Sunday, March 13, 2016

Early Spring!

They always remind me of little fried eggs....

What a happy time of year! Spring is literally springing forth: the weather was lovely this past week -- warm, sunny and in the 60s, and not even too windy for a few days. I imprudently worked outside two days in a row and my joints ached -- but I was still tempted to do more, it was that nice outside.

And the first flowers are blooming! Crocus, winter aconite and tiny irises are in flower, and the grass is slowly greening up. These little early flowers always make me so happy -- I'm making a mental note that I will plant more of them this fall, and I have a new planned area I think I will devote to them and other minor bulbs.

Here are a few flowers from outside and inside:


More crocus. I love their Easter Egg colors.


These tiny irises are blooming and tulips are pushing up out of the ground among them.


Winter aconite are also in flower. They're pretty small, and require an
extreme close-up.

I couldn't resist buying a six-pack of these cute pansies that are already for sale at Lowe's (most stores around here will likely not have any flowers for sale for several weeks yet). I potted them up and left them inside, not because they wouldn't be OK outside, but because I know I will see and enjoy them more inside at this time of year. I'll plant them outside in window boxes before long.


I was able to force these forsythia branches to bloom early by cutting them and bringing them inside this year. I tried it last spring, but without any luck and I thought I had done something wrong, but it turned out that the shrub itself only had about three flowers on it last year for some reason,. Now that I have been successful, I feel better about the whole forcing branches idea. (The daffodils are from the supermarket, which always has a special on them every spring, and which I greatly look forward to as one of signs of the desperately waited-for end of winter. Happy days!)


Spring is definitely arriving early this year. I think this is the earliest we've had this many flowers blooming for a number of years. The weather has turned rainy for the next few days, but that will make the grass green up, and then it will really seem like spring!

I hope your spring is arriving as well, and that warm, sunny days are heading your way. Thanks for reading! -Beth


17 comments:

  1. I love all the spring flowers. I am glad that he is with you beautiful weather and you have to watch them. We are cold, gray skies and rain. Waiting for warming and flowers. Regards

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    1. Hi Giga, I hope beautiful weather comes your way soon -- thanks for reading! -Beth

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  2. I love all those little ones; yes, yes, plant more!

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    1. Jane, thanks for your vote of encouragement for more bulbs! I'm so glad you think it's a good idea too. :-) -Beth

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  3. All beautiful, especially the crocus. So cool that you were able to force the forsythia branches! I can't grow any of your spring beauties, except pansies, but we grow a lot of the same summer flowers. Happy spring!

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    1. Happy spring to you too, Janice -- I hope the weather is beautiful in Florida for you these days. Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

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  4. I'm so happy to see all the blossoms in your garden. I have some bulbs in pots this year that have just started to come up. I can't wait to see your garden in full bloom! Happy gardening...it's almost spring!!

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    1. Hi Sonia, I'm glad you are able to grow bulbs in pots -- I always seem to have trouble doing that. I look forward to seeing photos of them in bloom. Thanks for reading! -Beth

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  5. So far, we have irises, and some pink salvia blooming here in Texas. Yeah for spring!!!

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    1. Hi Kim, I'm so glad you're enjoying early flowers down in Texas too -- spring is a happy time no matter where it happens. Thanks for visiting! -Beth

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  6. Such lovely signs of spring! It's wonderful to see all those beautiful bulbs flowering in your garden. Doesn't it make you feel just so happy when everything starts to bloom?! I loved the forced Forsythia too. How clever of you to do this. I miss that shrub from England as it always cries spring to me! Hopefully it stays warm so you can enjoy more time outside. Have a great rest of the week!

    - Kate xx

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Kate -- Enjoy your own spring, as it's such a lovely time of year in Florida! Best, Beth

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  7. We've had an amazingly early spring as well, and it is just impossible not to go outside in the garden in the beautiful weather! Your bulbs are beautiful. I just love seeing the first crocuses blooming. There's just something so special about them!

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    1. Thanks so much, Indie -- our first flowers are always the most special, aren't they? Happy springtime! -Beth

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  8. Love those early spring blooms. We are having an earlier spring here as well but we did have a little setback with a few inches of snow yesterday.
    Carolyn

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  10. I like how small most spring flowers are. It forces us to get down to their level to really look at the flower up close to appreciate its beauty. It requires we stop and really focus. Sometimes we need that reminder. Love those pansies! :o)

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