Spring Ahead

Spring ahead means more this year than a change to daylight saving time. Spring in the garden this year is weeks ahead of schedule.

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PJM Rhododendron (above), usually blooms in the middle to end of April. It wasn’t bothered by below freezing temperatures the other night. Last spring, I trimmed about 1/3 off and I’ll cut it back by another third when it’s finished blooming this year. It’s just getting too big for the space.

About ¾ of the mulch has been spread. The Helleborus’ (Lenten Rose ‘Royal Heritage’) nodding blooms continue their long bloom time. Mulch makes it all look pretty.

Daffodil season is winding down and some daffs are ready for dead heading.

Pieris Japonica ‘Mountain Fire’ is finishing its pretty winter bloom. When the blooms are gone, new growth will be bright a burgundy. This is what I call a bonus plant – winter bloom and summer color.

The mop head hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Venice”) is leafing out dodging the frosts so far. I cut it for shape last summer. I will only need to cut off the dead branches this spring. We’ll see how well it blooms this year after last summer’s haircut.

The early spring makes me feel like I need to hurry to catch up when, in reality, I need to slow down. The last frost date here in zone 6 is around May 15. Over a month till it’s time to put out tender annuals and vegetables. It’s also important that the soil be warm enough to promote healthy growth.

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The coleuses will have to wait for their outside debut.

Lenten Rose Seedlings

Helleborus ‘Royal Heritage’™

In 2002 I planted 2 ‘Royal Heritage’ Hellebores – one on each side of the path. They were in bloom when I bought them. The colors are slightly different. They have grown well.

The Hellebore on the east side of the path is surrounded by hundreds of seedlings. Two are mature enough to bloom.

The Hellebore on the west side of the path (about 3 feet away) does not have any seedlings.

The no seedling site may get slightly less light and water. The soil may be slightly more acidic. It’s hard to measure a difference in microclimate.

Curious.

Hellebores in February

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This is what my hellebores (Helleborus orientalis) look like at the beginning of February.

I probably wouldn’t have paid any attention to them but Susan from Maryland zone 7b asked fellow members of Doug Green’s Online Gardening Club, Perennial Flower Group, to share their experiences with hellebores.

The conversation was joined by Yvonne in Illinois (zone 5), Linda in Southwest Kentucky (zone 6) and Janet. Doug Green (who is always hovering in the background to keep everyone out of trouble) posted a link to his “gardening tips for perennials”.

The gardening club is a fun way to connect with fellow gardeners. Their personal experiences add so much to my gardening practices.

Even though my hellebores have taken a beating this winter the purple buds are beginning to form. By March and into April, I will enjoy their early blooms. (See post from April 2009.)

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(The groundhog has spoken – 6 more weeks of winter.)

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Happy New Year

January – sigh.

As I looked through my garden pictures from last year I realized it will be at least 2 months before I can work outside again. And fully 2 or 3 months before the garden really comes to life.

The Snow Glories were blooming on March 11, 2009.

The first yellow crocus popped up between the leftover fall leaves.

The pretty purple helleborus was full of buds waiting to open.

The daffodils were budding.

Donna at Momma Mia Days (link at right) got me over the early winter doldrums with her colorful post from her trip to San Diego.

So I made a list. I have books and catalogs to read, a lot of house cleaning to do, income taxes to start, Mom’s apartment to clean and organize, flower shows and meetings to attend and garden plans to make.

I realized I have a choice. I can sit here wallowing in self-pity because it’s cold, icy and miserable outside or I can get some things done so I’ll be ready to garden in March.

On one hand, it looks like a long winter ahead. On the other hand, there may not be enough time to complete everything on my list.

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Garden Awakening

The garden explodes in spring.

There is a lot happening in the garden right now. I’ve managed to divide the liriope, daylily, and coreopsis. About half of the cleanup is done.

The daffodils,

mini iris,

glories of snow,

hellebores are blooming and

I have a load of mulch in the driveway.

As lemon thyme, bleeding heart, mums, coreopsis, lupine, columbine turn green, I’ve got a lot of mulch to move.

Garden Clean Up

I took a lap around the yard yesterday. It’s a bit of a mess. A lot of it looks like this.

I don’t have anything that needs pruning immediately so I can work on clean up one section at a time. (Here is a handy pruning schedule from University of Virginia Extension http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/nursery/430-462/430-462.html ) Ornamental grasses will have to be cut soon before any more pieces blow around the neighborhood.

I need to get the leaves out of the azaleas, clean up the tulips and crocuses, and trim some left over perennials from last year. Hostas have dead spikes and leaves of mush on the ground. Fortunately, I have paths to work from so I don't have to tromp on the garden.

Bunnies (or something) are munching on the tulips. They have all been sprayed with Liquid Fence. The deer, groundhogs, rabbits and skunks dine on new spring growth and critters in the soil. The birds pick dusty miller for their nests. I won’t cut last year’s dusty growth until June when the new growth is well established. I also use a lot of cayenne pepper in the spring to try to convince the critters to eat something less ornamental. My husband insists they are out there making salsa in the middle of the night.

The hellebores appeared like magic it seems. The purple flowers are ready to open. A two-inch patch of mysterious green appeared next to the rhododendron. I think (hope) it is Irish Moss (Sagina sublata) although I have no record of planting it there. If anyone recognizes it, please let me know.

The gardening season has begun in earnest. I have a very busy schedule next week but I’m trying not to panic and run helter-skelter through the clean up. It’s a grand time of year as each day presents surprises in the garden.

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