Saturday (5/01/2021) the temperature got up to 90°F with high winds and fire warnings. Sunday was better, only 85°F and breezy. Barely any rain this spring so the garden is VERY dry. I started watering yesterday which may be a first. Usually in the spring I am indoors because it's too cool and wet.
The temps had my species peonies opening in one day and their petal being blown off by the wind. Many things are blooming almost two, sometimes three, weeks ahead of last year.
As a result of the odd weather, my potting bench is full of plants, purchases from local nurseries and three groups from mail order nurseries. I decided it is too dry to plant them; in part because then I have to wander all over the garden watering them. Leaving them on the bench means I can water them at once. I'm also planning on re-potting some of the smaller things into larger containers to grow on a while before I put them in the ground; some tiny primroses in particular.
I ordered a number of shrubs online and I had to laugh at the different sizes they've come in; even within one nursery. I pay attention when it gives the pot size when I order, but it is always fascinating to see what they look like once I unpack them.
You can see exactly what I mean lwhen you ook at these four shrubs (from left): Viburnum dilatatum 'Tandoori Orange' (Tandori Orange Viburnum), Salix helvetica (Helvetica Willow), Cornus sericea 'Pucker Up' (Pucker Up Red Twig Dogwood) and Weigela middendorffiana (Middendorf Weigela).
I am pleased I was able to find these shrubs and they all look happy and healthy so the size is not really a concern. The Viburnum is the first one with orange berries; the willow has soft silver foliage; the Cornus is more compressed than C. compressa and grows as a fat shrub rather than columnar. The Weigela, a plant I usually don't like, has the most lovely delicate little creamy yellow flowers with an orange throat. Looking forward to watching this one grow!
Now, if we would just get some rain . . .