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.
Posted by at

11 comments:

  1. KPFebruary 20, 2010 at 4:40 PM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  2. a.eyeFebruary 20, 2010 at 6:04 PM

    It was really warm today. Surprising and welcomed.

    ReplyDelete
  3. TeriFebruary 20, 2010 at 8:08 PM

    That is a hyacinth. It should bloom for you.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kathy GFebruary 20, 2010 at 10:57 PM

    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!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Another QFebruary 21, 2010 at 9:33 AM

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

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousFebruary 21, 2010 at 11:57 AM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Kathy GFebruary 21, 2010 at 12:53 PM

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

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousFebruary 21, 2010 at 12:59 PM

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

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousFebruary 21, 2010 at 8:28 PM

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

    ReplyDelete
  10. NancyFebruary 21, 2010 at 11:02 PM

    Yay! There is hope!

    ReplyDelete
  11. ColetteFebruary 22, 2010 at 1:24 PM

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

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)