Sunday, March 15, 2020

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up March 2020: Spring Ahead!

March 2020 Garden
Welcome-Spring is on the Way!
Welcome to Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-Up for the month of March! With the official start of spring just four days away on March 19th at 11:49 PM EST, there is excitement all around the garden as plants awaken from their winters sleep. After a couple of days of cold temperatures in the 40's here in the northeast, the trend now is a stretch of upper 50's, bringing in spring at full speed ahead.
Hellebore 'Merlin'
Over the past couple of weeks Hellebore 'Merlin' has made its appearance known with an abundance of deep pink blooms that mature to a deeper burgundy as they age. 
Hellebore 'Merlin'
Did you know that the flowers of Helleborus really aren't petals at all but rather sepals? That is what accounts for their rather long lifespan.

Hellebore 'Shooting Star'
Here is another variety called 'Shooting Star', which blooms much earlier starting in January. Now going on for three months, it's still blooming!

Perennial Border March
Come around to the perennial border. There are definite signs of spring as the border becomes just a little bit fuller with each passing day.
Hyacinth Buds!
Lilies, Allium and spring bulbs including crocus, hyacinths and daffodils are starting to show their foliage and there are buds on the Hyacinths!
Crocus Blooming!!!
Come look! Almost overnight the purple crocus are in full bloom on the front island bed just in time for Bloom Day! They are ahead of schedule in comparison to previous years.

Pussy Willow Catkins!
One of my favorite sights during late winter and early spring are the soft white catkins on this Weeping Pussy Willow.
Weeping Pussy Willow
Here is a wider view with evergreens Gold Mop Cypress and Blue Star Juniper (lower right).

This is My Tree!
Upon the very top of the Weeping Pussy Willow is the "master of the tree"! Every spring there is a battle among sparrows and house finches for occupancy, as it must be the ultimate of nesting sites.

Golden Skylands Spruce
There must be interest in the garden all year long and these colorful evergreens serve the purpose. Here is Golden Skylands Spruce and Montgomery Blue Globe Spruce.
Blue Globe Montgomery Spruce
I have always admired the ease of maintenance of each of these specimens and their outstanding color keeps its vibrancy throughout every season.
Rosemary Blooming
With the mild temperatures this year, the Rosemary plant located in the herb garden has remained a nice healthy green with flowers during most of the winter.
A Constant Combination
Foliage combinations are an important as well. This ongoing combination of Heuchera (Coral Bells) 'Caramel' and Japanese Golden Sedge is a stable in the garden. The only maintenance required is the removal of any winter damaged leaves once new growth appears. There will be little to remove this spring following the mild winter.

Sedum 'Lemon Twister'(Stonecrop)
Let's venture over to the pool garden. This Sedum 'Lemon Twister' was a new addition just last summer. It develops bright lemon-green variegated foliage and pink blooms, but this is the first time I have seen its new pink foliage in spring.

Allium 'Globemaster' Foliage
Allium 'Globemaster' is showing its foliage. Once started, this plant will rapidly produce tall spikes, followed by blooms in June.
Back Island Bed
In the back garden island bed are Hinoki Cypress 'Compacta' and Mugo Pine, along with Palace Purple Heuchera. There are signs of a few new leaves starting to form on the Heuchera. It won't be long now until they start to flush out.

Magnolia 'Royal Star' Buds
The Magnolia buds are forming and growing larger by the day...and Sedum 'Brilliant rosettes are more prominent!
Sedum 'Brilliant'

Spring growth is always a delight as pink highlights adorn the edges of the newly formed foliage on Sedum 'Brilliant'.
Thanksgiving Cactus STILL Blooming!
While the garden is emerging outside, there are still blooms to enjoy inside. Thanksgiving Cactus has been keeping me happy all winter long. It just keeps on blooming!
Indoor Garden

Last, but not least...here is a first time view of my indoor garden south facing windowsill. It gets the perfect amount of sunlight for Jade and those winter bloomers! The Jade tree is over 30 years old. It was purchased some years ago during a ride out east while visiting one of the greenhouses where they grow them. One could say it has become part of the family!
Thanks for Visiting!
Thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoyed your tour of my March 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 FotosMacro 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 Rose, Image-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  and Weekly Photo Link-Up at My Corner of the World on Wednesdays.

Looking for some spring reading?-Visit my Author Page
Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening,© Copyright 2010-2020. All rights reserved.

36 comments:

  1. Gardens are beautiful, my hellebores are just starting to open up. Love the advance view.

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    1. Thank you Karen. I just purchased another variety to add to the collection...Hellebore Champion...pictures coming soon!

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    1. I am so glad you enjoyed them as I enjoy your beautiful creativity every time I visit.

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  3. Le tue conifere mi colpiscono sempre ma devo farti i complimenti per il salice pendulo: mai visto uno così grande!

    Ti auguro una bella primavera :)

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    1. Thank you Gabriel. I enjoyed the view of your beautiful blooms and especially love the Hellebores, Crocus tommasinianus 'Roseus' and Galanthus woronowii. Thank you for the smile today!

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  4. I have those same Allium leaf rosettes - just planted a few last fall. I can't wait! :D

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    1. You'll get a lot of enjoyment from them and they will multiply each year for you. I started with 3 bulbs and now each patch will get around four to five flowers!

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  5. Hellebores never disappoint. Your greens in the garden are glorious. Happy GBBD.

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    1. Thank you Lisa. Your Pussy Willow catkins are looking so nice and fluffy and the Daffodils are so sweet. We got a cold day here too yesterday, but tomorrow it's going back up to the upper 50's!!!

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  6. Lovely yard but that Thanksgiving cactus just blows my mind - blooming all winter?

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    1. It has been blooming since January. Nobody told it that it's almost spring! Have a great week Carol!

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  7. We are also experiencing favorable conditions for spring to kick off after unusual cold weather persisted from some of those last months.Your beautiful shot of Sparrow makes me remember World Sparrow day is near we as a society should do all possible steps to conserve these beautiful creatures.Happy Blooms day.

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    1. All your blooms are so beautiful. I hope the nasty weather didn't do any harm. Now that spring has officially arrived there will be warmer days and lots more blooms to come. Happy Bloom Day!

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  8. Beautiful spring sights! In Finland we have to wait a bit. I loved the frog pair sitting on a tiny bench & having their morning coffee!

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    1. Thank you Riitta. Your photos are all so beautiful and bring a smile. Visits to the garden always bring joy. Wishing you safety and good health. Thanks for hosting too!

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  9. Gosh you have a lovely garden! And I love the little frogs!
    Thanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2020/03/check-out-wienermobile.html. Stay well!

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    1. Thank you Sue! They do bring a smile every time I look at them! Have a great weekend and thank you so much for hosting!

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  10. You are surrounded with so much beauty and those frogs, that's adorable.
    Dawn aka Spatulas On Parade

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    1. Dawn-your post certainly made me smile and your nature shots are both amazing and entertaining at the same time. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a note to say hello.

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  11. Lee - your garden is always a feast for the eyes! We are weeks and weeks behind you, and so it brings me great joy to get a preview of what lies ahead! Thanks for taking the time to link to Mosaic Monday. I am praying that our daily and weekly routines will help us stay sane during these difficult times.

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    1. Thank you for hosting Angie. Your photos of Glacier National Park are amazing and the scene of Oldman Lake is just breathtaking! Virtual visits always help to keep things positive. Stay safe and healthy.

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  12. I needed this, Lee. My garden at this time of year is positively stark in comparison. It is wonderful to get a preview of what will eventually come here. And your indoor garden is as amazing as your outdoor one. P.x

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    1. Hi Pam. I am glad the photos made a positive influence on your day. Your gardens are always amazing, whatever the season! I am looking forward to when all your perennials are in bloom!

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  13. WOW! Such delightful photos to brighten my day!

    Thank you!

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  14. Beautiful shade of red on the cactus. Can't wait to see the alliums maybe next month.-Ray

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    1. Thank you! The Thanksgiving Cactus are doing well this year. Your Hellebore and Magnolia blooms are gorgeous! We have a few weeks here until the Magnolias start blooming, so I'll just enjoy yours for now!

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  15. A thirty year old jade tree! I'm impressed. You have a magical touch. I can't keep anything alive inside of my house - my southern windows are shaded by the porch.
    Jeannie@GetMeToTheCountry

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    1. Jeannie-your flowers helped to brighten the day. The garden gives peace and hope during these difficult times. I loved your photos of Scooter, who finally gave you a smile and the last photo of you sitting in the garden speaks a thousand words. Stay safe and healthy.

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  16. Jade tree is awesome, Lee. We call it 'coin tree' because the leaves look like old coins :-) I also love white catkins, they remind that spring is here. This spring is very early in St. Petersburg, first flowers bloom in my garden.
    They distract from the bad news of epidemic.
    Stay healthy!

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    1. Hello Nadezda. During these difficult times around the world, the garden brings joy. Your Leucojum vernum arising from the ground and other signs of spring brought a smile to my face this morning while reading your post. Let's all try to concentrate on the beautiful things and try to take refuge to the garden whenever possible. I look forward to warmer days and ventures to the outdoors. Wishing you good health.

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  17. Hi, Just dropped by and saw these wonderful flowers and plants. Amazed to see these as most of are virtually none existent and rare in my region.
    Especially the Rosemary - never seen them blooming.
    Anyway Stay safe and Take care during this Pandemic global lockdown - Happy Gardening.

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. I am glad I could brighten your day with some northeastern blooms! The Caladiums are wonderful. We grow them here as annuals and they will last all summer. Stay safe and well...and Happy Gardening!

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  18. Lee I wanted to let you know I put a photo and link to this post in my post, My Wish List for Common Renovations. You're garden is a 4-season northen garden and I think more folks should see it. Thanks ! https://www.comfortspringstation.com/2020/03/25/my-wish-list-of-common-renovations/

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    1. Thank you Carol for this positive post and also for the mention. I always enjoy your inspiring reads, but even more especially during these difficult times. I spend many hours in the garden these days. It is a place of solitude and peace. Stay safe and well.

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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!