January is spring, right?
These tulips have been up since February. Do you think the other bulbs make fun of them? Like, “Hey, look at those assholes. Yeah, it’s called winter for reason!” These Florentine tulips were up early last year too. I thought I would commemorate their journey in the sleet with a few photos. I found some crocuses and hyacinths too, though they weren’t the eager beavers like the tulips.
These striped scuppers are some crocuses. To the right I think I see another wild tulip species that’s jumped the gun–Clusiana.
I’m hoping again this spring to be inundated by the scent of fragrant daffodils wafting from this bed, but given the tunnels in the mulch, I’m a little worried. I’d be more worried, but I don’t think either hyacinths or daffodils are appetizing to pests.
I think this is the snowy L’Innocence.
Peering deep into the bloom, I’m able to catch a glimpse of the artichoke-shaped head of blooms. These heirloom varieties are the biggest I’ve seen–a foot tall. Marie is so dark, purple bleeds into the green buds.
Of course, the greatest tragedy of this weather is the inactivity our bulldog must suffer. With the backyard an utter mud hole, there are days he just doesn’t get out. The street around our house is nothing but winding hills, so unfortunately there’s not great place to walk him either. He gathers the corpses of his Jolly Balls on the back porch to remind us we’re neglecting him.
Yes I make him jump through that hoop. Sometimes I wear my fur hat and we go out in the snow. I feel like a Russian circus trainer.
Pictures taken with a Lumix camera, using a ham-fisted approximation of a titl-shift camera, and then beaten about with GIMP.
Antoinette M-- 
I think that the tulips are the motivated ones…getting ahead of the pack, whilst the other flowers and bulbs languish in their loamy beds…
I don’t know. If I were a bulb, I’d still be abed, waiting for spring at least. Unless of course I was one of those crazy species that ends up with the name “snowdrop” or “Turkish glory-of-the-snow” because I must bloom in the snow. There’s a species of daffodil, Avalanche, that was found clinging to a cliff, that might be to your taste. They smell lovely too. I forced some for my sister, and she said kept looking around for fruit that had gone bad, only to realize it was the flowers.
If they only grow on cliffs, I will never see them – I am vertiginous at the best of times. 🙂
Oh no, you can buy them from Old House Gardens and plop them right in your yard. I tend to wait until everything goes on sale, then I buy their $30 sampler of whatever, and maybe a few things I want. I have to say, thus far their bulbs have been very high-quality, though I don’t know how everyone I planted last year is doing yet.
Florentine tulips. Crocuses. Hyacinths. Ah spring. Eager beavers. Great. Now I’m turned on.
Instead of a cold shower, you can mourn the fate of my daylilies. Pretty sure I killed them, and possibly my other lilies, which would be sad as they were all very pretty.
Happens here, too, only its daffodils that jump the gun. I figure they know what they’re doing or will survive it anyway. 🙂
My understanding of daffodils is they’re all, “Go ahead and eat us. Yeah, you like that irritating sap? That’s what I thought.” Great for areas plagued by deer.
LOL I did not know that. But I see them poking up through late snowfall nearly every year. Another flower that comes up early in spring, pushing right through snow cover, is the snow glory. Tiny, but has brilliant blue flowers and spreads like a carpet across the lawn. I love them. They look like they’re full of joy.
I’ve seen those at Old House Gardens. Maybe I’ll try some next year, and plant some aconite too. I love those first spring blooms when you’re fed up with winter. The sunny yellow crocuses are my favorite.
No sign of my daffodils yet, but the crocus are coming up – and we had more snow showers today. Perfect title.
I went out yesterday and a couple of buds had popped up. I should go see if they’re doing anything. God I love crocuses. The yellow ones are the best after a long winter.