It's official. Spring came a month early here in the Colorado River Valley on the Western Slope. As I gathered photos for this posting, I was looking through previous year's photos in May. In previous years, the crocus and iris reticulata bloomed at the end of March according to the dates on my photos. Consistently. That is, until this year! They started popping up in mid-February and, although they have put on quite a show and are still coming on strong, they're definitely a month early.
I love the crocus, and they are naturalizing quite nicely. Usually, we look like Boston does - snow piled high everywhere. It's been such a warm winter that I haven't had any snow lingering in the shady corners of the yard that doesn't melt until late March/early April, although some areas around town do still have some ice in the shady spots. It's disappearing fast, though! I hope this is a fluke winter and not a new normal for us. Granted, the weather got busy and dumped a bunch of snow on the higher elevations, so the ski gods were looking favorably on Aspen and Sunlight Ski Area. However, around here, at 5,700', some dustings, a little rain (love rain!), and that's it.
The crocus/iris reticulata show has been going on for a while, and I've realized that I planted many, many bulbs in years past. Next comes the daffodils, and there are lots of those around the gardens as well. I'm posting some photos from last year, only a few have started to bloom. Maybe next week I'll see more blossoms.
Now, about that giveaway promise in the title, you'll have to follow me under the golden crocus blossom....
I am seeing the anemone leaves pop up too, one of my favorite spring bulbs. I planted a bunch of those in the fall of 2011, and they did wonderfully. Apparently they like to be in a drier location, so well suited for our climate! I like the purple ones and I think I have some white ones too.
The bulbs are tough to spot because they look like little pebbles, so digging them up may be tough. I think I'll take a photo of the entire garden just so I'll have a good idea where to look.
Next up in the spring garden: Squill (also a favorite)...
I have a dilemma, fellow gardeners. When I joined the Arbor Day Foundation, I jubilantly and excitedly checked the box, "Yes! Send me 10 free trees!" What I didn't count on was the two maple trees they sent me. I love maples, don't get me wrong. BUT, big problem. In Colorado, the soil doesn't have the right nutrients (Iron is lacking, as I understand it) and they do well until they are about 15 years old or so. Then they start to fade, and look ragged and sickly until someone takes pity on them and cuts them down. Sooooo, anyone want two small, nice maple trees? If you have the right climate, I'm sure they'll do great. I will ship them via UPS, nicely packed for survival, to your door and I'll pay shipping. PM me your address, and I'll go dig those puppies up immediately and send them to you. First come first serve. It is easy for me this year because there is no snow on the ground and it's not frozen anymore.
Any of you east-coasters seeing the ground yet? Have hope, this snow just can't last forever!