Boy was I ever wrong back in late February when I said I thought it was "going to be an early one". Spring is slowly dragging onto the scene here. We've had the typical ups and downs in temperatures. 60's and 70's one day and then plummeting into the 30's and freeze/frost warnings. Despite the slow advance of the vernal season, the spring bulbs are starting to put on their show. Many things are shorter than advertised, which I think is due to the fluctuating temps. Here is a stunted tulip 'Synaeda Amor' that is about 4-5" tall versus the 16" promised.
Other things that began blooming when it was warmer, like this forsythia, are gorgeous in bloom. The rhododendrons have about finished blooming and the azaleas are starting to get leaves. Hyacinths are another spot of color in the landscape right now. Here are some 'Sky Jacket' hyacinths that I planted a fairly good number of last Fall. These are shorter than expected as well, but have been blooming for over a week now.
I've been going through a period of "doldrums" brought on mostly, I think, by the slow-coming of Spring. Yet I've done little seed-starting this winter as I've been quite unmotivated. Gosh knows I bought lots of seed to start. I'll have to consider starting them in the summer for fall planting. While seed keeps well I found some seed doesn't have a high germination rate after the first year and is more freshness-sensitive than most seed.
Last, but not least, are the daffodils. They are brightening up the front walk in this photo. These are older plantings as they were here when we moved in 4 years ago. The daffodils I planted last fall are coming up and a few are even putting up buds now, but none have bloomed yet.
