The pace of daily change is accelerating. Each day, I find evidence of plants that are showing signs of life. It is great news considering the deep freeze of December could have caused so much more destruction.
I am beginning to contemplate taking outdoors the tender plants that have spent the winter indoors. I say contemplate because I have not yet enacted that plan. There is no harm in waiting a few more days.
I do have many plants out in the cold frame and I have planted many more plants that I consider hardy.
Now on to the photos. The first is a project that I recently began. After pruning the limelight hydrangeas a few weeks ago, I started this project propagating the cuttings. So far, they are off to a very good start as you can see. They are in potting soil after dipping the lower ends in rooting hormone.
Limelight hydrangea project
The next photo is of some bluebells from the hyacinth family. They are a reliable early Spring sign.
Bluebells
The next photo is a Lenten rose with the seed ovaries quite visible. These hellebores began blooming in January.
Lenten Rose
The next is a Florida anise or Illicium floridanum. It is native to our area and it is a shade to partial shade lover. The red star shaped blooms are very noticeable right now.
Florida anise
The next is Solomon’s seal with its temple bell flowers. The genus is Polygonatum. It looks lily like and thrives in our temperate climate. It has just emerged from the ground this week.
Solomon’s seal
This next one is a beauty. It is a Viburnum macrocephalum that is commonly called a Chinese snowball viburnum. It dropped its leaves at the end of December with the hard freeze. I thought it was a goner. However, it has put on a show like it does every spring for the last 30 years. It is about 15 feet high so I took this shot from the deck where all you can see are the blooms.
Viburnum macrocephalum
This last shot is the fruits of my winter garden. The onion transplants are quickly filling out and the carrots are delicious.
Late winter garden
I hope you are planning and planting like we are here in the American South. Spring is finally here and what a joy and relief it is.
Be sure to join our Six on Saturday group hosted by Jim Stephens. Gardeners from around the world are showing 6 photos from their gardens from this week.
You can find the link here https://gardenruminations.co.uk/.
Happy gardening!!