Early Spring

Category: Spring | Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 10:03 pm

The TV newcasters have had several articles on how early spring is here. They say that spring is almost a full month early this year and it is feared that the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival will not have any tulips left blooming in their fields if we don't have a return to some cold, cold weather. The daffadils are having to be harvested already.

In the south Sound it isn't quite as early but this is how my daffodils look and I did find one blooming on a jaunt about the neighborhood.

daffodil almost ready to bloom ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

daffodil blooming on my neighborhood jaunt ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

My yard is full of leaves from wind storms, a very late and long lasting summer followed by record breaking cold weather. It isn't as cold as we have had in the 27 years we have lived in this home, but it was cold with no snow cover getting into the low teens for several weeks. So far the only thing I have lost was the French lavender. Am curious to see how the orchids weathered, but it is too early to tell.
Plants like my hellebores are a little late, and I had never noticed how early the seedlings pop up. I have several areas that will need to have hellebore seedlings moved or weeded. Nature isn't to be predicted in this region of the country.

white hellebore ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

hellebores aren't quite in full bloom yet ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

purple hellebore ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

100s of hellebore seedlings ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Our cold nights (25-27F) have been followed by days in the 50s. We have a low that is pulling weather out of inland Canada into our region rather than off the Pacific Ocean. Most unusual since usually when we have weather pulled out of Canada it is a high weather front and snow comes with it. I'm feeling like I am living east of the Cascade Mts. instead of west of them.

Because of the firs on the south property line the fish pond is holding some ice most days. There was a week of warm weather where I did break down and feed the gold fish twice. They were very active and ate all that I gave them. Will have to think about thinning out their ranks this summer. With no raccoons or possum preying on them there are too many fish in the pond.
Deer have been in the neighbors yard. The deer that we saw last summer and fall have made this neighborhood their permanent home. City deer, strange, but what makes up part of the charm of this old neighborhood.

Here are a few more early bloomers. They weren't in my yard, but like everyone I saw sitting out in front of their homes today they are soaking in some vitamin D and sunshine. Just to let you know the ice age hasn't struck yet.

honeybee and white heather blooms ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

camilla blooming ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

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Comments

daisybeans wrote on Sun Feb 21, 2010 10:27 pm:

Well, that sure did cheer me today, Jewell. I really needed to see those blooms, and the green grass, and the bee... I had forgotten how much I like camillas.... Thank you for that!

Sjoerd wrote on Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:59 pm:

These pics are too fantastic to believe. It is just so amazing, your early spring, but it gives one hope that it may be on it's way here as well.

Boy, did I ever enjoy looking at those sunny and brightly coloured blooms. So nice.

Newfpaws wrote on Mon Feb 22, 2010 12:45 am:

Hah, so I know it's not far behind here. What you get I get soon. I like that. Love the pics. Especially the white heather. That is gorgeous.

gfreiherr wrote on Mon Feb 22, 2010 1:06 am:

Beautiful photos, I love the camelia & hellebores. I got a new red camelia this fall, it has not bloomed yet. I also have lots of hellebore seedlings. We have had a few sunny, mild days but are not as far advanced as you. I am enjoying these spring like days when we get them!

desertflower wrote on Mon Feb 22, 2010 1:06 am:

Very nice, gives me something to look forward to. Spring

Kay wrote on Mon Feb 22, 2010 2:21 am:

Your photos are just amazing! The green grass, and the flowers, with sun shining! Looks SO nice there!

Jewell wrote on Mon Feb 22, 2010 5:05 am:

Glad you all enjoyed the flowers. Last year we had snow and had a couple of snow days in February. Tonight is supposed to be 22F. brrrrr! Not used to these temperature extremes from AM to PM.