Spring!

...at last! Although tonight a projected low of 31 degrees and tomorrow one of 30 degrees may make one think winter has not quite released its hold. Here where I am, we really aren't frost free until mid May or around Mother's Day. It's just that so many years we push and stretch things, we've come to expect that the weather will always cooperate.

My 'push' this year has been to move some of my daylily seedlings out into boxes on the driveway. Until this cold, I was feeling rather proud of myself for getting ahead of the game. Not so fast! They're covered right now, in anticipation of the low temperature. When I looked at them earlier, it did look like a few them were a bit stressed...Oh well, survival of the fittest, you know.

Looking around, I see that my Magnolia Stellata is in bloom. I may have mentioned that I call this the miracle tree. Year before last, it had scale so bad that I thought it was a goner. We were in a drought and I do think that lack of water stressed the poor tree, making it susceptible to things it might ordinarily fight off. Anyway, I hacked it down in anticipation of removing it, but found that removal very difficult. I meant to call the wonderful tree service I've used twice now to come and get it out...but, I forgot/kept putting it off. To my shock, it began to leaf out, even a few buds. Now, a year later....if I hadn't told you this tale of woe, I doubt you'd notice....


Spring means daffodils to me (much as summer means daylilies)...here are a few that are starting to open now...

Toto


closer, it's rather tiny...


Tete-a-tete, first bloom for this year...


closer...


This one, Cassata, and the next one will both lose the yellow...


Changing Colors...


This is something to be aware of...the following two pictures are of a daffodil sold as Blazing Star which is not registered with the American Daffodil Society. If you collect daffodils, as I do, you might think twice about buying from sources who either rename existing daffodils (who knows), substitute varieties without your knowledge or simply sell unregistered varieties. On the other hand, it's still a pretty flower and that may be enough. I'm getting quite a little sub collection of unregistered/unknown varieties. Most are from years past when I could easily be lured by a pretty picture. I still like them and dream of making a sweep of unknowns...which would be lovely, in my opinion.


(not quite open....I'm so impatient....open, open, open!)

This is another unknown...very faithful and carefree....probably bought as part of a mix, at one time...(no, I'm not tempted by mixes....anymore!)...


Ice Follies...fades to white...still lovely...


This brings me to a What Not to Do...check this out...


There's our little clump of Ice Follies from above...and, beside it, see the lovely daylily coming up (Peggy Jeffcoat)...and there behind them...is a lot of ratty foliage....belonging to Dutch Iris. Now, these Dutch Iris are lovely when them bloom, but do they have to have this awful foliage every year?? The second What Not to Do is that they (the Dutch Iris) are planted in a straight line...that ends....sigh. I have tried and tried to continue the line all the way across (at least it would be consistent), but they refuse...and, they have worked themselves quite deeply into the ground, it seems.

I don't think I have a single picture of Peggy Jeffcoat without this mess behind her. I have given up and plan to move the daylily. Perhaps a taller one, that blooms much higher would be okay...because those iris, man, they are dug in!

Speaking of that...can you believe this....look at what is coming up here...


No, no, no! Say it isn't so. Giant sigh. Those are tiger lilies, you know the orange ones with the spots that are intent on taking over the world. Years ago now, I dug them out. They were down almost to the center of the earth (kidding) and I was sure I had removed them. No, they came back the next year....I dug those out and gave them away....and look, a couple years later...they are still here. They are never going away! And, they're not just in this area....Well, you gotta give them credit for being a survivor, I suppose.

Later, maybe next, we'll take a look at things that are emerging...here's February Gold in full bloom...


and Jet Fire...


For now, I'll stop with my helper who followed me...when he wasn't playing with those threatening magnolia leaves...Sam Cat...