Plant seeds of happiness, hope, success, and love; it will all come back to you in abundance. This is the law of nature.
~ Steve Maraboli
Even with the crazy winter redux this week, the garden keeps growing and blooming. There are so many plants that are emerging already, and the 80 degree weather this past weekend certainly spurred it on. Even the lavender foliage above is turning from gray to blue-green. I am feeling lucky for the abundance I find every day in the garden including new visitors like the first pollinators.
Because of the frigid temps and snow, I did not start any seed outside yet, but will start my peas and perhaps radishes and spinach this weekend. But I do have some seeds growing in the basement waiting for the safety of the end of May to bring them out for planting.
To celebrate all the new lush green foliage showing up, I am linking in with Pam@Digging for her Foliage Follow Up on the 16th, and Christina@Creating my own garden of the Hesperides for her Garden Bloggers Foliage Day on the 22nd.
Lots of daffodil foliage everywhere. It was a treat to see these as the snow melted. And they have begun to bloom in a few spots.
This is what my Eastern Prickly Pear cactus looks like after winter. The wrinkly appearance might make you think it is dead, but it will puff up and smooth out with the warm weather. What is not normal are the bite marks. It appears the voles that hang out nearby like this plant.
Lots of new foliage and blooms on the hellebores. I love the look of the new babies growing.
And here come the Oriental Poppies with their fuzzy foliage.
The foliage beginning on rhubarb is so very unusual as it unfurls. I can’t wait to harvest the rhubarb stems for an early yummy crop.
Iris foliage is growing too and I am certainly glad I cut them all back in the fall. Less clean up. I really have to divide these this year, and this chore makes the top 5 must-do garden chores soon. I can’t wait to spread these beauties all over the garden especially in the front garden where the voles did so much damage. Voles seem to leave the iris alone.
I am ecstatic with all the columbine or Aquilegia volunteers under the trees in the front garden. I moved most of them out to the chewed up areas of the front garden left barren by the voles. These lovelies will grow and bloom, and create more babies to plant in other spaces. I love letting them spread their wonderful blooms, and who doesn’t adore the cabbage-like foliage.
And a few native plants are starting. I adore Virginia Bluebells as they begin to emerge with their purple foliage. It turns green as it grows, but I always know where it is blooming when I see the purple shoots.
The Bloodroot is also popping up with its curled leaves. Soon they will release the pretty white flowers, but for now they are holding on to them tight especially with the snow we just had.
The veg seeds, I started in the basement, are beginning to pop up except for the peppers. I may need to throw in some more seed if they are not sprouting in the next couple of days. Top left (moving clockwise) are the tomatoes, followed by the many different basil and marigold. I planted over 200 seed. I like to choose the best plants, of all those that are growing, once they are ready for transplant. These seedlings will go in the garden after our last frost which occurs at the end of May.
What foliage is showing off in your garden right now? Did the recent cold snap affect your garden? I hope you did not lose any plants. You can see the snow on my garden below.
What gardener has not felt the subtle attunement of self to universe that occurs when, on a late winter day no less blustery than the one before, a garden cries out for that great act of faith, planting-and then, within days, spring breaks like a sudden warm wave? ~Patricia Monaghan
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In her latest post, Fran Sorin talked about a new movement she has created called Give A Flower, Get A Smile. I love
Random Acts of Kindness, and this idea is perfect for anyone who loves flowers and wants to pay it forward. In the post, Fran talks about her experience with giving flowers to complete strangers and how it gives her as much pleasure as it does the recipients of the flowers.
Fran also had some words of wisdom to help us connect and smile:
1. Walk headphone and text free when you’re out on streets or public transportation.
2. Set a daily intention to smile at strangers throughout the day.
3. Start a conversation with someone you don’t know at least one time per day.
4. Practice living in a more interconnected way.
5. Participate in Give A Flower, Get A Smile.
Even though I don’t find myself out and about much, I hope to cut some flowers from my garden and spread them around to neighbors, strangers and acquaintances. If you do participate (and I hope you do), make sure to take a picture and post to their FB page.
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Next up on the blog: Monday I will have a special Earth Day post as I review a wonderful garden book. I will also be giving away a copy of the book so make sure you stop by.
I hope you will join me for my posts once a month at Beautiful Wildlife Garden.
I can also be found blogging once a month at Vision and Verb.
As always, I’ll be joining Tootsie Time’s Fertilizer Friday.
All original content is copyrighted and the sole property of Donna Donabella @ Gardens Eye View, 2010-2014. Any reprints or use of content or photos is by permission only.
What beautiful new beginnings!
I have never seen Bloodroot and Virginia Bluebells,(except photos) but have always wanted to grow them…
does it need a chill factor?
I enjoyed wandering in your garden….I have been cleaning and planting
as well in mine…
Thank you for sharing your Spring!
Take care…You Matter…
)0(
maryrose
So wonderful MaryRose to have you visit the garden. I am not sure if Bloodroot or VA bluebells need a chill factor but they are a wonderful native wildflowers that grow in multiple zones. Bloodroot grows throughout the northern states and midwest into the South in parts of FL and TX. The VA bluebells are similar growing in northern and eastern states as well as a couple of southern states. I will be profiling bloodroot next month. Happy that you enjoyed wandering in the garden.
Lovely post Donna! So many new beginnings in your garden. I too will be excited to see the flower of bloodroot. I’ve not seen it that I know of. I also love “Give A Flower Get A Smile” movement. I attended yoga earlier today and do try to incorporate several of the items you listed above in my normal days. I’m not sure I’m confident enough to give a complete stranger a flower tho! I love random acts of kindness too but that one would be very up close and personal. Hmmm…I think I’ll start with an acquaintance! 🙂
Thanks! The bloodroot flower should last longer than my early bulbs as the weather is cooler now. I too am starting with acquaintances…it is about what works for you Andrea and what brings you joy too!!
Exciting to see some of the plants poking through the soil or unfurling in your gardens Donna. I’m waiting for this last surprise snowfall to melt to see how things are progressing in my gardens.
Can you think of a book to recommend for a northern gardener on creating a desert garden?
It certainly does get the gardening juices going…sorry to hear your snow is still around…we are melted but still quite cool. But that should change tomorrow.
Judith, I sent you some ideas on books…thinking high desert gardening would match northern climates.
80 degrees one day and snow the next? Sounds like Austin. Well, except for the snow (make it ice). It’s funny to think of prickly pear growing in NY, but it does have quite a large native range, doesn’t it? Enjoy your spring growth!
Crazy weather everywhere Pam. My first encounter with prickly pear was in Arizona. When I saw it grew here as a native plant, I had to have it. Of course I hope it will grow more and flower despite the vole damage. The trick it where to plant it. It is on the side of our pond waterfall in a well draining stony spot. Thanks for hosting this celebration of foliage!!
Lovely to see your garden is waking up after your awfully long winter! I have never seen Virginia Bluebells either, I have seen Norwegian, English and Spanish bluebells, all looking very different – but not yours – looking forward to seeing them in flower 🙂
Thanks Helene. Virginia bluebells are quite lovely and a bit different from the other bluebells. They are a favorite of mine.
Oh, you have some Bloodroot coming up! How exciting! I haven’t looked for a few days, so I’ll have to check tomorrow. And thanks for posting the photo of the Virginia Bluebells emerging–now I’ll know what to look for with them. I’m also reassured by your Prickly Pear image, because my Brittle Prickly Pears look like that, too. Yay spring!
I was so surprised to see them all Beth. I actually had hepatica bloom before the snow but I bet it is gone. Happy hunting for your spring wildflowers!!
I think you’ll be catching us up in acouple of weeks the speed at which everything is growing now! I like that idea of giving flowers. I am looking forward to the Sweet Williams blooming – there are usually plenty to give away!
Oh Sweet Williams are wonderful Cathy. I have some in the meadow so they would be lovely to pick and giveaway.
Oh Donna, I must add those bluebells to my garden and the Bloodroot (I say that every year)! Your plants all look so healthy and lush even after this Winter. My peppers have not yet germinated – I may put the heating pad under them as it became cold here again. I find that a little heat makes them pop right up. The tomatoes and eggplant are well underway. Enjoy the garden and Spring to its fullest – I am certain you will. I hope I never have Voles!
Kathy I would love to divide mine and give you some…let me know. My peppers finally are beginning to pop up. I have peppers, eggplant and tomatoes all on heat mats at this point because it has been cold. The tomatoes are all up and at least 3 inches in height. They were fast this year, and I bet I will be transplanting them early next week. You are very lucky not to have voles!! Have a very wonderful Easter weekend. If it would warm up out there I could get out and start planting my early crops.
It has been a long wait for Spring. On our “to do” list is getting more perennials and bulbs in for next year. I practise smiling at people, sometimes I get wonderful smiles back and others stare blankly.
I get those stares too Susan and I just smile or laugh….I am noticing more areas that need perennials and bulbs. I am looking for those I can divide first and move and then add others….it takes time doesn’t it to get to know the garden. I am so grateful I now have time to do this. So glad spring has come to your garden too!!
Nice to see your garden is waking up even with the recent cold snap. You have so many interesting plants emerging. I love rhubarb but haven’t tried growing it in our hot climate.
We were cold all the way down in south Texas with freezes in the Hill Country. I didn’t lose any plants but had to bring a few back inside and cover the basil. This should be it, but we’ll see.
Thanks Shirley. Sorry to hear you were cold in your garden too, but glad you didn’t lose anything. I am hopeful this is it although we will have freezes until the end of May.
Nice to see that your garden is getting going…. It does make you smile….
Indeed Michelle…how is your garden growing? Let me know if you see any natives you may want, as I need to divide bloodroot, VA Bluebells and Mayapple.
your images made me stop and appreciate things as they are now instead of rushing to imagine how the plants will look in full flower :/
Happy Easter to you Donna!
Happy Easter Laura! I am trying to take things slowly and go with the flow. Not always easy when you haven’t gardened for 5 months. It actually has been fun to watch everything emerge and watch it grow…I am really appreciating the plants.
I love that you planted 200 seeds! It is definitely exciting to see plants popping back to life , especially after such a hard winter. I love the way some plants completely change color as the foliage matures. It’s like getting two-for-one! 🙂
I just love watching all the plants coming up, but it is so wet I can barely get into the back garden to clean up and observe…need some warm sunny weather. But those 200 seeds are mostly up and growing…planting many more outside tomorrow…The excitement is contagious.
I love to see the garden waking up!
It is spirit lifting as each day is new Elaine! Wishing you a lovely weekend!!
Wow, your garden really is shifting through the gears quickly Donna! I love aquilegia too, both for the foliage and for the gorgeous flowers. So happy to see that the voles didn’t devour everything, though very odd that they thought nibbling cactus would be a good idea, ouch…
Janet, I am amazed at what the animals eat. The deer love to eat the rose bushes thorns and all and the rabbits chew on the thorny barberry.
Hope you had a nice holiday weekend, Donna. Your garden is starting to come alive. Love that quote in the beginning of the post, so true!
I did Loredana as I was gardening. It is finally really taking off as each new succession of bulbs blooms and the foliage of plants keeps getting taller.
So happy to spring is near for you all in the north! Darned voles, wish they would all go away. Beautiful foliage.
Thanks Tina…we are really getting going and I even planted my early veggies!
It looks like you are well on your way to a fabulous garden! I can’t wait to see the flowers when they bloom.
I will make sure to show them off Bettyl!!
I rather like seeing daffodils springing up just as the last of ours here are dropping their petals. Interestingly, your aquilegia is further advanced than ours was when our daffodils were still spikes. Funny how seasons work in different parts of the world.
Lucy, I too marvel at how the seasons work in other areas of the world…the daffs here are just getting going so you will see them on my blog for a few weeks I am sure.
I tossed seed in the garden this past week, but did not start any indoors. The weather is finally getting nicer, and I hope it hangs on. I am surprised to see you Daffs in bud. We have Spring delayed every year because all the ice in the Great Lakes will be coming our way very soon (ice boom removed) and the wind brings in a lot of cold air off the lakes making our area late for spring bloom.
I have lots of daffs and hyacinths blooming now…I am amazed at how much is up and growing already. I know you are affected by the Great Lakes and yet your zone is a bit higher than mine…amazing how it all works out. Hoping spring finds your garden soon.