Sunday, March 15, 2015

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day and Foliage Follow Up March 2015 - Bring on Spring!

March 2015 Garden
This is not your ordinary March.  March came in like a lion with snowfall on the first, followed by winter storm Thor on the fifth.  With more snow storms than I can keep track of totaling 56.6 inches, record low temperatures and snow still embracing the landscape, spring initially seemed to be so far away.  
March 2015 Snowy Garden after Winter Storm Thor

Female Cardinal

March 2015 Garden Thaw
Then…we set the clocks ahead for daylight savings time on the 8th. It felt like at that moment the landscape started its thaw, with temperatures rising above freezing and into the mid to upper 40’s, as if Mother Nature was saying "Enough already...It’s time!”  For the first time in months the grass was visible again and all that was buried in a blanket of white started to appear.  
March 2015 Garden
Along with the thaw came the wildlife.  A Blue Jay visitor perched on a tree outside the kitchen window and then eight geese landed on our lawn as they were lured in by the only patch of green grass exposed through the snow.  Cardinals, mockingbirds, sparrows and other birds became more visible as they come out of hiding into warmer temperatures to join the juncos.
Blue Jay Visitor
The Canada geese visitors stayed for hours on the property enjoying the only patch of exposed lawn.
Canada Geese 
Determined Squirrel

A very determined squirrel was entertaining as he did yoga stretches trying to get to the feeder for a bite.
March Garden Thaw Heuchera 'Caramel' Reappears

As the snow started to melt perennials reappeared in the garden...
First Sign of Daylilies
and the very first signs of growth from lilies emerged.
Nandina domestica Berries March

First Sign of Hyacinth
The next day the first Hyacinth buds appeared...
Pussy Willow Catkin March
and I was able to get close enough to the Weeping Pussy Willow to see the first real catkins getting ready to open.
Sedum First Spring Rosette Appears
They were followed my Sedum rosettes appearing from the ground.  Each day has been an adventure to see what was going to appear next.
Holly Berries March
Did I mention how much I love spring and all the joy of watching the very first buds sprout from their dormant sleep? I can't wait to see what will appear tomorrow.

Garden Gal Happy!

Spring 2015 Has Arrived!


It was a long wait but spring has finally sprung in my Long Island Garden.  The unbearable snow and cold of winter only made the first arrival of life even more appreciated and I am pleased to share the very first signs of spring with you.  Thank you to Carol at May Dreams Gardens who makes it possible for us to have blooms on the 15th of every month with her meme Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Pam at Digging for hosting Foliage Follow-Up.  I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Creative Country Mom's Tuesday Garden PartyToday's FlowersFloral FridaysMosaic Monday at Lavender Cottage, I Heart MacroMacro Monday 2, and Nature Notes at Rambling Woods.  I hope you enjoyed the transformation. Happy spring (in just five days) or fall to our southern hemisphere friends.

And As Always...Happy Gardening!


Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2015. All rights reserved


48 comments:

  1. Oh how I love the kind of spring you have, where the plants pop out of the ground before the snow has managed to melt properly – it reminds me of spring in Norway. Over there spring lasted just a few short weeks, arrived late and then Pow! Then it was summer. Here in London it is a more drawn-out affair, lasting nearly 3 months with rather cold weather in the beginning of the period. Enjoy your spring garden, have a great Sunday!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is exciting Helene as each day the snow melts a little more and bulbs peek their little buds about the soil. Our climates are different and your garden is so much ahead of ours here in the northeast. I enjoyed my visit seeing all your blooms well underway!

      Delete
  2. What a wonderful pictures of melting snow and new growth popping up. The Blue Jay in your garden is so pretty and the funny squirrel, I know they can be a nuisance but we don´t have them at all and they look so cute.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The wildlife can get a little rambunctious with the feeder being out but I know the squirrels are as hungry as the birds so I am glad for them to be getting fed. Thank you for stopping by and commenting. I enjoyed seeing your lovely winter and summer 'Snowflakes' blooming in the garden.

      Delete
  3. it has been a beautiful winter, if you love snow as i do!! i have really enjoyed it, your images are gorgeous, but i am starting to long for spring!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have to agree that I love the snow while it is coming down as its blankets everything in white....but I am so ready for spring!!! We are finally seeing the bulbs making their appearance here and there are so many more birds in the garden. I had to smile when I saw your geese as we too had a gaggle of visitors!

      Delete
  4. Happy gardening to you, Lee! Wow, you did have so much snow this winter--much more than we had in Wisconsin. I'm glad spring is now making a lovely experience around the country. Happy GBBD!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's amazing that we got more snow than you did in Wisconsin. It was the second year of having an unusual amount of snow for us and we set records for snowfall and cold. Our local nursery opens up in under a week and I cannot wait to walk around it like you did in your post...such fun! Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  5. Loved the tour Lee! I love the surprises that are "peeking" up at me through the soil each day now here in NJ! Thanks for sharing :) Nancy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am glad you enjoyed the tour Nancy and thank you for visiting. Each day the buds get a little higher and new ones appear as the ground is thawing. Spring is a wonderful time for seeing the garden come alive again...each day an adventure!

      Delete
  6. It is amazing how quickly the growth emerges the second the snow is gone. Nature is incredible! I'm confident the spring blooms will quickly come your way. Happy GBBD!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am hoping we are not too far behind you Jennifer. Your beautiful blooms gave me hope that spring is definitely on the way. Happy Bloom Day!

      Delete
  7. The melting snow revealed a beautiful garden in waiting! I love the foliage colors and the evergreens that give your garden character long before the blooms arrive. But those blooms won't be long in coming. Happy spring!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your lovely words. Your photographs of azaleas in bloom really gave hope that spring will be here soon.

      Delete
  8. The snow is still too thick for gardening. But I can see some new life among the snow. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is amazing how once the snow starts to melt how quickly that the bulbs start to break the surface and appear more visible with each passing day. I enjoyed seeing your vegetable garden so lush and green!

      Delete
  9. What a wonderful virtual tour of your garden! It was great to enjoy all the early signs of spring sprouting up! Thanks for sharing! ( http://wanponpopix.blogspot.com/ )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am glad you enjoyed the tour. There will be a lot more blooms next bloom day. Happy spring...almost!

      Delete
  10. A good thing that the snow is leaving...
    What a beautiful Blue Jay :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. More and more birds are visible with each day and now the chickadees, sparrows and blackbirds are back in the garden...and no more sign of juncos. Thank you for dropping by and commenting!

      Delete
  11. Wow you had a lot of snow.. here in my part of the UK we had a little sprinkling that didn't last and that was it.. Spring is well and truly on it's way, it's my favourite time of the year. :o)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You certainly look like you are in full spring mode there. I hope we catch up soon...can't wait for the blooms. Right now I have never been so happy just to see lawn and rain to get rid of the snow! I am on my way over to read more about your garden project!

      Delete
  12. I'm so glad winter is almost gone for another year. You took some beautiful photos though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. I tried to capture the transition from winter to the start of spring and fortunately had some snow melt right before this post.

      Delete
  13. I've still a ways to go before any signs of spring in my Ontario garden Lee. As spring nears and the snow is quickly shrinking, I always hope that will be the end of the snow but then another storm will bring more.
    Thanks for linking to MM.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for hosting Judith...always a pleasure visiting! Spring will get to you soon. There has been a definite change here just in this past week so not too long now.

      Delete
  14. Lee so happy spring has come to you....great last of winter shots. We still have 2 ft of snow...still waiting for spring.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. With your temperatures in the 40's Donna your snow will melt. Once we hit those temperatures it started to thaw very quickly and signs of spring finally started to appear. I hope that is it for the snow...you never know...keeping hopes up for warmer times ahead! I enjoyed your featured flower-always liked pansies.

      Delete
  15. Looks like spring is very close! I haven't seen any green yet in my gardens but I know it comes fairlu quickly once it does appear.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The March winds are at full force today which means the seasons are changing. Spring should be happening for you soon!

      Delete
  16. BEautiful series, what a joy to see the tops of the first bulbs pushing through! Thanks as always for sharing the love up-close with I Heart Macro ♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for hosting Laura. It is exciting to see all the signs of spring!

      Delete
  17. Ahhh, such lovely spring images. They give me hope!! Isn't it amazing how quickly things start to spring forth from the soil? It's a new adventure every day. My gardens are still well buried under snow, but I know spring will come... it always does!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for visiting and commenting Linda. I am hoping you get some spring temperatures soon! Happy gardening...almost!

      Delete
  18. Such a winter you've had! But all those new buds give promise that it is almost over. What a wonderful time of year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a wonderful time of the year and will be even better in a few weeks. Today the temperatures were in the 30's during the day with the March winds blowing...not quite spring weather yet...but I know it will be soon! Despite the cold, the weeping pussy willow tree gets prettier and prettier each day!

      Delete
  19. Lovely to see some spring in your yard. We still have a lot of snow cover here near Buffalo NY.. I am looking to get your book..I don't have a Kindle so I will get it for my IPAD as I am a garden novice...Michelle

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Michelle! There is a free kindle app and the book works great on IPAD. I am sure you will find the information to be very useful. Happy spring....almost...and have fun planning your garden!

      Delete
  20. It's monumental when you can say for sure that spring has arrived! It looks like you are in for some great colors!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are signs Betty; however, March came in like a lion and is going out the same way with 3-6 inches of snowfall in the forecast for tomorrow evening just as spring arrives. The temperatures are supposed to be rising up into the 50's for next week so the snow will quickly disappear and the bulbs will continue showing... bring on spring!

      Delete
  21. There is so much snow, but your garden is rich with lovely creatures and signs of spring!
    --I've come here through 'Floral Friday' and I'm very glad to read your beautiful post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Romi. I am glad you enjoyed the photos. Thank you so much for visiting and commenting. Happy spring to you!

      Delete
  22. A wonderful series, but I've had enough snow already! Tom The Backroads Traveller

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Tom. I'm with you on hurrying spring along. It cannot come soon enough!

      Delete
  23. Great shots, Lee. Wonderful to see the first signs of Spring in so many lovely mosaics. Looks like your lion may be purring every now and then in amongst the roars...
    Many thanks for participating in Floral Friday Fotos!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Nick. Spring blooms are trying to arrive slowly between the roars. Thank you for hosting!

      Delete
  24. A beautiful celebration of Spring!
    Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!
    Lea

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting. I love reading your comments and knowing you have been here, and will try to reciprocate on your blog. If you have any questions I will try my very best to answer them. As always...HAPPY GARDENING!