In the container by the front door I left all the plant material in it over the winter. There is a clump of Liriope muscari, some ivy, and an Osteospermum or African Daisy. The Osteospermum stayed green all winter along with the ivy and Liriope! I checked on it the other day, finding a bunch of buds, ready to open!!
Isn't this great?
This morning, the first day of spring...this is what I found!! This was one of a number of open blooms.
A quick look around the yard showed more blooms opening. The red dogwoods are starting to open.
Out in the backyard is the Flowering Almond I spoke of last posting. Thanks again Lola! I love this little pink fluffy blooms.
Also in the backyard is the native honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens 'Major Wheeler'. It is not a polka dotted bloom, that is pollen!!
A quick view of the front shows the grass is getting greener, the trees are budding, and flowers are starting to bloom.
Out back the garden still needs to be cleaned up a bit -- the leaf litter helped keep the plants protected over the cool (can't really say cold winter) winter. There is a lot of new growth in this garden. Think come June there will be lots of color.
How was your first day of spring? Did you find lots of new growth or buds ready to pop or a spring visitor like a lightening bug?
Happy Spring Everyone!!!
©Copyright 2012 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford.
words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.
I puttered around the garden on my first day of spring. It was great! I have a Major Wheeler honeysuckle on order. I can hardly wait til it arrives! Spring looks beautiful at your place. :o)
ReplyDeleteHi Tammy, spring is really coming on strong. Hope you like 'Major Wheeler' in your garden, it is great.
DeleteYou guys have done so much work in the beds! I am seeing the structure coming along. That honeysuckle bloom is so pretty. Good catch on the lightening bug!
ReplyDeleteYes Tina, we have done a lot -- but compared to you!! whoa. Plants are opening up and starting to fill in. Hooray.
DeleteI have in/out dogs too! They are so indecisive! I have an Admiral Semmes too...ready to pop any day now! Your blooms are all so lovely. Dogwoods are my favorites!
ReplyDeleteKarin, don't they drive you nuts? In and out and in and out. I love how nicely Admiral Semmes has opened...love it!
DeleteLove the flowering almond blooms--does it smell as good as it looks? I didn't get a chance to work outside yesterday, but even on days I don't, I try to walk around and see what's blooming. Everything is coming up so quickly this spring, that if you don't pay attention, you'll miss something!
ReplyDeleteRose, I was gone for most of today and when I walked around the yard when I got home there was new growth! Pay attention for sure!!!
DeleteI have yet to see the fist lightening bug in our neck of the woods but we dont usually see many. I think our droughts may have something to do with that but not really sure. As children in TN, we would catch them and jar them up and let them go in the house at night. We would get into so much trouble with mom. Hee hee... I had a productive day in the garden on Spring Day! and loving those honey suckle....
ReplyDeleteI wonder why Skeeter that you don't have many lightening bugs. We used to catch them and put them in a jar too.
DeleteWe are presumed to be one zone warmer, but your garden is way ahead...go figure!
ReplyDeleteRicki, I would guess a lot of the new spring growth has a lot to do with how much rain has come. We got about an inch yesterday and last night, and wow! more growth.
DeleteHi Janet. Your Osteospermum is so pretty. I think it is wonderful it stayed around for you. Lightening bugs already. We usually do not get them until June but maybe they will be early too with this summer like weather we are having. Have a wonderful week.
ReplyDeleteLona, I was surprised the Osteospermum stayed green but our winter was really soooo mild. I think the lightening bugs are early too.
Deletehow lucky you can overwinter African Daisy...wow!! Love lightning bugs...
ReplyDeleteDonna, it was dumb luck to keep the African Daisy over the winter....or lack there of.
DeleteJanet,
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing that you've already seen some lightning beetles! Calendar spring and real spring have definitely overlapped this year -- not the usual pattern, really.
It's certainly spring here in the mountains, over spring break. The cherry flowers aren't lasting long with the warmth, but they're lovely while they've lasted.
Lisa
Lisa, I think it is amazing too. Had a great walk through the Steven Creek Preserve ---spring is in full swing!
DeleteBeautiful!And Wow ~ Fireflies already? We've had a few mosquitoes... Lovely blog, I'm a new follower!
ReplyDeleteBest,
Anne ♥♥
Hi Anne, thanks for coming to visit!!! I will check out your blog. We don't have many mosquitoes here, amazingly.
DeleteIt has been in the news constantly that we are going to have a very buggy season. Up here, bugs are emerging so early in the 80° weather. It is too 'hot' here for March and we have been beating temperature high records for over a week. I think we skipped Spring and the bulbs are blooming one day then on their sides the next. Your spring seems to be progressing well with the blooms that you have shown. I love the almond and red dogwood. One thing about this early weather though, there are a lot of birds out there.
ReplyDeleteDonna, we have had a lot of birds here as well, waiting for the hummingbirds!
DeleteFirst, your home and the setting are both so lovely! I used to plant osteospermum and it handled late frost better than many annuals. In fact, I think I remember having it overwinter in the ground for one year. I noticed that a 'Broadway Lights' shasta had a bloom today! You have so many interesting elements to your garden. I love the flowering almond.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Freda, we are really happy here. My Shasta isn't anywhere close to blooming, though I guess I should check again!
DeleteWe mainly saw and felt mosquitos! Lovely blooms you have. I love the photo of your property looking down toward the water.
ReplyDeleteDarla, Funny thing, we don't have a mosquito problem here, thank goodness! Thanks, we love this setting!
DeleteMy first day of spring was spent at work getting ready for two bus loads of people who were coming the next day for a visit. They were part of the American Camellia Society, which is having its national convention here in Norfolk through Sunday. We held a class for them on companion plants for camellias.
ReplyDeleteLes, I know you like talking to groups of gardeners. I love the camellias at the NBG. Wish mine were bigger!
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