My intentions are good, really. There
are things I plan to post about. I take photos. Then the gull-wing doors come down on the
DeLorean ... the 'flux-capacitor' whines out ... and I'm transported through time to a month ahead -- again. I know I'm dating myself with Grateful Dead phrasing and references to +25 year old movies, but I
am feeling a bit "Twilight Zone-ish"!
Don't get me wrong; I've still been going nuts over gardening the last 4 weeks.
Pinterest is feeding the frenzy, filling the brain with instant images of 'garden righteousness'. Maybe it's this goofy weather? We got walloped with snow a mere 2 weeks ago -- and then my heart stopped beating when I looked out my window and
saw ....
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| PJM Rhododendron - laid out flat by heavy snows |
This is my ongoing 'cage match' with Mother Nature -- I keep insisting I
must have an Azalea or Rhododendron in my gardens. Mother Nature puts me in a headlock, and says "Nope, I don't think so Blondie!" This is Azalea/Rhodie plant
#3 in my gardening "career", with hope -
this is 'the charm'? Good ole "PJM" does have some chutzpah, though! After a snow melt a few days later, at least the branches were standing upright again. So there may be hope.
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| Plant #1, many moons ago ("Very Cherry" Azalea) |
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Plant #3 - 'the early days' of innocence
(Don't ask for #2 - apparently there is no photographic evidence there was one?) |
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| PJM - the 'Gravy Years' |
Ok, enough cry-baby whining. Here's a little 'window walk-about' after the snows 2 weeks ago. It really was pretty:
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| Vicary Golden Privet & 'Hakura Nishiki' Dappled Willow - under lock n key |
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The neighbor's "Little Miss Kim" Lilac, under thick snow cover.
(Hey, I look at this as part of my "extended" garden - beyond the border!) |
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| An open invitation to rest and stay awhile - even if it's just a bit nippy. |
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| And last but not least, the silent "Snow Sentry", waiting for Spring. |
That was 2 weeks ago. The last two days it was in the mid-60's, but it was hard to tell with the 45 mph winds?! (Really, no joke.) I hear rumor that Day Lilies are up - but I'll have to take a walk this weekend to see what
IS up? Next week will be a Spring teaser, with warmer temps. and less wind. But it is time to just sit on my hands (to stop the nervous twitch) and remember that the 'planting season' starts
after Mother's Day.
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| Ode to Spring - 2012 |
Come on Spring!
©
We've been getting horrible winds, too. Not fun. Just keep getting inspiration until time to plant. Your rhododendrons looked gorgeous. I hope the snow doesn't hurt them permanently. Plants are pretty tough. Soon you'll be looking outside to colorful blooms and warm sunshine!
ReplyDeleteHolley - I am chomping at the bit to get started! The Rhododendron branches bounced back (thankfully); hoping it thrives this year. Love the ideas of a yard full of blooms!!! :)
DeleteHey Blondie - you need a heater in that bird bath! I know just the place for you to buy one!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - I bet you do! BTW, there were a couple of Morning Doves having a sip from the birdbath just moments ago (Yay, almost-Spring!)
DeleteThe winds here are terrible and we had snow yesterday, with more today. It seems like winter finally came our way. Our weather has been the same with the few odd days of warmth. I do like your window walk photos of the snow. To windy to go outside.
ReplyDeleteDonna, hopefully we are done with snow (we can hope) and can go out to enjoy all the 'early risers' in the garden (without looking like "Nanook of the North". Day lilies are up, but this year would be a good one to plant Hellebores and Snowdrops (I need more 'early Spring' gratification).
DeleteI have a dwarf rhododendron, one of the 7 dwarfs, mine is called Dopey! It has taken a lot of bashing, both from snow, wind and passing cats - for some reason all of the cats in the neighbourhood seem to want to climb over the fence right where the rhododendron is placed. Perhaps being a dwarf it is a bit more robust? Hope you succeed with yours but if you are thinking of getting another, mine has had a happy home in my garden for 7 years :-)
ReplyDeleteHelene, Great idea about the 'dwarf' Rhododendron. If "PJM" doesn't make it - I will look for a dwarf replacement. (7 years is an awesome accomplishment - I aspire to that kind of longevity for PJM.)
DeleteA freak ice storm killed my rhodies a few years ago. All I have left is tiny shrublet that rooted off the main plant. I think it was trying to escape. I'm terrified to ever move it for fear it will immediately die out of sheer spite.
ReplyDeleteAnd I thought it was just me!!! These kind of heinous tragedies should not happen to cool gardeners like us! That 'dying out of sheer spite' - it's such a relate-able fear!! (BTW, thanks for visiting and 'following'!) :)
DeleteI wanted your snow for quite some time because we have not had much of a winter this year, but now that the blooms are beginning I suppose I want to embrace that. I hope spring comes soon for you...
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit embarrassed about my griping! This week is over-the-top wonderful, with temperatures predicted to be in the low 70's for at least 3 days! All of a sudden the Day lilies and Paprika Yarrow have gone nuts, and that's only as far as I can see from the back windows. Tomorrow, I venture out with the camera!
DeleteShrylene, I hope your spring will soon put snow into distant memory! If not, I would put on a snowsuit to enjoy your lawn furniture! It seems that everyone else is enjoying unseasonably warm temperatures. I can't imagine waiting till Mother's day to plant. After Mother's Day hot summer arrives here, and it's too late to plant anything except oneself in a cool pool!
ReplyDeleteDeb - snow seems like such a long time ago, though the March heat and April cold has me (along with the plants & animals) all confused. I'm hoping May is just "normal"?!
DeleteShyrlene, I know what you mean about reminding yourself repeatedly about when planting season starts; it's easy to forget in this crazy weather. (It was in the 70s today in Maine!) I have been taking advantage of the early spring weather to get a headstart on spring clean-up activities. It gets me out enjoying the weather and keeps me from even thinking about buying plants to put in. I hope your rhododendron #3 is the charm for you. -Jean
ReplyDeleteJean - I was skipping back to previous posts and caught your comment (as well as Deb's). The weather is just nutty, and I give up guessing what it's going to be like?? March was in the 70's and even 80; now April has been 50, with clouds and crazy winds? They say this is the 2nd time in record-able history that IL has been warmer in March than April. It's also been very dry, they say semi-drought. I'm very glad it's raining today; so are the plants. :)
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