The Power of Plants

Even though they would far rather have the warmth of the sun to help their petals open up, the floral residents of the garden have let it be known this week that they will no longer be deterred by our cold, damp, gray spring weather. Today was their day to take a stand, spread their leaves, open their petals, and take back the garden – no more waiting for the clouds to give in to the sun. They have shown me the way - encouraging me to join in as they scoff at Mother Nature’s attempt to dampen our spirits. 

Trillium ovatum wasted no time ushering in spring.

FEELING STUCK IN A TIME WARP

I cannot believe that it has been two weeks since my last blog entry! It is true that life has been rather busy with several gardening events to attend, but that just doesn't account for enough time to satisfy this feeling that I must have been transported into another dimension. Why else would I not have been in the garden every single day experiencing plants emerging, leaves unfurling, blossoms opening, and all of the other exciting changes that happen so quickly at this time of year. The weather has been cloudy, rainy, and windy with unseasonably cold temperatures for what seems like a very long time. One day just seems to melt into the next and plants are not advancing at their usual pace. Spring officially began yesterday, but it feels as though both the garden and I have been trapped in a "Winter Weather Time Warp". 

Daffodils buds are slow to pop open.

It Almost Felt Like Spring!

My nose caught a whiff of her before I ever saw a blossom. Daphne odora! It felt so good to be outside in dry conditions with the temperature in the fifties and even a bit of sunshine now and then. For the past month, I’d been looking out the front window at her branches laden with buds whose centers each held a spot of dark pink petals ready to burst forth. I hadn’t yet seen any of them open until yesterday when I ventured into the garden to do a little primping and pruning. When I smelled that familiar sweet aroma, I thought for a moment that it was my imagination - perhaps wishful thinking - so I made a beeline for the plant and saw them – two little blossoms open and producing enough fragrance to reach my nose at a distance of thirty feet. I felt the same rush of excitement that I experience every year when Daphne O. takes the stage and announces her presence.

The Garden's Amazing Recovery

I’m so grateful for warmer temperatures and so are all of the plants in the garden - they are such adaptable creatures. If I were to lay down on the ground looking all limp and shriveled in eighteen degree temperatures overnight, I really doubt that just a few hours of temperatures in the thirties would bring me back to life - not only back to life, but perky with a spring in my step, no sign of frostbite, and a big smile on my face.  But, that is what hellebores do.

After two nights of temperatures at twenty degrees and below, this hellebore appears to have irreversible damage. 

But, as temperatures rise into the thirties, the plant plumps up, coming back to life as though nothing had happened.