Vernal Equinox: March 20, 2021 5:37 am.
Spring officially arrived this morning in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’ (Tete-a-Tete Daffodil)
After a week of severe weather warnings here on Thursday we saw only light rain showers on a day that sadly brought damaging tornados nearby and across the region.
I managed only a couple hours of cleanup this week but it was satisfying to measure a bit of progress. A delivery of mulch scheduled for mid-week is a huge incentive to get busy weeding today.
Narcissus ‘King Alfred’
In fall of 2018 I layered tulip and muscari bulbs in a big blue pot. Last year a few tulips surprised me with blooms but muscari foliage was the bigger surprise. It never died back last summer, nor over the winter. So there is a tangle of leaves with little flowers now beginning to open.
Muscari ‘Armeniacum’
Muscari ‘Armeniacum’
After the winter a crinum lily is lifted way above ground. I read it should be planted with soil up to the neck of the bulb, which it was, but like my daughter who couldn’t tolerate turtlenecks as a child, the crinum didn’t like being restricted either apparently. Is the solution to dump more soil around it? It is already growing new leaves. I also read these bulbs could grow to 20 pounds so getting the planting right early on is important.
Crinum × powellii (Crinum lily)
I have tentatively identified a mystery plant in another pot as Matthiola incana (Stock). I think I pulled it up last fall by mistake and temporarily potted it until I could get back to it.
Matthiola incana (Stock -Giant Imperial Blend)
There is a very small clump of anemones starting to flower. Even one of these richly colored flowers is impactful when added to little bouquets of summer snowflakes and daffodils which I have been happily sharing with neighbors.
Anemone De Caen ‘Mr Fokker’
Some of the Liatris spicata ‘Blazing Star’ planted last year but enjoyed only by the rabbits have begun to emerge. The Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’ is waking up. Spiraea seems very late this year but a few flowers have begun to show.
Liatris spicata ‘Blazing Star’
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’ (Lil’ Ruby dwarf Oakleaf Hydrangea)
Spiraea prunifolia (bridal wreath spiraea)
The hellebores continue to open and now the garden is looking more colorful when viewed more than six inches away.
Helleborus x hybridus
Helleborus x hybridus
Helleborus x hybridus
Before I finish I must mention I am haunted by the recent tragedy in Atlanta. Please keep in your thoughts the Asian women who were targeted and murdered this week. Amidst such suffering in the world we must find a way to bring compassion into our hearts.
Helleborus x hybridus
Thanks for stopping by. Wishing you a productive and exciting spring!
pbmGarden 
Gorgeous daffs and anemones!
Thanks, I never tire of either.
You are having such a beautiful Spring. I really enjoy all your flowering bulbs. We have very few flowers, as everything is starting all over again from the freeze.
It is nice here but cold today. Must be disappointing for you but hope things quickly recover Judy.
It’s a busy and beautiful garden you have there, and for sure compassion would make this a better world.
Thanks Judy!
I’m glad Spring has arrived with a flourish there, Susie. Your hellebroes never cease to impress me.
The expensive hybrids are attractive but the unnamed ones are the ones that have bulked up to make an impact. Some people dislike how they seed around but I’m trying to catch a few new plants every year.
That is quite a group of lovelies! Guess you are getting revved up to garden.
Trying to at least. I’m thinking about it more than doing! Hope to change that soon.
You go, girl
Happy Spring Equinox Susie. Your garden is looking very pretty – love the anemones!
Thanks Cathy. Happy Spring to you too! I marvel at the anemones. Didn’t plant any this year.
King Alfred daffodils and (formerly common) grape hyacinth! How rad! They are still the best. With all the fancy modern cultivars available, I miss the classics. I just acquired grape hyacinth that grew from bulbs that I tried to eradicate for years. I am now pleased to grow them again, since they are so uncommon now.
What a beautiful spring garden you have… The Hellebores are lovely , perhaps it is our climate, but mine never look that healthy..so a joy to see yours. I absolutely agree with you .. the world needs compassion and empathy.
Thanks so much! Each year I appreciate the hellebores more and more. They’re early and last so long. May your life be filled with compassion.
Glad the terrible storms missed you, Susie.
So nice to see your garden all a-flower… happy spring!
Thanks Eliza. Happy Spring to you!
Green buds on the hydrangea and spirea flowers, spring is here! So nice to see, and those hellebores are putting on quite the show! Here I only just trimmed the old foliage away yesterday and hope to get the last two today. Your crinium looks like it plans on being a monster. How exciting!
That crinum does look like it has plans! Hellebores look so much better once old foliage is trimmed. I used to be afraid to remove it, thinking the leaves protected the flowers from cold. Happy Spring!
The anemones are gorgeous! You have quite a few things blooming and about to bloom. We’re starting to bloom here in the Upper Midwest, too, which seems early. But I’m OK with that. Happy spring!
Beth, I’m happy your spring is unfolding now too. It’s a huge boost to see little signs of regrowth.