. Spring is indeed the thing, isn't it?

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  35. hi jodi
    happy easter!! all is well here thank you for asking :)
    i have been ignoring my blog latley..i do have to work on that this week
    beautiful post got to love springs beauty!
    hope you are well
    enjoy your day
    tabby

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  36. One thing I like about visiting bloggers websites in Spring is they're full of lovely pics of my favorite Crocuses, Daffs, and Irises.
    This is the first time I'm seeing violet Tulips! They look fantastic!

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  37. The tulip industry should pay you to do their marketing. Your words about their petals holding the light are wonderful. I have both the pink and blue glory of the snow here and I adore them both. They go like crazy. I sure do love your snow drops. Hubby might have to take a calculator to keep track.

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  38. Jodi, your photos are gorgeous! You must have gotten up close and personal with all these lovely blooms. I'm finally convinced that spring is here!

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  39. Wow, you've got quite a show! I'm just starting out, and love that you put the names next to each kind of bloom. I hope you don't mind, but I'm taking down the names of each, and this fall will be planting a lot of them for blooms next spring in my yard.

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  40. PPPP! Practically perfect purple petals! :-) Yer fleurs are gorgeous.

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