Early March and the first red buds on a maple.
First buds showing color on 'Jane' magnolia.
Two years ago I discovered this tiny clump of wild daffodils nestled at the edge of the south ravine, sheltered by a small understory beech. Although roadsides and meadow verges near us are strewn with daffs this is only the second small clump growing on our 20 acres.
A spread of daffodils along the ridge road. Each year new ones crowd the pavement.
I followed the progress of the magnolia blossoms through the burst of warm weather that moved in during the 2nd week of March.
We have noted the greening of the south-east meadow, the exuberant bloom of Bradford Pear trees around the county. They are brittle trees, and a stiff wind brings down their heavy branches. In past seasons I've admired a long avenue of them leading to a house set back from the main road; the trees were pollarded last autumn and stand this spring stark and stubby, devoid of bloom.
The tough-rooted mats of wild violets spread so profusely as to become nuisance plants. They cover the verges of the gravel lane, crowd into all the flower beds, run rampant in the mowed areas we call 'lawn.'
This spring the greenhouse floor is covered with them.
'Susan' [left] and 'Jane' [right] in all their spring glory on 18th March just before two days and nights of bitter winds swept through.
Clematis 'Candida' rushing the season--as usual.
27 F. at 7:30 this morning and the magnolias are frost-singed, their beauty spoiled.
There are still buds to open amongst the browning petals of the early bloom, but their season of glory was cut short.
It's easy to find the old homeplaces around here, for there's almost always a mass of yellow daffodils/jonquils blooming in the spring. The redbuds are in full bloom now, so the hummingbirds will be showing up soon. I plan to hang a couple of feeders tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteIn my native New England old home sites were marked by purple lilacs, bent and straggling with the decades, but still blooming. 9th April is the earliest I've noted hummingbirds arriving, will put out a feeder during the first weekend of the month. No color yet on the redbuds.
DeleteOh your poor magnolias. You said the frost would do for them. At least you enjoyed their blooms for a little bit. Good to see sunshine again though isn't it? SO glad that you didn't have the tornadoes through your area too.
ReplyDeleteJennie; I fret over the weather every spring wondering why the plants must rush the season. The cycles of deceptive warmth followed by a 'cold spell' will always happen. We so long for flowers and green things after the winter; we're given a brief glimpse of them and then must endure frost-blight.
DeleteIt certainly looks like spring by you, Sharon. So pretty, and you describe it so well. It's a shame about the frost. We worry about the trees budding out too soon here. The temps have been yo-yo ing majorly. One day it's in the 50s, the next it snows. Today it's snowing. But it is great for making maple syrup!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Jane
Jane; Our lack of control over the weather is quite humbling, isn't it? We country dwellers who have farmed and/or gardened are always bracing for the worst in drought, flood or severe heat/cold. Kentucky is the most moderate place we've lived in terms of high and low temps--but rain or wind can surely come in with destructive fury.
DeleteSo lovely to see Jane Magnolia and her sister, Susan before the cold robbed them of their beauty. We are in NM where the recent frequent and fierce Dust Storms have thankfully abated. Our house and critter sitter reports Mud Season, sap buckets on the Maples and a few snow storms. Pretty much the ‘order of the day’ for March in Vermont. She also reported that the Snowdrops and Daphne Mezereum are in bloom! Fingers crossed they will still be in evidence when we get home. The Redbuds should be in their full glory as we drive north through the mid west along with the Bradford Pears. I’ve been told that the Bradford Pears are not only invasive but have a foul odor. Can you confirm?
ReplyDeleteMundi; I haven't been up close to a Bradford Pear to analyze its scent. I do recall that blossoms on a fruiting variety of pear have a rather acrid odor. If I locate a tree where I can have an unobtrusive sniff I'll make a note of it.
DeleteBlowing dust and grit was a daily plague in Wyoming except for the months when there was snow cover. Wind always a presence but amped up every afternoon barreling down from the mountains, hurling every bit of loose trash ahead of it. By nightfall the gusts always shook the house.
I haven't noticed any blooms on the Magnolias in the park here . Yours showed such promise. Sad that they were damaged and their glory cut short.
ReplyDeleteGM; I'll probably pull off such browned flowers as I can reach whenever I walk by the trees. There are still buds to open and there is usually a 2nd flush of blossom in early autumn, but the full beauty of the trees is blighted.
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