Today In the Flower Beds - April 23, 2012

SNOW!  Yup, I said snow, in April!  After all the warmer than usual weather we've been having!

I'm not overly surprised that we would get snow this late in April, it does happen fairly often, I remember one April, while working as a nanny, we got many snowfalls in April, none of them amounted to much and none of it lasted for very long, but it happened.  Just like today!  But I think some of my plants might be a little surprised by the weather!  They have been growing like it's the middle of summer and are now hiding in the snow!

Bachelor Buttons

Dwarf Purple Irises

"Hello, look at me, I am still here!"  Grape Hyacinth

Alliums

Rhubarb.

Hyacinth.

Snowy Tulips

Daylilies.

Despite the snow and cold, there is finally some growth on my favorite clematis!

 Giant Alliums.

"Don't mind us, we'll just stay  under here until the snow melts!" Sedum 

"I don't think today is a good day to open!" Daffodil

I don't think I have ever seen Asiatic Lilies and snow at the same time!!! 

Winter Wonderland

As my flower gardens sleep under a blanket of snow, I find myself thinking of, longing for spring.

While it is at least three months before I expect to see new life in my flower beds and four and a half months before I can think about planting seeds in my vegetable garden, I am already thinking, planning, researching.

I have my Vesey's seed catalogue, with pages and items already marked for when I make my order.  I've looked back over what varieties I ordered last year to determine which faired best in my soil and location.

Tonight, we will eat the last of the garden carrots and potatoes from 2010, making me long for spring planting even more.  I have been thinking about what new items I can add to my garden this year.

I am planning which perennials will need to be divided.  What new ones I would like to find to fill in spaces.  Even thinking about the possibility of a new flower garden along the front of the house.

I've been thinking about my shade garden.  I am determined to get it done this year.  I've been putting it off for too many years.

As many of you are enjoying skiing, snowboard and snowmobiling in this snow, I dream of spring when the snow will melt and my crocuses, freshly planted this past fall, will grow and bloom, signalling the beginning of my gardening year.