Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - March '08

Here we are in the middle of the month again,

with still precious little to show for outside blooms.

These snowdrop buds were the closest I could come. They're not quite open, but it won't be long!

In the house some of our forced bulbs are blooming.

This was our first experience with forcing bulbs and the results were mixed.

We stored the potted bulbs (covered) in our unheated garage in early December, and brought 2 pots of tulips and one of hyacinths into the house in early February, placing them upstairs in a cool storeroom for several days. I checked them daily, wondering if mice would find them there and have them for dinner.

All was well for a while, but then I found the tops of the tulip bulbs had been eaten. Fortunately, I found that mice aren't fond of hyacinths, so they were still intact. I moved the pots then to a bedroom unpstairs, and left them for a few more days before bringing them downstairs where the temperature is warmer.

We had intended the bring the rest of the pots in gradually so as to stagger the blooms over several weeks and use them to decorate the church for Sunday Services, since I'm the flower lady, but after a few days the mice discovered those bulbs too and ate most of the tulips. Hungry little beasts! So we ended up bringing all the rest in at once and putting them in a bedroom upstairs, leaving them covered for another week.

These 'Carnegie' hyacinths did quite well, and that first pot I brought in were lovely too, but I forgot to take a photo of them (can you believe that?). They were a pretty pink.

These 'Splendid Cornelia' are stunted. The blue one was in the same bag but it's obviously a misfit.
My friend Marie told me the growth needs to be a couple of inches tall before they're brought in, and these weren't that tall. Next year I'll remember that, and I'll have to find somewhere to keep them inside and out where the mice can't get them. If you have any advise to add I'd certainly be glad if you'd share it.

So far we've had a total of 4 tulip blooms out of 30 (10 pots), and 6 presentable hyacinths blooms out of 8 pots. Not a lot to show for our efforts!

But we're very glad to see the few tulips that survived the mice, and the hyacinths scent is heavenly.

This tulip was supposed to be pink but it looks more like red to me!

Never mind, we'll take it!

A few weeks ago we bought a pot of Primulas and a Cyclamen to brighten up the house. The Primulas have just a few blooms left now, but they sure were a pretty sight to see for several weeks.

I love that deep pink!

I used to buy Cylamens for Mom on Mother's Day, so they carry the added pleasure of reminding me of her.

The Cyclamen is still looking good, even though the blooms are fewer. These cheery daffodils were given to us by a dear friend last week after brightening our church service. I put them out on the covered side porch during this week, where we could still see them, but where they would be able stay cool. They're still looking beautiful, and will go back to church tomorrow to be enjoyed for a second Sunday :)

We do have the promise of spring in our garden, with these and many more daffodils poking through the ground. It won't be too long before we can gaze upon a sea of yellow once again. I can't wait!

You can find other GBBD posts over at

Carol's May Dreams Gardens.