The winter is coming to an end but not without one last insult. We will flirt with near freezing temps on Monday night and Tuesday night. Thankfully, I resisted the impulse to put out warm weather plants even though “spring” seemed to have come early this year.
The average last frost for us is April 15 so we still have at least 2 more weeks to go before planting warm weather plants.
There continues to be a steady appearance of new growth and blooms. Here are my photos for this week.
First, here is an Alabama Croton. It has beautiful foliage and delicate spring blooms. It is a native.Second is a colorful Japanese painted fern. It is deciduous but worth waiting for each spring.Third is my spring project. These are cuttings of Dragon Wing Begonias. I keep the original in a cold frame over the winter and protect it over cold spells. Beginning last spring, I have been harvesting cuttings and producing sufficient plants for my window boxes where they thrive.Fourth is another spring project. Here are some reseeded hardy begonias. I am going to pot these up into containers and spread them around the part shaded areas nearby.Fifth is a hosta which has just emerged. This is probably about 3 weeks early. I do not know the cultivar.Finally, here is a poinsettia from 2 years ago. I kept it and managed it and it finally has changed color. A little late for Christmas but still a welcome site.
Hope your gardens are advancing like mine. I hope next week’s cold causes no lingering damage.
Don’t forget to tune in tomorrow for Six on Saturday hosted by Jim Stephens. You can find the link here https://gardenruminations.co.uk
Our “last frost” date is May 5! Sigh. Blanketed with another fresh layer of snow, spring feels so far away! Luckily I can enjoy pictures from warmer gardens! The croton is lovely!
It’s so hard to make comparisons between different climates, Buds killed on Camellias almost never happens here, yet you have Begonias, ferns and Hostas up and away when mine are still doing nothing.
We had a historic freeze at Christmas. The Camellia buds were set and preparing to open. That weather event was the game changer. I will enjoy yours this year.
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