The weather around here has been very, very Spring-like. This past Thursday, we had a high of 60 degrees. That’s a heat wave here in Michigan at this time of year. Combined with the St. Patrick’s holiday, the weather lured many out of their winter caves and into the downtown area of our little city. Everyone was out enjoying the sunshine on their skin after another Michigan winter. People were being pretty crazy which made me smile. The excitement over the arrival of Spring seems quite contagious.
I checked last year’s posts around this time and saw there was a warm spell similar to this year. That means there is still a chance of getting snow. The forecast calls for a dip in temperatures next Wednesday. This year, I am going to keep the artfully placed leaf mulch (read: leaves I was sick of raking out of the beds and finally left there) untouched until that last winter snap. All the new shoots will be protected from any remaining frosts. This is very hard for me to do since as soon as the snow melts I always have the urge to clean the beds. I must remain strong.
On the Lot, activity has already begun. Bulbs are shooting out of the soil wherever I look. The first, yellow crocus was open yesterday on the East side of the house. The perennials are also beginning to stir. Here are the details:
Just sprouting through the ground:
- Jacob’s Ladder
- Jupiter’s Beard
- Loosestrife
- Columbine
- Tickseed
- Larkspur
- Brass Buttons
- Flox
- Aster
- Burnett
- Chocolate Mint
- Bleeding Heart
- Lenten Rose
- Labrador Violet
- Lady’s Mantle
These wintered over but are not showing new growth yet:
- Cat Nip
- Rose Campion
- Black-eyed Susan
- Pansy
- Oregano
- Lamb’s Ear
- Thrift, Sea Pink
- Foam Flower
- Archangel
- Coral Bells (Autumn Bride & Snow Angel)
- Bugleweed
- Japanese Holly Fern