“In spite of unseasonable wind, snow, and unexpected weather of all sorts-a gardener still plants. And tends what they have planted…believing that spring will come.”
~Mary Anne Radmacher
This has been my mantra so far this spring. And while I continued to believe spring would come, I have finally been rewarded. A very slow start with colder than normal temps, and a very slow snow melt. Most days and nights below freezing or just to barely 40. Then a few days in the high 40s, maybe the 50s, and the snow was gone. And my goodness the blooms were anxious to get started.
And with blooms, comes a new season of vases every Monday made from my garden foliage and flowers. I am joining in Cathy@Rambling in the Garden for her wonderful meme, In a Vase on Monday. And as Garden Bloggers Bloom Day is just about here, I am linking in with Carol@May Dreams Gardens who hosts this meme the 15th of each month.
Let’s see what is blooming. Crocus everywhere. I was amazed to see so many little clumps. I couldn’t begin to tell you the specific kinds of crocus these are, as labels were lost long ago. But I am thrilled the few, the deer and voles have not eaten, are smiling on my garden, dotting the landscape here and there.
One of my favorite, Iris reticulata, are proudly stretching out in great clumps. The critters do not bother these bulbs so I have loads of them everywhere. There are 4 colors in my garden including the deeper blue at the top of the post. The violet color is either ‘Pauline’ or ‘George’. The pale blue, almost white, in the center is ‘Katherine Hodgkin’ with the Wedgwood blue blooms of ‘Lady Beatrice Stanley’. I think the one at the top is ‘Harmony’.
The snowdrops are bright little beacons. I only have Galanthus nivalis or Common Snowdrop, and so far no critter issues. Some were fully flowering under the snow, just waiting for it to melt.
Winter aconite or Eranthis returned. I love these bright yellow flowers that hug the earth, and plan to add more in some further reaches of the garden as the critters leave these alone too.
So what did I pick to put in a vase….
I chose white crocus, snowdrops, Iris reticulata ‘Lady Beatrice Stanley’ and a few golden-yellow crocus. The vase is the creamer from my mother-in-law’s Homer Laughlin china set from the 1940s aptly named, Cosmos. I plan to use other pieces from the set for vases this year as it is perfect with the lovely flower decoration.
A few more outside views of the vase from both sides….
Isn’t the bight sun just glorious on these first blooms. I can tell you I was literally dancing in my very wet garden…well maybe squishing in the grass to the songs of the birds.
Then I moved the vase inside to the mantel in front of my black, hand-painted, floral, Spanish fan. The vase just lights up the room.
This is last week’s vase still blooming strong. The Forsythia branches have not stopped flowering. I moved it near the china cabinet so it could get the sun’s first rays in the morning.
So what is up next flowering in the garden? This week the first daffodils will bloom along with Scilla siberica, Puschkinia scilloides, Hyacinths and Hellebores.
I know for many of you these flowers have been long gone as spring came earlier for you. And while I was thrilled to see them blooming in your garden, now I get to enjoy them in my garden too. And with these blooms, I am also joining in a couple of memes: Today’s Flowers hosted by Denise@An English Girl Rambles and Judith@Lavender Cottage who hosts Mosaic Monday.
What are your favorite flowers blooming now?
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Next up on the blog:
Next Monday, I will have an unusual but very much-loved wildflower to profile.
I am linking in with Michelle for her Nature Notes meme at her new blog just for Nature Notes. It is a great way to see what is happening in nature around the world every Tuesday.
I am also joining in I Heart Macro with Laura@Shine The Divine that happens every Saturday.
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