Around the garden in VA

12 years ago

This crazy spring weather is beginning to concern me. Bloom is running nearly a month ahead of where it was at this time last year! I'm worried that the Regional tour date ( June 30) will find most of the blooms spent. Hot weather over the last part of March pushed the bloom season for spring bulbs into fast forward mode. The daffodils literally burned up and only a few varieties of late bloomers are left.

First are a few pics taken a week ago when there were still a few bulbs blooming:

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I took this pic last week to show my neighbor's dogwood beginning to bloom - the local Dogwood Festival is scheduled the last weekend in April. Doubt there will be any dogwoods left by then!

Looking across the Blue Ridge last week:

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Fast forward to today. I noticed the heucheras looked like they did last May - just strange.

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Here's entrance to garden:

Out back, early spring clematis blooming and cinnamon fern fronds are unfolding.

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Back yard today - daffodil foliage going down quickly - nothing blooming.

Back fountain bed - haven't cut fountain on yet until the pollen dies down a bit.

Tree peony 'Rimpoh' already in bloom - first bloom is almost always in early May.

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Heucherella 'Sweet Tea':

Richard Greyfuss pretending to be submissive so I will feed him:

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And I'll close with a pic of daylily birdbath ( or it sorta looks like a dogwood too) after I'd just cleaned it. It only stays clean about 5 minutes with all the maple and tree crud that is flying around in the air!

No iris blooms yet but have seen a few scapes. Roses are showing buds too. What a crazy spring! Wonder if people will see daylilies blooming on any garden tours this year?

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Comments (14)

organic_kitten
12 years ago
Everything looks beautiful Floota, all of your beds are no neat and clean. I am frantically weeding, but but everything is blooming too fast. The iris have started blooming. I have scapes on at least 25 daylilies now...A few minutes ago, found scapes on three more that didn't have scapes this morning. I can't believe it. Maybe there will be rebloom.
kay
mantis__oh
12 years ago
The heucheras look great. I'm surprised they can take what appears to be full sun. We've returned to normal temps here, and next week will have some below normal. A beautiful background setting of the hills!
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avedon_gw
12 years ago
The weather is crazy, and one can only wonder just what will happen in the future if the heat persists. Your heucheras look wonderful to me, I'm eaten up with envy, for ours died years sgo, didn't like the conditions here. What a beautiful birdbath--mosaics are so pretty. Richard Greyfuss is such a cutie, love him. Avedon
newyorkrita
12 years ago
It is just so very, very beautiful in your garden. Love the grey kitty.
Prettypetals_GA_7-8
12 years ago
Oh my goodness Floota, it all looks gorgeous!! I love the heucheras too. I am trying to add more and more every year because they look so good in the shade garden. What looks strange about them to you? I couldn't tell anything was wrong with them. Richard Greyfuss looks quite studly as always. Judy
floota
Original Author
12 years ago
Hi,

Thanks for all your comments. What seems so strange is the fact that all the plants - especially the heucheras - have put out all this new spring growth so early. They usually aren't this size until May. All the heucheras/ heucherellas,etc.at the entrance get only about a half day of sun. There are a few that get almost full sun but they do prefer part shade here.

Last week, Richard Greyfuss was mad at me. Here he is looking furious.

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Here's why. This stray cat ( whom I feel so sorry for and feed when he comes around) was visiting. Greyfie doesn't like him at all. I call him Fluff Bunny.

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Sorry, way off topic!
organic_kitten
12 years ago
I love the angry Richard Greyfuss picture. And the stray is adorable. What pretty cats! It's okay to be off topic since the topic plant isn't supposed to be blooming yet!
kay
avedon_gw
12 years ago
I'm really glad most people on this Forum don't mind going off topic. We all seem to enjoy the pictures of animals. I love your cat photos--Fluff Bunny is a pretty one, but I understand Richard Greyfuss being upset---hey, this is my house!!! Avedon
newyorkrita
12 years ago
I love Fluff Bunny. Greyfuss is just going to have to get over his snit. This is going to be an early spring in much of the northest what with the big warm spell a few weeks ago. My tulips are just starting to bloom here and I know it is early for them.
Maryl (Okla. Zone 7a)
12 years ago
What a beautiful area you live in. You certainly have contributed to the beauty with all of your plantings. I look at my garden and I'm envious. It's gotten so warm so fast here that only Superman could possibly get all the chores done to date. My garden looks a mess. Apparently you and Superman are on a first name basis......Love the cats. Our little rescue from a Walmart Parking lot in 1999 is also nicknamed Fluffy Bunny. She's the queen bee around here, and as Rita said, the others just had to get used to it. Your Fluffy is too pretty to remain a "stray" for long...Maryl
Julia WV (6b)
12 years ago
Very nice pics. Hope things slow down a bit for you as it would be a shame to have a garden tour with little bloom.

Julia
Nancy
12 years ago
Your garden is beautiful, & such a pretty setting. I like your heucheras, the Sweet Tea I am not familiar with. Mine are all looking good already too, just an amazing year. Great photos of Richard Greyfuss & Fluffy Bunny. I love the off topic items as much as I do daylily talk, I'm glad folks on this forum aren't nasty about it like some forums.
Waitforspring
12 years ago
Floota,
Your garden looks beautiful--so immaculate. Love your heucheras. Wish mine looked half as good.
Val
Prettypetals_GA_7-8
12 years ago
Well that makes sense Floota about the heucheras. I think mine are usually alot slower filling out so good but mine look gorgeous right now. Everything is a good two to three weeks early except the daylilies, they are a good month or so early. Had my first one open today. Love the mad Dreyfie pic. Sooo funny! Our four legged fam members crack us up! Their personalities are just amazing sometimes. Love Fluff Bunny too.

Around the garden in VA

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