Cleaning tasks this morning included pruning my heather. Unfortunately, I planted this heather about 10 years ago, and didn't know it needed fairly sharpish pruning every spring. When I did finally realize, my hips were making gardening difficult, so it still didn't get done. Now that I've done it twice, I realize I've probably lost the interior of the plants. It's a strange plant to have in a northern Illinois garden anyway --it starts blooming in late November, which is not an ideal time to enjoy flowers in the garden. Here it is in the photo below, just pruned. It appears mostly dead. I'll probably give it another year, to see if some of that will recover.
After trimming back the leaves from asters, Siberian iris, and day lilies, I found quite a few green tips poking out. These little yellow crocus are always up very early, and in fact all this growth happened overnight. Yesterday when I looked at them, you could just barely see green tips poking out of the ground. These are also the first to get eaten by the rabbits, of course. It's pure luck I got a photo first! :-)
The clump of snowdrops in the woods that Rob photographed a few days ago has expanded and emerged more fully. I also found several smaller clumps in places I didn't plant them, which is great --a sign they've seeded over the last 10 years.
So after the clearing and photoing, I staggered to the porch on shaky legs and took a selfie. It's windy out today, and I was left a bit windblown :-)
I hope all avid gardeners will get a few warms days this March to enjoy being outside again!
I love snowdrops! We have crocuses that come up first in our yard every year but they having shown themselves yet. Soon I hope. I'm itching for spring.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos, all four of them. I have zero blooms in my yard so far- and probably won't for some time- so the sight of such color is good for my heart today.
ReplyDeleteI got a few good hours in on Sunday. Love those Crocuses. Isn't it funny how you can lose all track of time while doing a chore like spring clean up? And afterwards I always feel content.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that the weather has cooperated for your spring break! I remember many years--though that was before I had much of a garden--we'd have a warm week before or after, but spring break always seemed to be rainy or cold. Nothing like some garden clean-up to take your mind off everything else. Hope the rabbits don't find the crocuses--love these cheery plants!
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ReplyDeleteIt is so encouraging to see the gardener out enjoying her garden!
ReplyDeleteI love your crocus photo. We had a few yellow crocuses poke their heads out last week, but then when it got colder again they closed up. Just yesterday I spotted one of my purple crocus plants. Time to get out the Liquid Fence and start stinking up the neighborhood.
It feel so good to get out there and garden, knowing that soon the garden will be springing to life. We had a stretch of really warm days and I spent as much time outside as I could. I love the deep yellow of those crocus. :o)
ReplyDeleteWe have exactly zero crocus plants at our house, but I enjoy some purple crocuses on my drive to work. With what little ability I've gained in standing and bending, I've managed to clear out the dead leaves/stalks from the irises so I'll be able to better enjoy the new blooms this spring.
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