"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it brings."

Thursday, March 10, 2011

It's just a matter of time.

Not too long I mentioned how behind the garden was getting from all of the below normal temperatures we'd been having.  I knew a few days above 50 would inspire the plants to get growing.  Along with some warmer weather (50 degrees feels warm right now) we've had lots of rain and wind.  Yesterday we set a record for rainfall.  I'm not sure I've seen it rain that hard many times before.  In one day we received half the average rainfall for March.  But, it's hard to complain when the plants seem to be getting revved up for a nice big spring show.

The Blueberry Bushes are loaded with buds.

Camellia japonica 'Marie Bracey' is finally starting to show a little pink.

Ribes sanguineum or Pink Flowering Currant is usually in bloom during March.  It looks like it won't be long now though.

Tete-a-tete daffodils are behind too, they sure got beat up by the rain.  I love how bright and cheery they are.

Marsh Marigold has one tattered bloom.  I also saw that the Water Hawthorne in the pond is starting to bloom.

These Daffodils seem to be on time, they bloom after the Tete-a-tetes are finished.

This Pulmonaria was a seedling that surprised me a couple of years ago.  I think this will be it's first year blooming, it's got lots of buds on it.

Crossing my fingers that this Magnolia 'Vulcan' finally blooms.  We had a late frost last year that killed the buds.

The Weeping Cherry tree is starting to bloom.

This might not look that exciting, but to me it's great news.  I dug up and moved this Peony a few weeks ago, just before the big freeze and snow.  I was hoping I hadn't killed it.  I'm doubtful it will bloom, but still hoping it might.

I found this the other day at a little antique mall near us.  I can't wait to plant it.  I'm trying to decide whether to make it a small water garden or a container garden.

I spotted this Bewick's Wren in the Snowball Bush with a little tuft of what looks like dog fur.  I couldn't figure out where he was going with it.  Early today I noticed sticks on our deck under the Pine tree and wondered where they were coming from.  Were the school kids throwing them over the fence?  (You'd be surprised at what they throw over).  They were not Pine tree twigs.  After seeing this wren with it's nesting material I remembered that a few years ago Crows built a nest in the Pine tree and I found the same types of sticks on the deck.  The wind must have knocked them loose.

I probably won't be around much the next several days since we will have company staying with us this weekend.  Hopefully the next time I post some of these buds will have opened into flowers. 
All words and photos in this post are property of A Gardener in Progress. Pin It

33 comments:

  1. Wow, the things are really starting to bloom. The trees blooming make me feel like it is officially spring. I will be watching for the future pictures.

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  2. I have got spring feelings when i see this......happy day darling....love Ria....xxx...

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  3. I know I knoooow!! I looked at my Japanese Maple today and her little buds are comin I cant wait!!

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  4. It will be nice to see the Pulmonaria blooms- and that galvanized bucket will be a nice addition. I have one just like it that I've been wanting to turn into a water feature- hanging a watering can to drip the water out. It will be fun to see what you do with yours. I've had it for years and haven't done a thing with it- just terrible!

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  5. I tak już bliżej "wybuchu" wiosny w pełni, niż w Polsce. Krokusy trochę ucierpiały przez deszcz.Pozdrawiam

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  6. Wowee!! Thought I'd pop in to see what you are up to..your blooms and buds are super gorgeous( so exciting to see)...we are still covered in snow here..you are so lucky...gorgeous photos as always! I look forward to your magical garden pond this summer..it is so beautiful! Happy Gardening!
    Kiki

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  7. Catherine, I love your new-to-you vintage galvanized washtub and can't wait to see what you do with it. I use mine all the time for plants. I will probably be planting my tomatoes in my three empty ones this year. They make great water features too though. ... It's good to see our plants starting to wake up, isn't it?

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  8. I love your galvanized washtub! If it were mine, I'd turn it into a small water feature, but that's because I've been thinking for quite a while now that I'd like to do that. I'd love to have a lotus to put in it.

    Love all the new stuff about to bloom. My two scrawny little Pulmonarias are barely showing above ground.

    Good luck with your company, hope they (and you) have a good time!

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  9. The plants know it is time to start their engines. It's so wonderful to find new buds swelling, getting ready to bust open.
    Poor little Wren, all its hard work gone.

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  10. Catherine, the buds and blooms are looking great! Your magnolia looks like it's a go. Can't wait to see the bloom. I have a few galvanized tubs in the shed that we brought over from the family farm. MIL actually used them for laundry at one time. I'd love to plant in them. Better to use them than to have them sitting in a pile in the shed, don't you think?
    If it's been coolish and wet, I don't think your peony will be too troubled by the move. It's time we were checking for peony shoots here, too. They should be up by the middle of March. ~~Rhonda

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  11. Spring has arrived to your garden Catherine, how wonderful. I have a few snowdrops struggling to make an appearance, so we are also are our way to receiving spring. Happy news;)

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  12. My peony has the same little fingertips reaching up. Everything is looking great!

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  13. Catherine, lookin' good!! I vote for a water feature for your new tub. I wish I had one.

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  14. Catherine,

    Looks like your camellia bud has a tiny bit of frost burn, I have one ready to open too, that is brown around the edges.

    Betting the peony will bloom just fine as the buds should already be set to come out, next year might be another story.

    The hellebores we transplanted in fall did great in spring, the second year the plants are half the size when first planted.

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  15. Catherine those are really beautiful pictures I'm glad your peony has survived the move spring is here

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  16. I love the tub! You can't go wrong with either idea :) Your tete a tete daffodils are very cheerful; spring color is coming! Have a great weekend :) Jenni

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  17. Everything is looking so promising! How wonderful to be sharing in the emergence of your Spring garden, as I watch ours take on its Autumnal appearance. We're already seeing many more leaves on our pathways and driveway each day and the days have begun to cool down. I'm going to LOVE coming to visit you for your vivid Spring colour and phenomenal displays while we go into a version of dormancy.

    If I were you, I'd plant that galvanised basin up as a water garden :) It would look super as a surprise feature in your new front garden!!!

    I hope you have a wonderful time with your parents-in-law over the next few days and that the weather is kind and you're able to enjoy getting out and about with your guests.

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  18. There's alot to look forward for. I'm amazed to see that you're abel to grow Camelias in your garden!

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  19. Those signs of spring warm and cheer my rain soaked heart, Catherine, especially the little wren with building material in its beak! It is a true gardener that can get as excited about buds, if not more so, than flowers. I share your anticipation! :-)

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  20. It is exciting to see the signs of spring, I think we notice so much more at this time of year than we do in the summer when everything is blooming.

    I have a tub like yours. The first year I planted it up as a water garden but it wasn't very successful. The water got hot in teh summer due to the metal. Instead I have drilled holes in it and planted it up as a herb bed by the back door and this has been really successful. Looking forward to seeing what you do with yours

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  21. We are right about where you are with our flowers-the first year ever! Those blueberries look good!

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  22. I remember one of those washtubs as a swimming pool when we were wee ones....many many years ago. We also used oil drums for horses..don't you just love it when things start popping out of the ground!

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  23. I see that you have been busy! (and so too has mother nature)

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  24. Well hello to your awakening plants! Your garden has been almost as busy as you and the Muscle. Do enjoy your visit with your family. I know they will be impressed with all of your work. Love, love the washtub!

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  25. Hi Catherine, I hope you received my e-mail about you being the winner of my book giveaway. Just notify me with your mailing address and I'll get it out to you. Congratulations!

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  26. You're on your way...ah, so nice spring. The washtub is pretty cool.

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  27. hi catherine,
    your garden looks wonderful with all those springflowers.i like marsh mariegold and the red helleborus.
    great found!!!!
    have a nice time in your garden,
    hugs regina

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  28. When I had my Samoyed and would brush her, I would put all the fluffy white dog fur out all over the yard. In a matter of hours, not a strand was there. There were many very luxurious bird nests in my area. Seeing the photo of the little bird with a beak full almost brought a tear to my eye. Thanks for the memory.

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  29. I love this time of year when everything is begining to pop up all over the place and the garden looks different each time we go out!
    I love that galvanised bucket you found :)

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  30. I loved looking through the photos and comparing where we are right now and where you are. My Ribes sanguineum started blooming in February and are still going. I can't grow peonies here, so it was fun to see your progress there. My crocus are done, as are most daffs, but muscari plunge forward.

    Speaking of plunge, I've had tough luck with galvanized heating the water too much. Maybe you won't have that problem up your way. I took my big antique-junk shop wash tub and planted carrots, mesclun mix, and butter lettuce, oh, and watermelon radishes, and they're all doing fine, but I lined the tub with bubble wrap for insulation.

    Sending love to you and I am on the stuffing of last 10 envelopes for the the Grimy Hands Girls' Club. Heck, I need an assistant now that I'm a president.

    XX
    S

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  31. So good to see your garden coming to life after all the recent weather. Your magnolia looks very promising, how exciting! Glad to see the peony survived the move. As for the large tub, I vote water garden! :)

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  32. I vote water garden in the big tub. .super cool!!

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