Envy is not an admirable trait but I have to confess that at this time of year, when gardeners even a short distance to the south of me are picking daffodils and beginning to smell the roses, I am envious. Here, in Quebec’s Eastern Townships, patches of snow are still much in evidence and where the snow has melted, the ground is soggy, squelching underfoot.
Yesterday, though, my heart brightened when I saw the first crocus in bloom.
Nothing says spring more than yellow crocus!
I agree, these little blossoms are nothing when compared to the swathes of colour I see from gardens in England or British Columbia or states in the U.S. southeast. Or with the extraordinary display of Texas bluebells that I was looking forward to seeing in April, when I was scheduled to speak in Austin. (Check out Pam Penick’s blog here for some fabulous photos of what I might have seen.) Still, even these modest displays say that spring will come, even this year when so many around the world are suffering, sick and dying.
So I rejoice in the crocus and in the snowdrops that are blooming everywhere.
The daffodil foliage just beginning to emerge lifts my spirits.
In the woods, the snow cover is still heavy in spots, but even there it is beginning to melt.
The snow-free spots on this hillside appear around the base of trees and shrubs, sometimes even around piles of leaves which warm up faster than frozen or soggy ground.
Water is pouring over the waterfall, as more snow upstream melts.
So spring is definitely on its way. All I can say is, hurry up, please!
Spring is coming and it will be glorious for you when it does. We’ve had a few 90-degree F (32.2C) days already in Austin, which is unseasonably hot and doesn’t make the bluebonnets happy. I’m so sorry that your Austin talk had to be cancelled but hope you’ll make it to Austin another time. Pam/Digging: penick.net
I also hope a return visit to Texas will happen — I’d love to sit among the bluebonnets.
Lovely Pat!! Thanks for sharing.
Seeing the flowers really raised my spirits during tough times. I’m glad you liked seeing the photos.
Well, Pat, take a look around and note where the snow melts (or melted) first. Why not plant some early-blooming bulbs there? Maybe try some eranthis, or add more snowdrops or crocuses. I am well-familiar with the envy of which you speak, and my cure is to plant more!
I planted several thousand snowdrops last year and the results this year are looking good. I’ve tried eranthis several times, never with any luck. The crocus bloom well in year 1, then peter out if they re-appear at all. But like you, I keep planting!
So glad to see your post. You may be a slowcoach over there but whenever it comes spring lifts the spirits and we need that so much right now. I don’t think it will go backwards? So every day will be new pleasures. Xxxx
Every day, new pleasures. I’m living by that right now. If the warm(ish) weather continues, the ice on the lake will soon be gone. Another two weeks, probably, maybe less. Watching the change is fascinating. The ice darkens gradually until it is almost black. Then, seemingly in an instant, mist rises and sinks, as if the lake had taken a deep breath. And the ice is gone. Magic.
I was intrigued by your use of the term slowcoach since as a North American, I’d say slowpoke. The British expression makes more sense — a slowcoach is a vehicle that moves slowly. But why slow poke? I’m guessing it comes from the verb to poke, as in to poke along and not to hit someone or something with an elbow or a stick, but an explanation in the Oxford English Dictionary suggests it could come from ‘apooke’, a Virginia Algonquian term for tobacco that literally means ‘thing for smoking’ or a slow-burning plant. Seems very unlikely to me.
In Calgary, we are anywhere from two to four weeks behind in experiencing “stuff” out of the ground. However some of the migratory birds have shown up, and the small amount of snow that has accumulated over winter is melting fast and pouring down the storm drains. “It’s a Wonderful World”!!
We’re maybe a week or two ahead of you. Snowdrops about done and a sprinkling of Crocus – and a few Hellebores. Best to you and Norman.
Seasonal agony — sun and lots of spring blooms on Tuesday and Wednesday, rain and snow on Thursday and Friday. Still, the ice on the lake is gone. (btw, the new trellis and edging look good.)
Pat, Things are about two weeks ahead of normal here, and I now have lots of crocuses in bloom, with hyacinths about to join them. Today the native mining bees appeared, buzzing all over my sunny southwest facing slope and making their ground nests for laying eggs. Your daffodils, though, seem to be further along than mine.
Still no blooms on the daffodils. Not surprising since it snowed yesterday. Gr-r-r.