The last two springs I rescued clumps of snow drops from an old lot that was posted for new construction. If our permitting process wasn't so slow I would never have built up the courage to take trowel in hand. My clandestine endeavors were frowned upon by my significant other. This fall when they scraped the lot bare and built a three story building and parking lot over the land my hubby actually agreed with my actions. Since I scraped the bulbs up when they were blooming I didn't expect much, but this year small blooms are peeking out. I scattered the bulbs about the garden, but my main focus was on the 30'x50' half lot at the back of the property. It is the only area still left in grass/pasture. I hope to naturalize the area in bulbs. Only grass left drifts of bulbs started ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) Snowdrops ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) Snowdrops ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) I live in a region where some bulbs naturalize and are even considered invasive. Like the star of Bethlehem bulbs that came with the property, and I would have difficulty getting rid of even if I wanted to. The same is true of the Spanish and grape hyathins, that I love and encourage. Star of Bethlehem weed bulb ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) Along with the hellebores it is nice to see the flowering signs of spring. Hellebore ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) Hellebore ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) What are the signs of spring for you?
Like you Jewell I have snowdrops popping up all over the garden. Daffodils, tulips, crocus, star of Bethlehem, (not considered a weed by me as I love them) grape hyacinth and Scillia are appearing too. It may be, in reality, too soon to have so much showing signs of new life here but I'm certainly not complaining. :-D I'm so glad you rescued the snowdrops before they were buried forever. Now you can enjoy them year after year.
Oh yes, I've got the usual suspects in bloom too--the crocuses, snowbells, Winter Aconitum and the Viburnum Burkwoodii's buds are swelling.
Forgive me Jewell-- I wrote a comment about my own spring bloomers, but neglected to comment on your piccies and text. What a dumbbell am I. Those piccies of yours were so good-looking in terms of quality. Aside from the foto quality, I liked seeing the blooms. The Helleborus looked especially nice. Your rescue story is an experience that I, myself have experienced so often...in the city and on our gardening complex. In the city it is like you--one calls for permission and then could wait and never get an answer. So, it is a question of just going and digging things up or not doing that and letting the building earthmovers just scrape it up and take it away, never to be seen again. On the complex there is a procedure and the most common way is to ask departing plotholders. I salute you for your action. You can now enjoy the fruits of your "daring" labour. Tis better that you can enjoy them now that that they wound up destroyed somewhere. ---Chapeau!
Jewell, What is the name of the last Hellebore? I love the leaf pattern. I have seen these before and very well may have some of them out there somewhere but I don;t know the names on them. Love to know that you are really really having Spring.
Beautiful blooms! Every year I say that I want to add some Hellebore to my garden and can never find any. This year I am starting to look early! The only sign of spring here I'm afraid, is that the birdbath has finally melted out from under all the snow! February 3rd ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden )
Pretty Jewell! I see nothing but snow here and more to come so your pretties are a sight for sore eyes!
Jewell, nothing here as pretty as your spring bloomers, especially the helebores. And good for you, rescuing the snowdrops! I have been known to stop by old homesites and dig a few bulbs . So far I've evaded the flower police! Our paperwhites began blooming on Feb. 1. They are our first flowers of spring (as long as you don't count the purple blossoms of the chickweed.)
Netty, I giggled at your birdbath glad to see things starting to pop out of the snow Adavisus, the dandelions are very cheery after a long winter aren't they? Marlingardener, coo-does to rescuing bulbs. I hate it when old home gardens are scraped away. I didn't rescue any of the daylilies or Spanish hyathins that littered the covered over sidewalk, so a lot of plants ended up as rubbish in the landfill. I envy you your paper whites. Their fragrance is heavenly. Do you add chickweed to your spring salads? Carolyn, I always enjoy an extended spring when you start post pics. Waretop, sorry I got the variegated leafed hellebore cheap which meant no tags. Eileen and Cherylad, where's the pics? Don't tease me with names. I love seeing your photos. Sjoerd, I must admit I was a little ticked at your first comment, but only because you didn't post pics of your blooms. Another tease to mention them and not show them off. I love seeing your flowers, and garden. Here they post big yellow signs telling when and how a property is going to be changed/developed. To me it always seems such a crime when they take an old home and lot and transform it into a business paving over good topsoil and once loved plants. I have never seen developers leave more than a tree or two. They always have other landscaping designs with all new plant designs.
The snow drops continue to look better and better and the hellebores haven't yet reached their peak and probably won't for at least another month. Snow drops keep popping up in the most unexpected places ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) Can you see specks of white...my dreams of future springs ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) Many more blooms to come ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )
