Are your daffs and crocus starting to show green?

I noticed today that my daffs are poking up. Naked Ladies are too and it's waaay too early for them.

Wow. My Naked Ladies are almost knee-high right now. They're so beautiful this time of year, when the foliage is healthy, and there is a lot of moisture to support the growth. They look like enormous daffodil foliage.

Lori

... still waiting for my crocus to begin blooming in my front lawn... a couple days of nice weather, and they'll be ready. Unfortunately, we've received 2 inches of rain in less than 24 hours, and may get more before this storm passes.... soon.... soon.

Moby, I can't believe all of the activity you are seeing in your garden. You must have some good clear sunshine and some protective walls to make it more like a 7b garden!

Sounds like everyone is seeing a bit of green or even better. I have been out searching in the underbrush for some new pips, but nothing yet besides the allium, a few crocus, some budding daffs. No eremurus or any of the other exoticas.

T- I can believe it ~ this has been the warmest January on record for us. It's been consistantly 20 degrees higher than average and one day last month we had 69°. It's been fantastic but not for the garden.

Look - Fern Leaf peony starting to bloom

My first hyacinth in the back yard - This bunch of Splendid Cornelias always blooms first.

More daffodils

Thanks for bringing us some spring Steve! My fern leaved peonies are just red pips at the soil surface. Mine always bloom a little after the daffs and hyacinths. I did find several more daffs, crocus, and things that for the life of me I could'nt remember what they were. It was mild out Wednesday so I finally got the last of the leaves out of the beds and mulched up-that's when I found more pips. I'm starting to think I suffered a head injury in my bulb planting frenzy and amnesia has set in! LOL
Neal.

Wow, Steve! I love the fern leaf peony! Is that one Rubra Flora Plena do you know?

I have tulips in bloom! (forced 'em in the fridge but they are still very welcome!)

One thing I vow to do this spring is get a load of mulch brought in. We spent too much on flowers last fall, and we had to use chopped leaves and a few bags of regular mulch where it was absolutely necessary. But looking at your pics, I WILL be mulching all the beds this year. It just looks so nice, not to mention that it helps keep the weeds down.

I checked the Naked Ladies and nothing happening. No bulb activity whatsoever, thank goodness. Moby, I think tabasco is right about your 7b garden. I'm only about 30 miles from you.

That could be ~ my back yard is very protected with lots of shrubbery.

Nice picture, Steve. Glad to see that the transplanting didn't hurt the plant!!

Maxine

Some of my crocus are blooming, half a dozen hyacinths are poking through and there are lots of daffodils that are up anywhere from just a bit to 8", none blooming yet.
I was taking this picture of the crocusses in front of our kitchen window (from inside) when a squirrel came and pulled up one that was just emerging out of the ground, chewed off the stems and devoured the bulb. I tried to scare it away, but failed, so I took pictures. It was so quick, it looked like he had done it 100 times before (and considering I planted several hundred new crocusses this year, I really hope that's not the case).
I went outside afterwards, picked up the pieces and put them in water, I don't know if they'll still bloom or not.
I've never seen then dig up a growing crocus before: has anybody had experience like this? Any suggestions?

Here's the squirrel with the crocus right after he pulled it out of the ground.

That's wild! Love the pic of the thief, but sorry he's munching on your crocuses (croci?).

I'm hoping all the acorns from our oak trees will keep the squirrels satisfied and they won't discover the crocus I planted last fall.

Noticed a few Snowdrops blooming today!! Daffodils still only up 2-3", which is surprising considering daytime temps for the last few weeks have been in the 50's-60's.

Shimer, I have tears for you and your crocus! But great pics, nevertheless!

Breezy--what's your Zone?! You're so lucky! t.

I'm in Zone 7 - probably 7a since I'm somewhat close to the mountains.

In 2001, I planted over 200 crocus in my front lawn. I've yet to see one in bloom. I know they are coming up because I see the leaves. I blame the squirrels and I go out of my way to feed them too!

One year I put out unsalted peanuts in the shell for them. Guess what? Next thing I know I've got peanut plants growing all over my garden.

I declared war when they ate through two of my bird seed bins. I went to galvenized trash cans. They learned to pry the tops off. I came home one night and was walking up my back steps when one, who had been munching in the bird seed, jumped up in front of my face. Almost gave me a heat attack. I put a big rock on the lid. They rolled it off. I moved up to a cement block. So far so good.

How can something so cute be such a pest. Oh, wait, I had a husband like that once.

LOL!

I know what you mean about the squirrels and crocus. They made breakfast out of mine last year so I only planted a few this year.

Put them in little plastic pots buried in the ground covered with hardware cloth. They have green shoots coming out and so far no squirrel damage. So I am keeping a close watch.

I'm not sure crocus are worth all the trouble, but I am determined now to (try to) triumph over the little pests!

I have a feeling our four outside cats manage to keep the squirrels on their best behavior. LOL.

Thanks Gemini and McGlory - you'll have to ask Maxine about the peony - I got it from her in a a trade this past fall! I am not sure what variety it is but it smells nice and the flowers are a really cool dark pink, almost fuscia. I am really impressed that it sent up seven flowers its first year in the ground here. She's a great lady to trade with.

Hi Kbaumle - I agree the mulch brings everything out nicely. I do it for looks and to keep the moisture in! We've had a really dry year here.

Very nice flower you have Moonglow - and I love the squirrel picture shimer :-)

Caught red handed.
Has anyone else tried good old Cayenne pepper powder for temporary protection? I used it (again, so far so good) when I had bits of my favorite moss being ripped up like carpet. I think it was a skunk after grubs.

Thanks for the spring dose, Steve.
Kenton

Hey Kenton - a friend of mine goes through massive quantities of cayenne pepper. She swears by it.
But you must be ever vigilant. If it washes off in the rain, ya gotta replenish it quickly.

I had my worst Sagina rippping happen after a rain...

Thus "temporary!" We don't usually remember what rain is, exactly, around here. For long-term, there are great ideas about protection. Like lying chickenwire in herbaceous beds, etc...
I began growing Fritallaria because I have not had anything touch it, not even slugs. I understand the diggers don't like the tall one because the F. imperialis bulb smells like skunk.

Has anyone had any pest (insect or mammal or otherwise) get their Frits?

I also planted Crown Imperials last year, so I don't know if it worked or not. A friend at work told me his wife puts them in their basement every fall to discourage mice (and swears by them as being effective). I hope they weren't the yellow ones That would be expensive.

Anyway, I only planted six in various locations and probably not enough. Hopefully I'll be able to tell one way or the other if they were effective or not.

I have lots of hyacinths blooming in one of my daylily beds.

The first of the crocus are blooming and alot of the daffs have flowers that have not opened yet.

This is very early for us.

If I remember to get my daughter's camera,I will post pictures.

As far as tree rats go...the only thing that works for me is R&R.Rodent relocation using a haveaheart trap.I have tried everything else.

I'm very surprised that with all the squirrels & chipmunks I have around here, I've never had a problem with them bothering my bulbs. Have had crocus & tulips for the last 10 years with no problems.

Don't know what the chipmunks' excuse is, but the squirrels, perhaps, keep a safe distance from the house/yard because they're major small game animals for hunters around here. In fact, the only time I really see any within close proximity is when the Osage Oranges start to fall from the trees. They love them.

Hey - I finally see crocus, daff's and daylilies starting to pop their little green heads out of the
soil. I'm in zone envy right now with you South Carolinian's getting bloom already (but we'll have
the blooms when your's are all done.)

Its just so wet & gray today! ugh. can't wait for spring!!!!!

I have walnut trees and think that keeps the squirrels pretty happy (though they do drive my DH crazy
eating the birdseed he puts out). My cats are always patrolling so we can have tulips & crocus
here (for the most part.) At least close to the house.

tam

Here's a picture of my tulips (which I forced in the refridgerator):
(edited to explain I did not select this combo - they were a gift from a friend
who bought too many bulbs. they are a mix of "early spring" tulips, with one
rogue w.r.t. size).



This message was edited Feb 5, 2006 6:11 PM

That's a very pretty mix, Tammy - thanks for sharing.

I like the color combination.
Fancy.

credit goes to mother nature or the randomness of the universe or whatever greater power
that you choose.

I'll stick with God. Look at this fine handiwork.

Nicely said, K. beautiful,everyone.

Me 3 :)) God bless all, Margo

I'm constantly amazed by the beautifully orchestrated native landscape as I walk, well, anywhere past the yard, into the woods. A perfection in design I could never hope to achieve myself. So in every leaf, bloom, seed, and bulb and the sun,soil,water, and air around them, I see the Divine. Nature's garden and my own feel like a hug from the Creator!

And before we get into topics we're supposed to steer clear of, the spring bulb update here is they're all covered in about 1" of snow. The pips will all be fine, and I'm kind of glad to see winter acting more like winter. I do have a bunches of lily bulbs in the fridg I was hoping for a chance to plant. Although I planted so overzealously in fall, I'm a bit afraid to dig till things come up, lol.
Neal.