Phlox-y Lady

Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata)

It’s 47 degrees outside in my Connecticut garden. March was a record 9 degrees warmer on average. April’s obviously not keeping up her end of the bargain.

Okay – there was no bargain. April’s supposed to be chilly and damp (May flowers and all that). It’s me who’s cold. I’ll just have to suck it up and put on a jacket and go outside.  Then I’ll forget all about the temperature and get lost working in the damp earth – that’s the zen of it all.

My wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) loves this weather. The plants come and go in different spots; this year they’ve taken up residence next to the decaying compost pile on the side of the house (no stooges, these phlox, seeking out rich sustenance). They’re also blooming near our brook, under a once-proud pussy willow that toppled in a storm. It’s since tried to make a comeback, although I’m not sure how successfully.

Ah! My weather widget tells me it’s 49 degrees. A practical heat wave. I’m off to find my jacket, the damp spring earth — and my zen.

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Double flowered daffodil

For a while I was sure these daffodils were going to come and go, disappearing quickly into the warmth of an early summer.  But after temps above 70 in Connecticut we’ve moderated, and are back to spring weather with cool days, overcast skies and chilly rain. It’s been great for the daffodils, which are blooming in the garden now (with more to come).

This is a double flowered narcissus (Christmas Tree Shop, half-price after season sale).

Back to Happy

Depending on which botanist you talk to, there are between 40 and 200 different daffodil species, subspecies or varieties of species and over 25,000 registered cultivars (named hybrids). That’s according to the American Daffodil Society.

Whoa. I’ve got a lot of pictures to take. lol.

I had wonderful light yesterday morning for these daffodil pix. (Although I’m a bit competitive with my husband and won’t tell him how I got the black background) And I figured out I can include a slideshow. So I’ll be doing more of that.

I’ve also switched back to the first template — it’s much cheerier. Thanks for all your comments!

 

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http://www.daffodilusa.org

Crocus tommasininanus

Crocus tommasininanus — take a close look and you’ll see tiny bits of pollen on the petals.

I changed the look of my blog today. It’s a dark background, which highlights the photos. What do you think? Too stern? Easy to read?  One of the fun things about blogging with WordPress is that I can easily change styles — kind of like changing shoes. (uh oh…)

Crocus – Day 2

So delicate — this crocus tommasinianus roseus was waiting to open.  I love the veins drawing their own tiny design in the petals, and just a hint of the bright orange-yellow stamen inside.

 

 

February Snowdrops

It’s February and snowdrops are blooming in my Redding, Connecticut garden. These are Galanthus — in Greek that means milk flower. What a great name; the color is as soft as milk, with two green spots visible on each side. I love how close to the ground they grow, clumped together as if warming themselves against the winter snow. Only there’s no snow; the snowdrops are early — they should bloom in three weeks or so. But I’ll leave our climate conundrums to others…and for now just enjoy the wonderful color of my early spring garden.