Saturday, February 20, 2010

Signs Of Spring

Usually our area gets a short break from the cold weather in mid-winter, but it didn't happen this year. Since the beginning of 2010, less than a third of the days have been warmer than normal, and this month is on track to be one of the top 20 coldest on record. We've had a succession of snowstorms that leave a bit of white stuff, which melts just before a bit more is deposited from the next storm.

Last year about this time son Brian had a potted spring bulb arrangement delivered to the house. The basket of hyacinths and tulip plants was almost ready to bloom, and I got to watch as each of the flowers opened over the course of a week. When they were spent, I took the block of potting mixture and bulbs out to the back yard, where I planted them close to the patio by the garage door. I know that often forced bulbs won't flower again, but I thought I'd try.

I was REALLY excited when I looked out the back of the garage today and saw this:


Something is pushing up out of the mulch! It's too soon to tell what type of flower it is, but just seeing it is a sign that the cold weather can 't last forever.

11 comments:

  1. It's crazy warm out now. (Or so I've been told. I haven't left the house yet.) They're still calling for more snow this week. Let's hope they're wrong.

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  2. It was really warm today. Surprising and welcomed.

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  3. That is a hyacinth. It should bloom for you.

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  4. Kathy-I would be sad, but not surprised, by more snow. Hopefully it will just be flurries.

    a eye- It was definitely jacket weather this afternoon; I think it got into the 50s

    Teri-thanks for the information. I have such SMART readers!

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  5. Hyacinth! It is one of my favorite flowers....so very fragrant.
    YIPPEE, spring is near!

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  6. My husband did likewise with a pot of tulips I had last year. I told him they wouldn't come back but he was going to try. Yesterday he told me that the bulbs have broken through our very tough soil. I'm still not guaranteeing any blooms. I do still get daffodils and a few tulips from bulbs I planted 25 years ago. Our summers are so hot and the winters not cold enough for bulbs to come back year after year. At one time I planted new bulbs every Thanksgiving weekend, but once I started teaching, that went by the wayside, as did so many things I did.

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  7. dkzody-Planting bulbs every fall DOES sound like a lot of work. I wonder if it's a tradition you'll revive someday...?

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  8. Spring is coming. Just wish it would hurry up a little :o)

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  9. I think the only bulbs I'll be getting in the future will be in a pot.

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  10. Wow! My tulips and daffodils never bloom before May. (Of course, they're planted in the last place the snow melts.)

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