Every time I walk the propery, I think it just can’t get any prettier. But I have to say, after walking around this morning, the daffodils must finally be peaking — it’s gorgeous out there! I looked back at last year’s calendar and they’re definitely about 2 weeks behind but like a box office smash, this year’s run is being extended. I thought the rain last week would do them in but they’ve popped back up and the forecast is calling for more cool nights (in the 40′s for the week) so they should be in peak for the week (finger’s crossed; kisses to Mother Nature).

In other bloom news, the Autumn flowering cherry is at it again although slightly less floriferous than when it bloomed during December’s warm spell. How cool is a cherry that blooms (at least) twice a year?! (answer: very cool!)

Ever since I found out one of my friends is color-blind I’ve been on a green flower kick. Looking for and enjoying a good monochrome is as close as I (as a color junkie) can get to understanding what it’s like to see in shades of grey. (That and un-Ted-Turner-ified classic films.) I spotted this Winter hazel in the water garden. With so many chartreuses in the spring landscape it’s too easy to overlook little delicacies like these.

According to last year’s calendar, on May 4th, 2006 we were late putting the hoops on the North Garden peonies. Only ever so slightly more on top of it this year, I put the hoops on this morning – probably just in the nick of time. I only had to coax a few buds through the grids rather than smashing the whole plant through. If you are a hooper – get to it! –The peonies are not waiting around! Keeping a garden journal or just writing down a few observations in the calendar helps clarify which plants are day length sensitive and which hold out for the warmer weather.

Remember this guy? Today the same Cinnamon fern looks like this!

Gail and I always choose the dirtiest days to go “shopping”. We set aside Friday mornings in late April and early May to go to nurseries to buy the plants we don’t grow ourselves – and to scout for plants we didn’t know we need… For some reason it seems like it always rains – especially for our first outing which is usually to a wholesale nursery on the island. (that’s Aquidneck Island for any readers not familiar with the local lingo) I don’t think I’ve ever seen this nursery on a sunny day – but that’s ok! The contrast between the monochome of a muddy day and the carpet of color in the houses is so delicious! This wholesaler is not open to the public but their plants are sold to retailers all over RI and MA – I highly recommend a dose of pure color on a grey day. Go plant shopping!

Or come to our greenhouse! Every visitor exclaims over the Orchid Cactus – of course it practically whacks people on the head saying “call me beautiful!” – but there are other beauties too if you can tear yourself away from The Beast (as I affectionately call her). Some are very quiet like this Tellima. The foliage looks a little like Heuchera and the flowers are very delicately scented. And the pitcher plants are looking gorgeous right now - ‘Tarnok’ makes showy veins look like a good thing and the Sarracenia purpurea is blooming! These pitchers are hardy here but for now we are enjoying having them in the greenhouse where we can watch them (it’s easier than squatting in a bog).

On a sunny day greenhouses can be over-stimulating with all the warmth and fragrance and color but on a dreary day they are the balm.

Spring is happening so quickly with this warm weather spell! Everywhere I look here there are things waking up with a stretch saying “mmm… what’s for breakfast?!”. The Magnolia stellata (Star magnolia) is rising with the sun from the top down. The water garden ferns are uncurling (exept for this fuzzy little guy is still tightly tucked) and early bird Hepatica has been up for hours already.

The volunteers have been busy so far this week – Tuesday’s Deadheads weeded the entire Display area and planted the Sweet peas! Sweet peas are the first seeds we sow in the greenhouse and the first annuals we plant in the garden because they thrive in the cool weather.

Today the Rockettes weeded the Rock Garden and uncovered some washed out paths and this afternoon, Gail and I took advantage of the afternoon’s cloud cover to start the North Garden relocation project. (As I wrote that I flashed on an image of jacking up the garden and trailering it to a new spot. We’re not doing that – it’s good where it is!) We were inspired by Fergus Garrett, the late Christopher Lloyd’s head gardener at Great Dixter, to reorganize the plants we already have to take better advantage of their best attributes. I’ll talk more about this as we get more organized! Early spring is a great time to move or divide perennials because they’re easy to handle before they’ve grown too much and as long as you keep them watered like you would a new plant, they’ll settle in before the heat of summer. It’s also best to move plants on a cool cloudy day with rain in the forecast – today was perfect!

What a weekend, huh?! I’ll bet I wasn’t the only one who didn’t get any housework done… But with temperatures rocketted to the 70′s after months in the freezings, summer seems like it might be lurking around the corner and I, for one, don’t want to miss spring! (excuses, excuses…) It’s perfect weather for taking in the Daffodils’ show – and the show must go on!
Narcissus ‘Ice Follies’ are center stage right now: They open yellow and fade to white. The night temperatures are just right for them to stay pretty for a bit as the other divas enter stage right. Cross your fingers that the rain in the forecast (Wednesday) isn’t a beater.

Here’s a spring ephemeral that’s easy to overlook – because they’re everywhere! Go closer — little red maple flowers are gorgeous! (but I am partial to the color orange…)

I was having a Georgia O’Keefe sort of morning and had to put my nose (and camera) right up to this daff (I felt a little embarrassed as if I was looking up her skirt) – I’m not sure of the name but they live next to the arbor in the Display Garden and are very sweetly scented.

Spring has sprung — for real this time! Here’s a few things that have been happening here today: The pumphouse is getting a much needed (and ever so slightly overdue) fresh paint job! Gail and Dan and I cleared storm runoff from the rock garden but it’s still so soggy down there I’m sorry to report that it won’t be open to visitors until sometime next week. boo.

The Cornus mas aka Cornelian cherry is blooming away. This picture doesn’t do it justice! The pale yellow haze against the water and sky is loverly.

Another yellow beauty (besides the daffodils!) showing it’s delicate self is the Erythronium aka Trout lily aka Dog’s tooth violet. These mottle-leaved sweeties are coming up everywhere and blooming today in the North Garden.

And the buzz on blue! The honey bees were out today loading up on the Scilla – and anything else they could get their buzz on. Scary news is honey bees have been disappearing in record numbers in a couple dozen states due to something called Colony Collapse Disorder. I’m so glad to see them still working away here! — Everyone plant more flowers!! We all need the bees!

And here’s what you’ve all been scrolling through to see – are the Daffodils peaking????? Not yet! But there are already bunches out and these sunny days will be all the encouragement they need! (We expect them to be in peak probably *next* weekend — but Mother Nature likes to surprise us! So come when you can — it’s always beautiful at Blithewold!)