This Week in the Garden – March 22

Now that Spring is officially here, the daffodils, crocuses, hellebores, and more have opened their flowers in celebration!

Miniature Narcissus

The first daffodils to open this week were the miniature narcissus. They stand about six inches tall.

Daffodils

There are several clumps that had opened by today, including some taller varietes like this one. In this shot you can also see Columbine leaves starting to emerge.

Crocus

Last week, I photographed one lonely crocus that had emerged. I found several more around the yard, in two different varieties. This one has more uniformly colored, rounded petals.

Crocus 2

But I really like this other variety, with its variegated leaves, darker tipped, pointed petals.

Pretty Crocuses

I think over the years, critters have eaten some of the bulbs as there really are just sort of random single crocuses for the most part, around the garden. I think it would be neat to plant more of these, and maybe snowdrops in some lonely areas.

Pink Camellia

The pink Camellia is just bursting with beautiful blooms right now.

Pink Camellia Blossom

It is a fairly early blooming Sasanqua variety.

Blooming Stinking Hellebore

This week the Stinking Hellebore started blooming. It’s quite a bit different from the Lenten Rose variety.

Stinking Hellebore Flowers

The flowers are these light green, leafy orbs. I’m glad I caught it this year.

Pretty Hellebores

But I prefer the beautiful colors of the ‘Lenten Rose’ Hellebore.

Dark Pink and White Spotted Hellebore

The blooms in my yard are pretty standard though- typically white, pink, purple, or some combination of the three.

Purple Hellebore

Some are spotted, others are solid.

White Hellebore

Last year I did a whole post just on Hellebores

Light Pink Hellebore

I’ll probably collect seeds again for anyone who wants any.

Blooming Leatherleaf Holly

The other variety of Mahonia started blooming this week too! I talked about the first blooming Mahonia back in early January.

Buds on Trees

Some of the trees, as well as bushes, are starting to swell with buds.

Flowering Quince buds

Here you can see the Flowering Quince are about to pop!

Frozen Hydrangea buds

I also took a closer look at the Hydrangea bushes. Some of the buds look like what I photographed here- brown and possibly frozen.

Hydrangea buds

But others are definitely showing signs of life! I should definitely have some flowers this year!

Harry Lauders Walking Stick Catkins

There are also some buds on the Harry Lauders Walking Stick- just above where the catkins form at the branch. The catkins have really puffed up since the last time I took a photo, seen below.

Catkins of Harry Lauders Walking Stick

Snail

And finally, this little guy. I found him while clearing out one of the beds. He appears a little nervous in this photo, looking at me, but I love the shadow of his eyes on the leaf.

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