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| Violets grown from seed, blooming on the 13th |
Welcome to Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day for April 2014. Here in my USDA Hardiness Zone 6a garden in central Indiana, I think spring is running just a little bit behind previous years.
Not only is spring running a bit behind, but she’s putting on a pretty good impression of winter this week.
Yes, indeed. After providing us with a few days in the upper 70’s, causing all of us gardeners to go rushing outside to mulch and prune and survey the damage the horrible winter wrought upon our gardens, spring has decided to impersonate winter for a few fun filled days.
I see from Twitter and Facebook that gardeners across the US are gearing up for this cold. Some are covering plants and blooms. Others, like me, are leaving the garden to its own devices to figure out how to survive freezing temperatures.
After all, many of the spring blooms, like those on this hellebore, are used to surviving a chill or two.
And if the blooms aren’t tough enough to survive the cold, well, there are far too many to attempt to cover them up for a night or two. Plus, my garden and I survived the awfulest (is that a word?) April ever back in 2007 (Aught Seven!). This little cold spell ain’t nothing compared to that!
Anyway, before I gave the garden a pat and a kiss and wished it good luck, I ran out for a few minutes, braving a heavy mist and temps in the lower 40’s (Fahrenheit), to check out some of the blooms.
Out in front, the windflowers, an Anemone of some kind, were closing up their blooms to protect them from the cold.
They were prettier yesterday when they were fully open.
Some grape hyacinths were blooming, too.
Though, it’s hard to tell if Muscari blooms are open or closed.
The same is true of their pink counterparts in the back garden.
These pink Muscari are blooming in the same garden border as my ‘Chestnut Flower’ hyacinths which are so pretty I gave them their own post on Sunday. You didn’t see that post? Go check it out. I promise you, you will not be disappointed.
On Sunday, before the weather turned, I picked a big bouquet of daffodils to enjoy indoors. I left these stoplight yellow ones outside.
I’ll admit these are not my favorite daffodils. I probably got them in a big bag of mixed daffodils back when quantity was more important to me than quality.
In my later, more discriminating plant buying days, I acquired this little Narcissus.
It has a name, but I’m not quite remembering it at the moment.
I also have some passalong plants blooming in the garden, which deserve special mention.
Leslie of Growing a Garden in Davis gave me some bulbs for Spring Snowflakes, Leucojum. I don’t know when they bloom in her California garden, but here they bloom in April.
Jo Ellen, the Hoosier Gardener, gave me some starts of Virginia bluebells, Mertensis virginica, a few years ago.
They aren’t quite blooming, but there is enough color there for me to include them as blooms on this bloom day.
What else is blooming? Thanks for asking. Forsythia, the Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata), Spring Starflowers (Ipheion uniflorum) and some little violets, pictured above, that I grew from seed a few years back.
What isn’t blooming that was blooming at this mid point of April in past years? Thanks for asking. The common lilacs, my crabapple tree, and flowering pear trees in the neighbors’ yards plus some tulips come to mind as blooming by now in past years. We are behind!
Anyway, the next 24 – 48 hours will tell a tale about this spring. If we can get through this last bit of cold, I think we’ll be in good shape.
How is spring treating your garden? Are your blooms early, late or right on time? Are you in the midst of a cold spell? Tell us!
It’s easy to join in for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day. Just post on your own blog about what’s blooming in your garden right now, outdoors or indoors. You can include pictures, lists, common names, botanical names, whatever you’d like to do to showcase your blooms.
Then leave a comment and put your name and a link back to your bloom day post in the Mr. Linky widget below, so we know where to find your blog and can visit you virtually and read about your bloom day blooms.
“We can have flowers nearly every month of the year.” ~ Elizabeth Lawrence
Left Coast leads the parade..happy bloom day !
Hi Carol. We have the same thing going on here on Long Island. The past week the temperatures have soared into the 60's and everything started blooming but now there is a cold snap in the forecast for the upcoming week. Spring is definitely having a slower start than usual. At least there are FINALLY some blooms…happy spring?!
We've had some nice days but nothing in the 70s. And now we're back to the cold. That little violet is gorgeous — almost as pretty as that double pink Hyacinth. I am a sucker for bulbs from OHG.
We're having another mini cold snap here in Southeast Texas. After temperatures in the high 80s last week, tonight it's supposed to get down to 40. At least that isn't near freezing. Happy Bloom Day!
Despite the yellow daffodils not being your favorite, I'm glad you cut a few to enjoy indoors considering your weather. I hope spring comes in full force for you soon. Spring feels a bit early here in the Pacific Northwest with the lilacs already beginning to bloom. Seems about 2 weeks early. Happy GBBD!!
Thanks for hosting the GBBD again, I hope the latest cold snap is over quickly so you can enjoy your lovely garden again!
Those pink grape hyacinths are so pretty! We had a seemingly never-ending winter last year, followed by a fabulous summer – I hope your awful winter is followed by the perfect summer. This year we have had a mild winter and beautiful spring, although we had a frost last night which is a shame for anyone who has rushed out to buy some of the tender annuals which are now filling the garden centres. Happy GBBD!
So sorry to hear that your garden is having to put up with yet another cold spell, hope all your lovely flowers survive.
http://leadupthegardenpath.com
I hope it won't be too long before Spring makes it's presence felt in a big way in your garden Carol. I'm really interested in the pink muscari as I've 3 different types growing in the garden pink ones would grow so well alongside my little anemones.
Like you, I've come to love subtlety in daffodils and the smaller the better. All gone now though. Compared to last year the season in SW England seems earlier but still chilly at night. I hope your garden survives the cold snap Carol, happy bloom day!
We're just slightly ahead of you this month Carol, but you're catching us up fast! I'm sure next month's Blooms Day will show you've forged out front.
Hello Carol, while you at the other side of the world are experiencing extended cold, and most are starting their spring, we here at your opposite side are having our hot dry season. Our gardens are experiencing scorching heat, need frequent thirst quenchers, but without them our plants are just left to die. We wait for June for our rainy season, when plants and gardens start to look nice again. Thanks for GBBD.
Hello Carol, while you at the other side of the world are experiencing extended cold, and most are starting their spring, we here at your opposite side are having our hot dry season. Our gardens are experiencing scorching heat, need frequent thirst quenchers, but without them our plants are just left to die. We wait for June for our rainy season, when plants and gardens start to look nice again. Thanks for GBBD.
Definitely earlier here in the UK. I feel we might get summer done and dusted rather early this year. Hope I'm wrong. The pink muscari are very pretty – wonder if they're as invasive as the blue?
Happy Bloom Day, Carol! I think I've finally figured out how to leave comments here again. If it weren't for past Bloom Day posts, it would be hard to believe how very far behind we are this year. And what crazy weather–almost 80 for a few days, and now freezing weather returns here tonight. Well, I wish you and your blooms luck getting through this cold snap. Those pink grape hyacinths are especially lovely.
Happy Bloom Day and thanks for hosting!
Thanks again for GBBD, and all your other posts! So many blooms you have just now are a few weeks away for me, here in eastern Canada. Those lovely buds of the Virginia Bluebells make me wonder if the bit I got from the garden of a deceased friend last year will be arising soon, and blooming. I sure hope so.
Happy GBBD Carol! I'm so happy to be back. Spring is late here in central CT as well. Still not nearly as much blooming here as in your neck of the woods. I'm sure May will be better. Thanks for hosting!
Carol we are also headed for that cold….2 nights in the 20s and I also leave the garden to its own to survive…the early spring blooms are used to the cold (I hope). We are also behind with daffodils just opening yesterday and the wildflowers just poking through the ground with not a thought of a bloom yet for them. Keeping my fingers crossed that we can weather this storm and cold coming without much damage. Happy Bloom Day!!
I am not thrilled with this little bit of snow we received overnight. As of yesterday, I have daffodils, forget me not, and my Hellabores are still blooming!
Happy gbbd and tax day! (I'm a cpa) thanks Carol for once again hosting and hopefully by tomorrow..I will get to enjoy all the beautiful flowers from around the world that I have come to enjoy on this day
Happy Bloom Day! I'm excited to join in on the fun, as this is my very first bloom day post. I love seeing what's blooming, when, in people's gardens all over the US and beyond.
Thanks for hosting, Carol! Love the daffodils/narcissus and grape hyacinths… they're on my list to try here in Austin this coming year.
Thank goodness I went out yesterday to take some photos–everything is closed up or frozen in place this morning. But I think/hope you're right, Carol, that this is the end of winter's annoying us. So many pretty signs of spring in your garden, but my favorite is the heirloom hyacinths featured on Sunday–they are gorgeous!
My bloom day stars are the knock-out roses. So tough
Thanks for hosting – and good luck with the weather! We're expecting the cold snap this evening. Possible light snow on many gorgeous spring blooms. Argh.
Its been a long cold winter – and spring. We've had a couple of 60 degree days, but not enough to get things blooming. I am so grateful for my snowdrops. At least the snow is finally gone.
Dear Carol, I liked to add my Dutch GBBD to your blog, but it did not work. I wanted to show you my beautiful tulips. You can take a look at: dutch-garden-stories.blogspot.nl
Groetjes from Hollland Hetty
Thanks for hosting again this month, Carol!
Carol, Now that we finally have a great flush of new blooms I see where we get a hard freeze this evening. Will be out doing a bit of covering.
Thanks for once again hosting the party! For quite some time, spring was dragging her feet but now, with a little warm weather, she seems to be sprinting ahead and suddenly there is color everywhere. I hope your blooms survive the cold with no problem! Happy GBBD!
Oh I love your Helleborus! This is my first year having them and I am in love.
Thanks for hosting this Carol – it is one of my favourite memes. It is great to keep a record of what is flowering in my garden every month and i wouldn't do it if I didn't have this deadline to meet.
I love your pink muscari – I don't think I have seen them before. I must get some. Your yellow daffodils look very like some original daffs in my garden which I think are 'King Alfred'.
Oh, so bright and sunny! I am lusting after those Bluebells and of course, the Hellebore.
Glad to see the leucojum is happy! Mine bloomed back in February so I guess we have a two month difference, give or take a bad Midwest winter. Happy Bloom Day!
My link is to what WAS blooming a couple days ago – today everything is covered in snow! Ah, April in Wisconsin. Your garden is looking fabby Carol. That little daffodil looks like 'Katie Heath', or perhaps something similar. And even though the big yellow ones look like big silly ding-dongs, I can't help but appreciate their cheerful exuberance at this time of year!
The garden looks beautiful and still way ahead of mine.
Happy GBBD Carol! I may have botched up my link today and accidentally posted twice. Sorry about that but I blame it on the fresh snowfall we found on the Lot this morning!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful, colorful spring blooms with us. Those unnamed Narcissus are so delicate and beautiful. I love the ever-so-faint change in hue in the blooms.
Your flowering bulbs are beautiful – I hope the latest chill doesn't take them out. Unlike many parts of the country plagued by relentless winter, cold hasn't been an issue here in southern California; however, periodic temperature spikes into the 90s, combined with the lack of rain, have taken their toll. Yet, I'm still enjoying spring and I hope you will too when you can once again venture outside without freezing.
Love the pink muscari! Used to grow it in zone 8 – thanks for the memories.
I'm hearing reports of snow in places, augh! I can't imagine. Spring is in full swing in these parts, in fact I think the dafs and grape hyacinth are pretty much done for the year.
Lovely displays at your place. Daffodils, Azaleas and other early Spring pretties have finished blooming here and we've moved on to late spring delights.
Thank you for the encouragement to just see what happens. I have been alternating between doing nothing and dragging out the row cloth. Muddy ground, row cover, and 25 mph winds are not a good combo. I am hoping the new growth on my perennials will come out unscathed.
I did not do bloom day last April, and at first I was thinking we were not that far behind–the trees are looking better than ever. But when I looked at 2012, I realized many blooms are quite late this year–in 2012, I had iris, bleeding heart, and much more in full bloom at this time!
Reallly enjoying the gardens all over the country! I love seeing flowers that won't grow here in Houston. Wishing everyone a very happy Spring!
Quite snowy here today too, but you are right, the spring flowers are used to it. Nothing to panic about 🙂
Happy April!
~Julie
Sorry to hear that you have another cold snap. Let's hope spring will come back very soon. I love your pink Muscari.
Thank you for hosting this very popular meme. Everyone enjoys it.
Your Spring Snowflakes are adorable! It sure got chilly here in Austin, but I grabbed some photos yesterday just in case the cold snap was a bad one.
Thanks for hosting Carol!
Every bloom is precious – and perhaps even more so as gardens move from winter to spring. Thanks so much for hosting, Carol
I have a pretty similar approach to tonight's frost…survival of the fittest! I covered some brand new baby jasmine with leaves, and bring my seedlings inside, but that is about it. I may cover my peony with a large pot, but I think the buds are tight enough that it will be fine on it's own.
Thanks for hosting!!
Lots of those bulbs will cope with the cold and as you say they need to!
I love the pink Muscari – I don't recall seeing a pink one before. It's gorgeous and now a must have for my garden.
Thanks for hosting Carol.
Beautiful daffodils!
Happy Bloom Day! It's certainly been the year of the winter that just won't end. It's sure nice to see such beautiful flowers to help get into the spring spirit.
Thanks again for hosting – and sorry I managed to enter twice.
Hi Carol: I just came across your blog and the fabulous Garden Bloggers Bloom Day from Marian at Hortitopia. Wonderful idea! Do you have a logo I can put in my post? Couldn't find anything here… I pulled a post from a few days ago, as that is the last one I have done and, of course, the most current for what's blooming. Will be posting again in two days with updates! I'll mark this on my calendar and be back next month for sure! Thank you…
Hi Carol,
Happy Bloom Day! I don't cover my flowers or shrubs in the spring either. I try to plant for my zones, and I figure if they can't take the cold, then I need to find something else that can. Love your photos!
It's snowing where I live right now (near Binghamton, NY), but I'm not there! Because of the weather, my vacation had to be extended a day and I am in Raleigh, North Carolina – where they are under a freeze warning. Who turned winter back on? I cheated a bit for GBBD, and hope what I did is OK!
Hope it won't get as cold as predicted. We have a soft spot for Muscari. Some gardeners avoid them for their tendency to spread out too much but the sight of them in bloom in the spring can be spectacular in an elegant sort of way.
It only took me 3 tries to link my blog with Mr. Linky. I haven't used him all winter and broke up with me! Being memory challenged, I couldn't remember how to get back with him so I experimented and after two fits n starts the third time was a charm and we're back together! Unfortunately, we are bloom poor in my end of Massachusetts…..the next GBBD should be more colorful.
Well despite the odds, your garden is shaping up well this spring. The plants are really so very brave to come out with this crazy weather. I keep telling myself they know what they are doing. All I know is that I'm ready for the real spring to arrive and stay!
Your Virginia bluebells are beautiful
I might just have to get some of those pretty in pink muscari. Delicate and beautiful. The snow will leave and the sun will shine again. Bet on it.
Wow! Everyone is wanting to share their photos this month and by the looks of your garden spring has arrived. How smart you are to only have plants that survive the worst. I was like that once but not anymore. Last night we brought all kinds of cactus into the house and covered all the plants in the veggy garden when the threat of a frost was told on the TV. That was after we dried out the blankets which were protecting those same plants from hail and torrential rain and lashing winds. We survived and hosted 4 gardeners on the most gorgeous after the storm day. A bloom day indeed. Thanks for hosting.
I see that you shared the Spring Snowflake too — aren't they just so sweet? Happy GBBD!
I nearly forgot what day it is. Happy GBBD Carol!
Love the pink muscari and the pink viola! I see a theme developing here! Thanks for hosting again!
I basically expect the daffodils to get snowed on once they are close to or in peak bloom. April just wouldn't be the same without a nerve racking freeze. And the wild cultivated gardens will grow on.
Spring gets underway here a little before the solstice, my signal is when the pink plum trees start to bloom. Things are progressing very well, unseasonable snow falls are possible here but not that common. Your flowers look great, isn't spring wonderful!
I certainly hope spring is late here in Massachusetts, too, as I am not used to such a long winter, having recently moved from the south! I love violets, so pretty and delicate looking!
Ah Carol, how do you do it? It's so wonderful to come back for a dose of blooms in everyone's garden. Thanks so much!
I see my post is similar to yours. Spring was late last year, but it is even later this year. It was forecast to get down to the lower 20s this morning, but we had a record low of 18! I think everything survived, and I have way too much to cover things, too.
I'm glad I remembered to join in with Garden Bloggers Bloom Day this month (and that I have some blooms to share) You have some lovely blooms in your garden, in spite of the harsh winter and the latest cold snap. That pink muscari is sweet. I haven't seen a pink one before.
I'm glad I saw your post on Facebook – April has been flying by, and I didn't realize that it was Bloom Day already. We've had a late spring in NC too, but it's so welcome!
Thank you for hosting!
Well, Carol, I like your attitude regarding the upcoming freeze. I figure it's time for those plants to figure out whether a little bit cold is going to spoil the fun they've been having.
That's Anemone blanda for the little windflowers. They turn out to be one of the things I can plant in the woods without worrying about the deer. They are hardy little critters (the flowers I mean).
We're running late here, too. We Central Texans can grow nearly everything you've posted about today, but somehow your blooms are more lush. My post is dedicated to my early-blooming roses. Thanks for hosting GBBD.
Back for Bloom Day after a long, cold winter. Amazing how quickly things sprang to life in the last week!
As I read about you hardy cold-weather gardeners with your everlasting winter, I'm feeling very grateful for my comparatively benign Zone 8b winter. Soon it WILL be May, and your garden will show all the love and energy you pour into it year-round!
I barely made it in time for Bloom Day! We have had an early spring so there are many blooms in my zone 9b garden in California's Central Valley. It's my favorite time of the year! Thank you, Carol, for hosting another Bloom Day.
Hoping spring fully arrives for your garden soon, but for now, your winter bulbs are beautiful, esp. that pink muscari. Sending warm thoughts your direction.
We're rushing through spring here — there's been lots of heat already. Enjoy your slow spring!
Carol – All I can say is your flowers are beautiful! I love the violet! Is it hardy? Up here in the same state, my garden is in an entirely different state. A few daffodils but little else. We're about two weeks behind you so far. But we know all that could change with a couple of sunny days in the 60s. Happy Garden Bloggers Bloom Day!
I'm a bit late this time, but thanks for hosting. You grow so many lovelies that I can only dream of….
just found this great site, thanks for doing this, good to see garden happenings from all over.
heddleandhook.blogspot.com
Hi Carol–I made a mistake first round–so here's the correct link. http://mygardenersays.wordpress.com/2014/04/16/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-april-2014 Sorry!
Carol, In March, your garden seemed to be far ahead of mine; but now we seem to be at just about the same stage of spring. (In fact, despite the cold, the cherry, pear and apple trees began to bloom here today.) Here's hoping that spring is well and truly here. -Jean
Carol, In March, your garden seemed to be far ahead of mine; but now we seem to be at just about the same stage of spring. (In fact, despite the cold, the cherry, pear and apple trees began to bloom here today.) Here's hoping that spring is well and truly here. -Jean
Oh dear — winter temps at this time of year, yikes! Now I feel guilty for my moaning and complaining about our two episodes of unusual cold in December and February. I hope it's short!
-Julie
http://portlandtreetour.wordpress.com/2014/04/16/april-2014-belated-bloom-day-and-foliage-follow-up/
I have some new early blooming spring bulbs this year, a bulbocodium and a spring-blooming colchicum. <a href="http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2014/04/17/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-april-2014/>Come see!</a>
Pink hyacinths! I haven't seen those before. I like them!
I'm with you Carol. Spring plants are meant to be tough, and I do not mollycoddle them when winter decides to come back for a bit. No damage was done here with our recent snows, but I do see the neighbor's magnolia did not take it very well. And that's why I don't plant magnolias!
Better late than never – and I believe Spring agrees with that thought this year!
Very excited to start this!! Hello from Nashville!
Hi!! I´m new to Garden Blogger´s Bloom Day! I´m from Spain. I really enjoy seeing other peoples gardens arround the world, blogs are like a little window that allows me to see what happens for example in the States. I bet your blooms will survive the cold if it comes, muscari and helleborus are so strong. Thanks for hosting Garden Blogger´s Bloom Day!
Love your nameless narcissus! So pretty! We're behind out here in Oregon too, but spring is coming – one day at a time… Happy Bloom Day, and thanks for hosting!
Love your nameless narcissus! So pretty! We're behind out here in Oregon too, but spring is coming – one day at a time… Happy Bloom Day, and thanks for hosting!
I'm a little late to the party but it's nice to see all your Spring flowers.