Monday, March 16, 2009

There are a Couple of Tulips Growing...

...but they're not more than 1 1/2" tall.
There are a few daffodils growing, but they're not over 1" tall.
There are a few other (Fall-planted) bulbs growing...
but nothing flowering, as yet.

Oh! I am so excited!

This is what I found today.

More little, bitty, early crocus.
A few muscari (grape hyacinth).

You will enjoy (as will I) these blossoms when they open.

But, for now...
this will do!
:-)

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

There is HOPE in them thar leaves! Spring has sprung. :)

Iowa Victory Gardener said...

Hi Shady,
I found my first crocus today amongst the Snowdrops... so the rest can't be far behind! I'm amazed you have tulips and daffs up already and muscari in bloom? Ours haven't even greened up yet and no tulips or daffs....

I also discovered the first shoots of one of our new peonies coming up... how's that for early?

troutbirder said...

Oh yes!!! I have always loved those little grape hyacinths

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Happy Spring...

bobbie said...

Just reading your "3 Days Until Spring" put a smile on my face. Your photos look about like my yard too! I have a couple of very tiny miniature daffies blooming too.

joey said...

Top o' the mornin' to ya! You have more color than I do outside but today will be 65 and I might catch up. Happy St. Patrick's Day! (You would think I was Irish but I'm the only one in the family who isn't!)

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

For some reason, my neighbor, who cannot in any way be called a gardener, has a passel of purple crocuses blooming and I have NONE! Not even foliage! So thanks for sharing yours!

Anonymous said...

I'm doing the same thing as you Shady Gardener ~ checking for signs of life! The bees will enjoy your crocus & grape hyacinths too. Crocus is the only thing blooming in my garden ~ I haven't noticed the grape hyacinths yet?? Happy St. Patricks Day!!!

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

Your crocus look so pretty popping up through the leaves. Your muscari is ahead of mine, I can't wait for them to bloom!

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

Wonderful! My Crocuses have all started blooming too. They are just delightful, aren't they?

Pat said...

Yay!!
Almost spring. Nice to have spring blubs for that kick-start we need.

Shady Gardener said...

Grace, It's really almost here! I pushed a few leaves around this afternoon and trimmed the dead plant stalks... It felt GOOD!

Nutty Gnome said...

I think we must be a bit ahead of you heading towards spring - my daffodils are in full bloom, the grape hyacinths are out, the snowdrops have all but finished and the crocuses are drooping abit now! So many 'things'are poking their heads through the soil - pity I can't remember what I planted where!!!

Shady Gardener said...

Hi IVG, Guess what little plants are growing out in those raised beds? Your Monarda! I planted one Jacob Cline, if you remember and was discouraged as to its size. It's growing, too! Yea! :-)

troutbirder, Yes... this one lone grape hyacinth has been joined by another. The blossoms haven't opened yet, but they will! (Provided it doesn't freeze first.)

Thanks, Lisa! Happy Spring to you, too.

Hi Bobbie. Well, you know what the first day of Spring means... not a whole lot when you're talking about the weather. Ha. But, it's an Awfully Nice Feeling no matter what. :-)

Shady Gardener said...

Joey, I'm assuming you wore green all day, yesterday?? ;-) Every fall I cover all my flower beds with about 4" of leaf mulch. Today I raked about 3/4 of the mulch off the beds, freeing the daffodils, etc. to grow... yet leaving enough mulch for the snow we can still receive through mid-April. (These late snowfalls don't last long!) I'm assuming your "outdoors greenery" is coming along?

Monica, My real crocuses aren't blooming yet. I love that dark purple, don't you? (You'll have to ask for her secret... that will flatter her!) :-)

Shady Gardener said...

Kathleen, my only little grape hyacinth that was ready to open will never be able, as my dog ran over it. :-(

Catherine, see my comment to Kathleen (!)

MMD, Absolutely. These crocus are just the very small, very early ones. My others are en route. ;-)

Patsi, Yep... even though I know we can have snowfall through mid-April, they're usually fairly light and don't last long. :-)

Nutty Gnome, You really are a bit ahead, but it gives me something to look forward to! :-)

Christine and FAZ said...

Of all the spring bulbs I think grape hyacinth are my favourite. Christine

Kerri said...

Every little bloom brings us closer to spring, doesn't it? Your crocuses are so sweet. I can't wait to see mine opening their petals.
I love the grape hyacinths too.
We have sunshine again today so I'll go out later and check for more signs of life :) There's a cold wind blowing though so the air is not warm!

Gail said...

my dear shady...Your sweet crocus are perfect and the grape hyacinth is delightful! Spring is no longer just a date on the calendar but is really happening in your garden! I love the little golden crocus you have...do you know the name?

gail

Shady Gardener said...

Christine and FAZ, Thanks for stopping in! :-) I hope to soon be able to show you some special hyacinth that haven't begun growing yet!

Hi Kerri, I'm not sure if I commented about this anywhere else, but I usually put about 4" of oak leaves (as mulch) over all the beds in the Fall. Yesterday I took about 3" off the top of most of the beds. It was good because there were things Growing under there! :-)

Gail, I wonder if I can't find the name of these crocus? I'll look around. They are so, so sweet! :-)
And, I think, they may be my only crocuses growing right now...

Anonymous said...

Gotta love those grape hyacinth. The ones we planted last fall are blooming now. Our tulips are about 6-8 inches tall, no blooms yet though. Don't you just love spring?

Anonymous said...

I enjoy the look of bright spring bulbs popping up through the fall leaves. The yellow and white crocus look so pretty, flowering in the garden as little bouquets. I added some 2 toned Muscari last fall, so I can't wait to see them next to the other Muscari and compare them.

Shady Gardener said...

Chad and Brandy, Enjoy Spring? Yes, Indubitably! ;-)

Northern Shade, I'm raking, raking today. Some of the yard and the accumulated leaves around the edges, but mostly I'm taking the top 3" of oak leaf mulch off the beds. (I'm leaving almost an inch, just in case we receive a little more snow!) :-)
The little muscari above is actually two-toned. Dark on the bottom and a little light "fluff" on the top! I can hardly wait until it actually blooms, and I'll look forward to YOURS! Yea!