Mid March in our upstate NY garden is a rather dismal affair.
The gardens have just emerged from their snowy winter mulch and are looking bedraggled and much in need of tidying.
The roses are still enclosed in their winter collars and covered with compost. That will come off soon. There are tiny snowdrops blooming in this garden.....
...but they kept their sweet little buds closed on this cloudy day. Perhaps they'll open tomorrow if the sun decides to shine down on us. Last week's beautiful spring-like weather dissolved into a cloudy, drizzly weekend with heavy, bough-breaking winds which took us right back to winter. That's the way March is...and April can be the same.
I noticed buds on these daffodils today. I think it'll be a while yet before they open as it seems very early for them yet.
Just around the corner the daffodil shoots are still just peeking through. 
And down in the Fence Garden they're even smaller.
But inside we still have bright colors to fortify our souls.
I finally found a couple of Cylamens
This glorious pink,
And a smaller plant with rosy red blooms. They start out a bright rosy red and fade to a lighter shade.
Notice that the begonias in the background are still going strong. They've bloomed all winter!
These two Oxalis plants (aka Shamrocks) are new as well.
With their shamrock shaped leaves they make a pretty display for Saint Patrick's Day.
I particularly love the purple. Both the dainty flowers and those beautiful leaves close at night. The 3-lobed leaves droop down...a phenomenon I haven't seen before.
About six weeks after I planted these Paperwhites they finally stopped looking like little ducks and began to shoot up, but alas, there are no blooms! They're duds! They were new bulbs this year. I wonder if they weren't cooled properly before being boxed. I'll plant them in the ground later on and just let them do their thing. Perhaps they'll bloom in a future spring.
The bright bouquet of daffodils is still beautiful, thanks to being kept on our unheated, covered side porch. I've used them to decorate the church for 3 Sundays!
Hannah takes a break from watching the birds to give herself a bath.
To see what's blooming for gardeners near and far, or just to satisfy your color craving (especially if you're living in a snowy region), visit Carol of May Dreams Gardens whose bright idea it was to start Bloom Day back in February 2007.
Happy Bloom Day everyone!
Happy Bloom Day everyone!
28 comments:
Hi, Kerri! Your bouquet of daffodils are so pretty! It won't be long and we'll have them blooming outside. Mine alreay have buds too!
Dear Kerri,
Someone called Spring 'disheveled', you call it 'bedraggled', and that is just what it seems to be this year. I reckon the real Spring is the turn of April into May and we are just a bit too eager.
Your picture make me realize that I have underestimated indoor begonias. They make a lovely backdrop.And now that I am forced to have my 'garden' indoors, I will look out for an Oxalis plant as well. Did you find that in a nursery or does it need to be grown from seed?
Can we have a picture of the patio outside the French doors sometime? Is it ground level? And do you have plants there in the summer?
Nosey me :-)
Those cyclamen are so pretty. Of course the daffs scream spring. I have one in bloom right now. Ha... It won't be long and there will be many. I hope you can get outside soon and putz around. happy GBBD.
Kerri girl your Spring bulbs are way ahead of mine ! But at least I have one hellebore with flower buds : )
I am always infatuated with your house plants .. they look gorgeous : )
I think I have to go run out and find some oxalis before tomorrow ?
.. or the O'Connor reputation will be mud for St. Paddy's Day ? LOL
Lovely colourful post even with a little more patience waiting for Spring : )
Joy
That is a great idea, keeping the daffodils in a cool place. I used to do that, put them on the porch at night and bring them in to look pretty during the day. Never had them last three weeks tho.
That is interesting about the begonias blooming all winter. I'll try to remember to save a few next fall to bring inside.
Marnie
Your indoor flowers are so gorgeous! You have evidence that spring is on the way with the dainty snowdrops and the buds of daffodils.
You're showing many signs of spring although it's only March. The snow must have been insulating those bulbs.
You have always have the most beautiful indoor plants. Gorgeous picture of the daffodils.
I was wondering if the tremendous winds that we heard about had impacted your area.
It must be so nice to see the bulbs popping their sweet heads out of the ground.
The cyclamen look as though they are observing what is going on outside. Luscious colors!
I know that next month we will be seeing the start of lots of color around your garden.
Hello there, greetings from Sweden!
Lovely photos, and if you scroll down the whole lenght of this page, you really get to see time pass by backwards:-) Nice!
Thank you!
Kerri, your indoor garden is just beautiful, and look so healthy. I love Cyclamen. Your pinks ones are lovely. I don't know why, but I seem to have an outdoor greenthumb, but not an indoor one. I'm always taking my indoor plants to my Mom for extra care. Between the two of us, both indoor and outdoor plants seem to thrive. (: Your photos of the small plants poking up through the soil makes me think of "The Secret Garden." It will all be in full bloom very soon~
Apparently it warmed up sooner here in the Pacific Northwest because my Daffodil's are beginning to bloom and the splashes of yellow surounding my lawn certainly drive away the winter blah's. I need to take some pictures to post. We had a week of cold temps but it's up to nearly 60 today. I hope that means that old man winter has retired for the season!
I do love your cyclamen and shamrock plants. I didn't know the shamrock's folded up at night. It's like they are bowing their heads and folding their hands in prayer...:)
I really need to go shopping for some flowering plants like you have. They make a home look and feel so friendly and warm.
Thanks for another great post Kerri.
Hugs!
Hope spring sends its warmth to you soon. We finally have a few warm days so I can play in the greenhouse some. The one good thing is having the colorful plants inside. all of your photos are lovely, and daffodils are always a sure sign of spring!
Wonderful blog you have ~ lots of flowers and lots of cats ~ most enjoyable! :)
I like the photos you finally chose, Mum. More posts! More posts!
Your bulbs are way ahead of mine. My snow drops are just breaking through. My amaryllis inside are filling the house with red passion. We donot have to mulch our roses, but this winter was nasty enough that I may be losing some perennials after all.
Your indoor garden is stunning. I was out checking yesterday to see if I could spot some bud. Nothing so far but the may flowers. Strange, too, since we had such a warm winter. Even the jump jump ups are lagging.
I am itching to be out, aren't you?
I adore the purple shamrocks! I have some green and always wanted to have the other color mixed in. Your indoor garden is absolutely gorgeous!
Not only indoors but also in your garden, Spring now has definitely arrived. And I am sure you are already busy working outside...as I am too ;-) ! I hope for you that there won't be too many losses of plants due to the hard and long winter. Here we have surprises, good and bad ones, but that's nature!
Have lovely Spring days with a lot of sunshine, dear Kerr!
love the shamrocks... how appropriate! i especially love the green and purple shamrocks with the pink cyclamen... if that combo doesn't get you through to spring, i don't know what will! it'll be here before you know it!
love the little bulbs coming up everywhere... so lovely.
Spring's here, Kerri! I'll bet a few things have changed since you wrote this post. I know it's not going to be without cold periods and possible frost yet to come, but your garden is truly waking up! Once those crocuses & daff's start opening up, and you see new signs of spring growth, you can at least delight in the fact that things are on their way! Happy Spring;-)
well, i just love being surprised by every little bit of growth. it sure is hard to get a good photo, when most everything is still grey... so i'm sticking with the macro! i know great things are to come in your garden, and can't wait to see it all again!
Dear Kerri, I love your Spring garden... and the baskets you use to hold the flowers are gorgeous. We just moved to a new house and I have plans to make a nice garden. Your pictures are inspiring. xoxo
Dear Kerri; thank you for walking in my garden. I am glad that you can now enjoy your beautiful spring garden. The snowdrops are so dainty and cherished for being the earliest closely followed my the magical Daffodils. In your garden will be an exquisite menu of flowers to follow. Love your cats so woolly and comfortable. I hope you are feeling well after this long cold winter. It is still hot and when I work in the garden I am quickly wet and sweaty, itchy and I can't wait to have a cool shower. so I am looking forward to cooler days. I wish you lovely, happy spring days. xo T.
Our indoor gardens with several cyclamen and varied 'Shamrocks' look alike, Kerri. My weakness is orchids ... perhaps when the weather improves, my addiction will subside :) Happy Spring gardening!
"The gardens have just emerged from their snowy winter mulch and are looking bedraggled and much in need of tidying." A perfect description of me when I get up in the mornings!
How interesting that your spring is so far behind ours. And yet, as I remember, your garden overtakes ours (in maturity, I mean, as well as in every other way!) after a while. Lovely insight into your world as usual.
Kerri,
Your indoor garden sings a joyful song, while outdoors, your flowers were in about the same place as mine as far being "sprung." Now, mine are finally starting to bloom, and I just hope we don't have anymore freezes. Happy spring.~~Dee
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