Friday, March 15, 2019

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up March 2019: Signs of Spring!

March 2018 Garden
Welcome to my March garden. With the vernal equinox just five days away, the garden is finally starting to show signs of spring! This has certainly been one of the most unusual winters the northeast has experienced in a long time, with higher than normal temperatures throughout most of the season, followed by periodical blasts of temperatures in the single digits. Our first significant snowfall just occurred eleven days ago on March 4th with approximately 3-4 inches of snow, which you can see lingering in some areas of the garden. For the remainder of the month, the temperatures are supposed to be above normal.
A Silent Snow
To start the tour, in a more sheltered portion of the property sits one of my favorite statues of a young girl and her kitty, an addition to the garden which I will always treasure. In the March garden she is surrounded by the lingering snow.
Hellebore Lenten Rose 'Merlin'
I am finally seeing some Hellebore blooms. The buds failed to open throughout January and February, and a few finally started to open now in March. We never got the snow to insulate the plants and with the periods of severe cold, the buds stayed tightly closed.
Hellebore Lenten Rose 'Shooting Star'
Once the temperatures rebounded, I trimmed off some of the severely winter burned foliage, which helped to spark the blooms. There is such a delicate balance that exists with nature.
Hyacinths Emerging!
The Hyacinths started coming up before the March snow and appear to be well on their way...
Sedum Foliage
and Sedum 'Brilliant' is showing some of its perfectly rounded mounds of rosette foliage.
Birds Preparing for Nests
As spring approaches, the birds have been exceptionally active in the trees on the property, especially near the Weeping Pussy Willow, where they tend to congregate and perch on the upper branches. Nesting season is on  the way!
Pussy Willow Catkins!
One of my favorite first signs of spring are the catkins on the Weeping Pussy Willow, that grow larger by the day, until they explode into little bundles of golden pollen. 
Morning Teatime
Here is the latest addition to the garden. My dear husband saw this while he was out shopping near the end of February, and the moment he saw it, he knew that it had to have a place in our garden. He said it reminded him of the two of us sharing a morning cup of tea/coffee. After 36 years of being married to a gardener, my husband finally gets it!
Oriental Skyland's Spruce and Coral Bark Maple March
Let's venture around to the front gardens. Here is Golden Oriental Skyland's Spruce and Coral Bark Maple 'Sangu Kaku'. Even though we didn't experience the snow that triggers the redness of the bark of the Maple, the cold temperatures did the trick. I always admire how the bark of the tree seems to "glow" alongside the Oriental Spruce. 
Daylilies Emerging!
The Daylilies are emerging! The Daylilies are emerging! This is a sure sign of spring on the way!
Back Perimeter Garden March
The nice part about going through a milder than usual winter is that the evergreens are not showing any signs of bronzing, and I am not out in the garden removing broken branches like we had last year. I am hoping that we don't experience any late season snowstorms like we did at the beginning of last April.
Nellie Stevens Holly Berries
Even the berries on the Nellie Stevens Holly are looking exceptionally plump and bright this year during the month of March.
"Turkey Tail" Bracket Fungi
While walking around the winter garden, I ran into this unusual formation that is growing near an old decaying tree stump in the back corner. It is not something I planted, yet very intriguing. It is known as Turkey Tail Bracket Fungi, named after its structure. I think I'll leave it right where it is!
Structure in the March Garden
The 'Star Magnolia' in the back bed is forming buds for spring. At this time of year I also like to focus on the structure of the tree and the evergreen foliage that surrounds it.

Back Shade Garden
Here is a closer look with a little whimsy thrown in. The Leucothoe axillaris behind the statue wintered very well this year and I just gave the garden statue a new coat of paint, even though it is only in the 40's outside. Do you think someone is just a little anxious for spring?
Garden Gal
Last, but not least in the outdoor garden, is garden gal with her basket of black Mondo grass. Winter comes and goes, and this perennial perseveres. 
Christmas Cacti Round Two!
Moving to the inside blooms, I couldn't resist sharing this Christmas Cactus going through its second bloom. It usually blooms once, but this year I am getting a bonus display for March! Even the Amaryllis which has already bloomed, is getting new leaves coming up out if it. There's nothing but foliage right now, but I am wondering it it will have a second bloom as well. If it happens, I will certainly share!
Phalaehopsis Orchid
Have you ever bought an orchid from a super market? I just did. They were too beautiful and healthy to pass up. Wish me luck!
Phalaehopsis Orchid
Here is a closer view of the beautiful blooms. From what I've read, this particular variety is supposed to be easier to maintain and will bloom longer than other species.
March Garden~Thanks for Visiting
I hope you enjoyed your stroll through my March garden. Please feel free to stay a while and catch up on some past posts and perhaps visit my author page (link below). There's also a tab at the top of the page, called My Gardens, which will take you on an adventure with yearly highlights of each month in the garden. Special thanks go out to our hostess Carol at May Dreams Gardens, who makes it possible to see blooms on the 15th of every month with her meme Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. Also, special thanks to Pam Penick at Digging who has hosted Foliage Follow-Up for all these years, a meme I will still continue to honor. I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Floral Friday Fotos, Macro Monday 2, Mosaic Monday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf, Nature Notes at Rambling WoodsDishing It & Digging It on Sunday with Angie the Freckled RoseImage-in-ing weekly photo share every Tuesday with NC Sue and Gardens Galore Link Up Party every other Monday with Everyday Living. I am also happy to join the Homestead Blog Hop on Wednesdays.
~As Always...Happy Gardening! ~

Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening,© Copyright 2010-2019. All rights reserved.

33 comments:

  1. You have a wonderful garden and I think in sring it`s look amazing. I like your two frogs :)) They are so funny!

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    1. Thank you Simona. I enjoyed your spring decorations. Pansies are always such a welcomed bloom for spring and you are displaying them beautifully!

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  2. Such beautiful hellebores! I was excited to see the day lilies emerging in my garden - so much so, that I waded in and divided them. There will be day lilies this summer in borders where before there were none! Your garden looks beautiful with, and without snow.

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    1. Thank you Sarah. I have been out in the garden a few times this week as well. Thank you for sharing your photos of the prestigious Chelsea show. I am a huge fan of foliage myself and especially like the Tom Stuart-Smith display that you showed.

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  3. I enjoyed my stroll through your garden today, Lee. Such wonderful textures and shades of color. Still snow here -- can't see any buds on my hellebores. Love your 'Merlin'. P.x

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    1. I am glad you enjoyed the stroll Pam. Thank you for sharing your wonderful photos of the Philadelphia Flower Show!

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  4. Yes indeed! I enjoyed seeing your garden. Love the Hellebores! I like the frogs with their cups of coffee. I have never try to grow orchids - hope yours does well!
    Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!

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    1. The garden is getting there Lea. As soon as the temperatures warm, all the flowers will come! I enjoyed your weekly barn photo!

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  5. I love the hellebores! Such a beautiful garden!

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    1. Thank you for your kind words Shelly. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

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  6. Oh, the anticipation of spring's arrival is palpable in our gardens. Your space always looks so well tended and lovely. Love your husband's find, perfect for you!

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    1. We're getting there Peter! You have a lot going on in your garden and it looks like spring has sprung three! I love the galanthus, hellebores and crocus. Happy almost official spring!

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  7. Beautiful garden!The two frogs are fun and cute!Hugs!

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    1. Thank you Louca. Everyone gets such a smile from the frogs. I love your flowers and china, and the teacups are beautiful!

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  8. Che bella la Picea orientalis! È un albero che ho sempre desiderato! In combinazione con l'acero è perfetta! Complimenti!

    Ti auguro una buona serata :)

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    1. Thank you! They are two of my favorite trees for color and foliage. I enjoyed getting a perspective of you garden on a slope. Nature can be very destructive and you have accomplished so much to make your garden beautiful.

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  9. Love seeing this, I am anxiously waiting for signs of life in my garden right now!

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    1. Thank you for stopping by and visiting my March garden! I enjoyed your post and I love your use of the greens to add a living touch to your decor. Have a wonderful week!

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  10. Things here in Middle Tennessee are just now starting to come up. We are working on blooming trees now but my hosta is just now popping out of the ground. Love FLOWERS.

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    1. Spring is on the way Pam! I can't wait for the explosion of blooms! Have a great week!

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  11. Lovely orchid, Lee. You're right it's easy to maintain indoors. The only problem is to not overwater it. I often water my phalaenopsis once a two weeks.
    Your March garden is ready to spring, your favorite girl with her kitty is on the snow and her feet are bare :-0
    Happy GBBD!

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    1. Hi Nadezda. Thank you for your orchid care advice. I got one of those special open orchid pots for it with a saucer and have been watering it every other week.

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  12. Hellebore are such beautiful flowers - love your spring garden!

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    1. Thank you Carol. I love them and am always looking for new varieties. They are often hard to find, so I grab them when I see them at the local nursery!

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  13. Lovely splashes of red but I love those frogs. So cute!

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  14. You have a lovely garden and I am so happy you shared at Dishing it and Digging it link party. You are one of the features at this weekend party.

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    1. Thank you Vanessa for your kind words and for featuring my gardens! I look forward to your posts.

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  15. Joining you from Nature Notes. A fabulous tour through your March garden. My Dad always liked to say that you can tell a good garden at this time of year, because it looks just as beautiful with mostly "bones" showing. I know he would deeply admire your garden!

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    1. Oh how you just made me smile Angie! Thank you for visiting and for your kind words. Also, thank you for hosting Nature Notes!

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  16. We are still in winter mode here so this was a lovely visit to spring....Thank you Lee...Michelle

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    1. Thank you for hosting Michelle. Your photograph of the mother deer with her fawn is beautiful! I am hoping spring temperatures come for you soon.

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  17. Your early spring garden is looking good. It is so fun to find those first blooming and emerging shoots. Happy GBBD.

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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!