Suite101

Earliest Spring Blooms


© Barbara M. Martin

Jan 29, 1999


One of the first bulbs is snowdrops, lovely glistening white gems just perfect springing up through a bed of plain green ivy or scattered along a grassy bank. Austerely elegant, a simple yet rich note, a quiet yet strong statement of joy.


Soon come the diminutive snow crocus, so often in delicate shades of moonlight yellow and ghostly blue or pearly white. These understated children of the ice grace the spring lawn in colonies nearly as wide across as I can reach.

About the same time or maybe a bit earlier, the tiny iris reticulata pierce the ground and shoot upward, easy to miss with their wiry linear foliage. The blooms are spectacular, reminiscent of orchids, a heavy flowering. Though they last but a day in the vase, the show resounds in the garden.

The witchhazels are a dream, each with a slightly different scent hanging on the air just waiting for a whisper of breeze to wend its way along to a neighbor. Some, like "Jelena", sound a brash brassy note in the spring palette; others like "Moonlight" offer a softer ethereal look. The young shrubs are so ungainly, but I'll forgive them that for their scent.

Pussy willows, those raffish children of the woods whence I have banished them for their habitual ugliness and pestitude, are near to bursting with goodliness. For this endearing ability, this memento of wondrous sensation in the heart of every child alive, I keep them. I hope there are some close to you.

Daffodils are coming along, but to me they signal a whole new burst of lively spring, the real push from the earth. For the moment I'm satisfied with the twitterings, the hint of what's to come.

Related Links to Enjoy:

  • Late winter/earliest spring in a cottage garden on the north edge of London

  • More ideas for late winter earliest spring bloom from Gothic Gardening

  • Interactive Winter Border

  • How You Can Have Stunning Displays of Spring Bulbs Use this to plan for next year.

  • Winter Blossoms From the Outdoor Garden

  • What are we talking About? Offical Names and Common Names for Spring Bulbs

    New Cottage Gardening article every week!
    ALL COTTAGE GARDENING here

    DOZENS MORE SUITE101.COM GARDEN TOPICS here

    Looking for Basic Gardening Help? Check out the GARDEN PRIMER -- A Special Event right here at suite101.com!

    • Go To Page: 1


    The copyright of the article Earliest Spring Blooms in Cottage Garden is owned by Barbara M. Martin. Permission to republish Earliest Spring Blooms in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

    Post this Article to facebook Add this Article to del.icio.us! Digg this Article furl this Article Add this Article to Reddit Add this Article to Technorati Add this Article to Newsvine Add this Article to Windows Live Add this Article to Yahoo Add this Article to StumbleUpon Add this Article to BlinkLists Add this Article to Spurl Add this Article to Google Add this Article to Ask Add this Article to Squidoo

    Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages
    9.   Feb 2, 1999 7:32 PM
    I remember, when living in Canada, the joy of seeing the crocus pushing through the melting soil. Helleborus etc are Winter flowers here, followed by the Camellias. Can you believe I still have one ...

    -- posted by Gay_Klok
    8.   Jan 31, 1999 7:58 AM
    The other day on the news someone actually said, "...and the drying trend will continue, with showers for next couple of days."

    In winter around here, 'showers' means good weather! ...

    -- posted by mica
    7.   Jan 31, 1999 7:24 AM
    Hmmm sounds a bit like England ....and zone 8, too!

    I find it hard to believe anyone would miss the scorching hot summer; well, maybe a week or ten days would be okay just to remind us what it's ...

    -- posted by Cottage_Garden
    6.   Jan 31, 1999 6:44 AM
    Barbara, I'm guessing your question is, "Can you appreciate spring if you don't get a real winter?" --and let me tell you, the answer is YES!!

    This is my sixth winter in Vancouver; before th ...

    -- posted by mica
    5.   Jan 29, 1999 6:29 PM
    They really do flower right through the coldest months.

    My hellebores have buds, but they are just emerging - it will be a while before I see flowers. ...

    -- posted by CarolWallace



    For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Barbara M. Martin's Cottage Garden topic, please visit the Discussions page.


    about us • limelight blog • writing jobs • careers • press room • site map • terms & conditions • privacy policy • suite101.de