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!)

Whoa – hey. My eyes are squinty! What’s happening? — Hold on, I remember this — could it be?… It IS! THE SUN’S OUT!!! Everybody up and at’em! Let’s go! Just look at the sun glinting on the (brandnewly working again after years of not!) North Garden fountain! The Daffodils will surely not be long now! And check out what else is blooming – in the Rose Garden – wee Tulipa ‘Johann Strauss’ looking a little chewed (oh deer!) but so so sweet.