In the garden on Sunday

The temperatures were up into the 50s on both days this weekend. Despite clouds and wind, the sudden whiff of Spring was a huge boost to my spirits and sent me outdoors with a camera (uh, phone). This sudden change in the weather also makes it easy to observe the pattern of snow melt in the garden. What I discovered as I wandered around snapping photos is that I've planted a number of early bulbs in locations that are going to be among the last spots to be covered with snow.

Looking southwest across the width of the back garden

I put the bulbs where I wanted to see them in the spring without thinking about what early spring looks like in my garden. March tends to be a month where we typically get one — if not more — serious snowfalls. So I should have at least one more chance to study these patterns and to record where the snow disappears first and last in my garden.

Looking south across the depth of the back garden

Even though they are composed of gravel, the paths across the back of the garden and through the area most heavily planted with perennials were still snow-covered Sunday afternoon. The same was true for much of the front garden as the photos below show. That black plastic milk bin is my attempt to keep critters away from a little shrub I transplanted last fall.

I'm not going to cut back Epimendiums, Hellebores or the dried remains of Hakonechloa grass for a few more weeks, unless there are long term signs that winter is over. My birthday is in early April and too often it is a cold and snowy day, so I am trying not to think about Spring any more than necessary. 

The last weeks of winter are always the hardest because we're so close if you only look at the calendar. But those of us who live where we have real winters, know not to rush the season no matter how much we'd like to. The bed in the photo below is at the top of our new rock wall. It's where I planted early daffodils without thinking that this is the north side of the house and that bed will be in a cold shadow for quite a while longer.

Despite my rather gloomy comments, there was enough green to be seen to get me excited. Arum italicum looks great even though it's been buried under the snow until just a few hours before I took its photo.

I love the bright green of the foliage of the Digitalis plants that wintered over and will bloom this year. But until it flowers I am not sure which variety it is.

My double-flowered Snowdrops are starting to push up.

Last year they did not make an appearance until March 10.

Galanthus 'Magnet' is much further along — or at least up much higher — than the Snowdrops shown above. That really surprises me as the double-flowered ones are against the house whose reflected heat seems like it would have pushed them ahead. But that's gardening, always something you didn't expect to see staring you in the face!

Comments

[Jason]

You still have quite a bit of snow, ours has entirely melted. Of course,it's not too late for a snowstorm or two.

[Linda from Each Little World]

Jason — We tend to get a snowstorm mid-March right around the time of the state basketball championship games in Madison!

[Amelia]

I can't wait to see spring, the garden layout looks great.

[Donna@GardensEyeView]

Your garden looks like mine and you are a bit ahead...we still have cold weather this week so no spring yet.

[Lisa at Greenbow]

These pictures look cold. Brrrrr, such brave plants peeking out from under the snow. Isn't it exciting.??.

[Linda from Each Little World]

Lisa and Donna — Back into the low 30s this week and up to 4 inches of snow forecast for tomorrow. The usual March madness!

[Linda from Each Little World]

Amelia — You can really see the layout at this season when there are ​no leaves on the trees and the pond is all white. Our garden is really composed of many little gardens in between the paths and fences and the house. That made it easy to work on one spot over the years until now we're mostly done planting the big areas. Now it's all about maintenance and dealing with dying trees.

[Cathy]

Sorry you were not able to put a vase together today Linda - but how nice to have a walk around your garden. Lots of interesting areas although from what you say they will all be covered by snow again tomorrow!

[rusty duck]

Gosh, that was a quick melt! Great to see things starting to emerge though. They give us hope, especially if there is more of the white stuff to come.

[Les]

Some of our worst (and wettest) snow storms have occurred in early March. Though today was lovely, high in the upper sixties, red maples blooming, and I saw my first Osprey of the season, fresh from its South American vacation.

[Erin @ The Impatient Gardener]

Wasn't it fabulous to see a sign of spring this weekend? I know it's short-lived but it felt wonderful.

[Peter/Outlaw]

Sometimes, I miss living in a real winter area as snow on the ground for months is so bright and lifts the spirit but around this time of year when spring is already in full tilt here and there's still snow to come at home, I'm grateful to live here. Snowdrops are such a blessing and a reminder that spring can't be far off!

[Linda from Each Little World]

​Peter — When the weather is like it is this morning (March is coming in like a lion!), we all think about moving to the PNW!

[Linda from Each Little World]

Erin — ​The temps for next week look high again. We shall see.

[Linda from Each Little World]

Les — March is coming in like a lion: snow and freezing rain and dropping temps. Ugh!