Well, I’m one day late on celebrating Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day. But the flowers were there in any case. Let us begin by celebrating the little white crocus that are splashed about the lawn. I normally take February 21 as my first crocus date and also when catchers and pitchers report for baseball’s spring training in Florida. But the baseball is beginning early this year and so are the crocus. It’s appropriate that this very early crocus is the first of the year. It’s namesake was one of Holland’s great speed skaters.
I really have to return to one of the standards for this time of year in citing the Witch Hazels. It seems to me that they are having a great spring. The long straps seem to be impervious to cold snaps and shine yellow against the blue sky on sunny day.
There’s also the spectacular strong red in Diane, a Witch Hazel hybrid. This is a small shrub at the moment but it’s growing strongly and I think it will qualify as a tree before long…
Out in the front yard our winter aconite continues to thrive. Since I’ve observed they have spread to the other side of the yard I think I’m going to grab some seeds this year and see if I can aid the process. Everyone should grow these little droplets of sunshine.
I was pleased to see that even the Primrose is getting into the act. The first blossom has come forth from our collection of common English Primrose.
And of course snowdrops are popping up everywhere. What’s not to like about a plant that can flower for more than a month at this most unseasonable of times.
Oh, and it multiplies too…
Finally the Adonis continue in bloom. Think of Buttercups on steroids with much prettier foliage to boot…
And then there are the Hellebores, but they are worthy of a post all by themselves. Now what’s blooming in your garden?
I really love witch hazel and wish I had room for one. Those in the gardens at work are having a good year like yours. Unfortunately, some combination of temperature and humidity has kept many of them clinging tightly to their brown leaves while blooming at the same time. I mentioned this to a co-worker, and she said not to say anything too loudly. The boss has made people defoliate them by hand when this has happened in the past.
John,
Lovely photos! I really like both the witch hazels and Diane is sweet. Your garden is looking great!