Today in My Yard

I can't believe it is still March! Spring has sprung way too early this year! I was gone for a week and totally missed some blooms. The petals on the early Kaufmanniana tulips have mostly dropped, having faded fast (I'm sure) on that day last week which reached a record-setting 87 degrees, in the heat wave that the jet stream, which lingered across much of the United States, delivered while I was (slightly cooler!) in Florida.

The old-fashioned bleeding hearts are waiting to open fully now that the weather has cooled to a more normal March temperature:

Another more happy early bloomer is this primula:

The hosta will be very vulnerable to an April frost. I have too many to easily cover, so I'm hoping for warmer weather to continue:

This autumn joy sedum has been growing fast as well:

The tulips, popping out of this vinca vine bed, are very tall for March. A few have opened but it is too cold for them today. They open almost immediately when brought inside.

This variegated hydrangea has never been protected and never had growth on its old wood. I will cover this one if we have frost and hope for my first bloom ever:

Last year the early tulips were enjoying an April blanket of snow in the third week of April. Now they have already bloomed and dropped dead by March 31! Here are two photos from 2011:

Kaufmanniana 'Heart's Delight" tulips on April 17, 2011

Tete-a-Tete Blooms signal an early spring in Michigan

Tete-a-Tete daffodils

These petite daffodils with bright nodding heads are in full bloom today in the church garden. Other daffodils are showing color as well. I saw my first blooms around town yesterday, accelerated by some record-setting warm sunny days here in West Michigan. The cold tolerant crocuses are already going limp in the pre-spring heat wave and buds on all shrubs and trees are getting dangerously large and vulnerable.

Geraniums - Budding in the Bag

Last October we pulled out the several dozen geraniums at the church garden while they were still in full bloom. I tossed as many as I could fit into two brown yard refuse bags. They were in the garage until Thanksgiving and then in a cool basement room. When I checked last week, about half of the geraniums had sprouted in the sealed bag, as in the above photo.

After one week in the sun room, the sprouts had turned green and grown. One plant even had a tiny bloom. I have tried this before with limited success and always marvel at the miraculous power of the plant to regenerate. If I recall correctly, I read that this only works with geraniums grown from seed.

Now--will I be able to keep them alive to thrive until May 15 or so, when they can be moved permanently outdoors?

Closeup of one week out-of-the-bag growth

Closeup of tiny bloom