We've reached that time of spring around here when we are not yet frost-free but a freeze could hurt a little bit. Especially if you are one of those gardeners who simply couldn't wait to plant out annuals that don't like frost and you didn't have me whispering—shouting—in your ear that it is too early to plant out annuals and vegetable plants that don't like frost or even temps in the 40s for that matter. What about pansies? Pansies will be fine, as will violas and daffodils and other … [Read more...] about What a Gardener Can Do
spring
Daffodils
I'm not a big fan of daffodils. I can take 'em or leave 'em, as they say. "Really, Carol? Because it looks like you've been mostly taking them and now you have quite a few blooming around your garden." Well, yes, there do seem to be quite a few daffodils here and there. "And it's not just the same ones over and over. You actually have several varieties, it seems." Yes, but if I can't remember all the variety names, do they count? "You know they count. Fess up, Carol. You … [Read more...] about Daffodils
Mother Nature Would Like to Remind You
Did you dream all winter about how lovely your garden was going to be this spring and summer? All the pretty flowers, the perfect vegetables, the song birds singing. I sure did. I always do! There's something about winter and snow and cold to give a gardener illusions (delusions?) of how in the spring their garden will once and for all become the very definition of perfection. It will be a paradise of your own making. And then Mother Nature reminds you... There are going to be some … [Read more...] about Mother Nature Would Like to Remind You
Mother Nature’s Springtime Lesson
There comes a time every spring when we look around and say to Mother Nature, "Slow down, what's your hurry? Can we just relax for a week or two and enjoy this spring season?" Mother Nature always replies with a firm no and tells us to get on with it. She has no use for procrastinators! And so we must learn to relax, but be busy. To enjoy spring, yet get on with the garden. It's not going to wait! The first tulips are blooming, after all, along with daffodils and all kinds of … [Read more...] about Mother Nature’s Springtime Lesson
In My Garden: ‘Variety Unknown’
Lately—and I'll just admit it up front—for many years, my favorite flowers in the garden share a cultivar name of 'Variety Unknown'. These are the first two reticulated irises that popped up a few days ago. They are 'Variety Unknown', part of a mix of Iris reticulata I purchased years ago. They are slowly coming up to join the crocuses in full bloom now, which are also 'Variety Unknown'. The crocuses are from mixed collections of Crocus tommasinianus, planted years ago, affectionately … [Read more...] about In My Garden: ‘Variety Unknown’
And so it begins, with crocuses
Yesterday, I headed out in the morning sunshine for a walk around the neighborhood and before I stepped off my driveway, I spotted the first little crocus in bloom. And so it begins. When I got home, I went out to the backyard to see if I could spot any crocuses in the lawn. I've planted thousands of crocus corms in my lawn, going back to at least 2011. I didn't see any, but the snow was still melting. This morning, as I waited for the water to warm up for a cup of tea, I looked out … [Read more...] about And so it begins, with crocuses
