Saturday, March 19, 2011

In Search Of Spring

I am on a mission to find spring this year.  Looking out the window I see nothing that would announce its arrival, but on closer examination, it is just waiting to explode!

The buds on the Rhodies are puffing up but gives no hint of that beautiful pink color beneath.


PJM Rhododendron

The fuzzy little buds on the Star Magnolia look plentiful this year after a severe limbing up last fall so we could walk on the narrow path.  I think it will be fine if we control it each year, hate to do this but the alternative is taking it out.


Star Magnolia

There are daffodils, hyacinths and tulips poking through.


Daffodil Itzim


Daffodil Early Sensation

I had a chance to spray my Euonymus Wintercreepter and Rhus Armomatica with a dormant oil spray to control the scale which is always one step ahead of me.


This is my only Hellebore coming up on the north side of the house.  I am redoing this area with a combination of shade plants among the hosta.  I have ordered some more hellebores for planting this spring.


This is how Heuchera Southern Comfort looks now after a winter under the snow.  This is certainly a four season plant in zone 5!

I decided I needed to have a little more spring outside so I headed to Home Depot.







Pansies are quite cold hardy and will survive temperatures below freezing even with a little snow covering them.  However, in my zone, they will not take high heat so do not put them in too late in the spring.

I kept going with this spring theme and brought some indoors - I feel much better about all of this waiting and waiting.

Iris on the kitchen table and purple candles, purple candles?


Tulips on the dining room table



24 comments:

joey said...

All looks grand, Eileen. You are a bit ahead of me but it won't be long now. At lake (still snow on the ground) but excited to get my pansies when I get home. Happy Spring :)

Lona said...

Hi Eileen. Your garden is a little ahead of mine. Those few days of warm weather did help jump start it though. Your Pansies are just the thing to welcome spring. They always cheer me up. I can understand the need to get some spring for indoors too. Flowers do lift your spirits. Have a wonderful weekend.

Balisha said...

We are all looking for spring. Every blog I read says the same thing. After our hard winter...we deserve a nice spring. Your post is beautiful. Balisha

Diana LaMarre said...

Wow, Eileen, you are just bursting with spring! I am assuming those tulips and iris in the kitchen came from your garden....beautiful!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Joey,

I don't have much going outside except the pansies and a daffodil that wants to bloom.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Lona,

Pansies are about all I have blooming outside and these were from Home Depot.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Balisha,

I am feeling enthusiastic after going around the garden today, lots coming up.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Zoey,

Pretty soon but not yet on the tulips in my garden. These were from my local grocery store.

Eileen

Rainy Day Gardener said...

Hi Eileen,
I'm always amazed that when your zone does it spring, it blossoms all at once with an incredible show of color. Here in the PNW the crocus and early daffodils are beginning to bloom, but they're late. We had a rare day of no rain and some sunshine today, I tried to cross as many things from the garden to do list as possible. Hope you enjoyed your day! Cheers, Jenni

Jennifer@threedogsinagarden said...

Hi Eileen, If spring is showing up so nicely in your garden, it can't be long before it moves a little further north. I love your pansies. The indoor bouquets are lovely as well.
P.S. I love the floral print on the dining room tablecloth. Enjoy your Sunday.

BernieH said...

It's coming, it's coming! Not much longer to wait. Love those fuzzy Magnolia buds and your Pansies are certainly adding some cheer. Those Irises and purple candles are just gorgeous ... my favourite colour.

Fishtail Cottage said...

What a great garden post - so happy to see spring has arrived at your house! xoxo
~tracie

Mary Anne said...

Eileen:

It is amazing what is poking through in the garden. I raked for 3 hours, filled 4 bags with debris, leaves, etc. My Heleborous is full of itself.....lots coming up there. So exciting to be on this side of winter................we are almost there! Loved your info today Eileen. I had not clipped back my Hydrangeas and went to do so today.....I already have lots of buds. Can I still trim back? Yikes, don't know what to do!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Jenni,

We have been pretty mild here the last few days, but we are going to get hit again with the cold weather later in the week. Everything is coming up and most plants should be fine.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Jennifer,

We have had a nice warm spell but I am hearing some snow showers and much colder weather later in the week.

That is one of my favorite tablecloths and I use it often during the spring and summer.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Bernie,

Someone told me once that purple is like black and there should be a little in every room. It really does look nice especially with spring colors.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Mary Anne,

I always wonder how I can have so much to clean up when I already did it in the fall.

Some hydrangeas grow on both old and new wood but some grow only on old wood. If you have Annabelle then you can cut them down to the ground, to about six inches. They will then grow up on new stems and flower.

Eileen

Anonymous said...

Beautiful hints of Spring, Eileen!

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Eileen girl : ) WOW ! Your blog is looking VERY SPRINGY : )
I am so interested in your revam p of the garden bed and what other hellebore you will have? I have two new ones coming as mail order plants and I am so excited .. I know they will be small but I will have 12 different ones by then and that is wonderful .. once you get stuck on certain plants .. well youknow what that is like ! LOL
You have great expectations with those wonderful buds : )
Joy

CanadianGardenJoy said...

P.S. Monday morning here .. and we have heavy wet SNOW .. talk about discouraging Eileen .. I am trying to just focus on all the wonderful plants I have snapped up to brighten the garden with ? LOL
Joy

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Pat, thanks for visiting. i love your new white and green look for spring.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Joy,

We got too anxious about spring, snow predicted later this week.

Eileen

Reading Tea Leaves said...

I love the little fuzzy buds on my magnolia ... just waitng to burst forth at the allotted time!

I hope the threatened snow fails to make an appearance Eileen.

Jeanne
x

Indoor Fountains said...

Thanks. Needed that shot of spring after the winter we had (and are continuing to have!).