Dear Beth, wow, that is amazing that these plants are daring to stick their heads out of the soil. Hope when the real frost comes that they don't get all zapped by it.
Apparently others nearby have Hellebores blooming! Mine are in a shady microclimate area that stays a more consistent temperature. I imagine I'll have Hellebores blooming much earlier than normal this year, though. The Daffodils and Grape Hyacinths should be fine. They're mulched and south-facing, so they're on their own! :)
I've never seen this much growth this early before. The Hellebores always have buds in December, but they don't usually bloom until March or April. Since they're starting to unfurl, I imagine they'll bloom in February. All of these plants are mulched with wood chips and Oak leaves. They should be OK. With El Nino, this is new territory for me. It's like we're in a zone 7 this winter.
Yes, they will be cold in the days ahead! I think our winter is projected to be milder than yours because of El Nino. But still, I'm sure we'll have cold days and snow ahead (not until after Christmas). Most of the plants should be fine. I hope I won't lose the buds on the Hellebores. We'll see.
Hi Diana: No snow in the forecast, unfortunately. But we will have heavy freezes for the next few nights. Fortunately, all of these plants should be able to survive, and they're all mulched to keep them insulated. I just hope I don't lose this year's blooms on the Hellebores.
I was looking at Hellebores the other day but only one seemed to have buds showing. Did not think to check the daffs and they get a fair amount of sun. I am trying not to let this worry me!
Yes, trying not to worry here, too. The Daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs are on their own. The Hellebores have a special place in my heart. ;-) They should be fine, but I've never seen them unfurl this much so early. I'm guessing they'll be blooming by February, unless we get a big snowstorm.
Now we're cold again, but more warmth to come. Looks like we're moderating a bit, though. Hopefully, all the plants will stay in "suspended animation" until it's safe to bloom. ;-)
We're seeing the same thing, and I still have narcissus to plant outside because they came so late. I'm going to work on that next week. I hope the weather gets a little bit cooler or it won't feel like Christmas. ~~Dee
At least the ground is nice and warm still for your bulb plantings. It's looking like we will be warm for Christmas--and even more so because we'll be in the Chicago suburbs, with predicted highs in the 50s! That will feel more like Easter than Christmas.
For once I think yours and mine daffodils are about at the same stage Beth! Although I have hellebores in flower too. I wonder if winter will bite back over here, some years this is what we have had the whole winter, but the following spring have often been cool and disappointing so by the time we got to end of June, things were kind of on time.
Interesting. Yes, usually you're way ahead of me this time of year, Helene. I'm hoping the Daffodils know what they're doing. ;-) It could get mighty cold here still this winter. It would be nice to avoid subzero weather (-18C and colder for you) this winter. I hope your winter and transition to spring are pleasant this year.
I am seeing "peeks" too . . , I checked my Helebores but nothing there . . . I must admit, I was relieved. Merry Christmas Beth . . . I guess we will enjoy green instead of white this year. Makes for safer travels!
Yes, it's good that your Hellebores are hiding away. Mine are in a funny little microclimate part of the garden--at the base of a rock wall, near a sidewalk and driveway, and covered with Oak leaves. So the temperatures don't fluctuate as much and they stay cooler in spring and summer and warmer in fall and winter. Good luck with your plants. Enjoy the green! Safe travels! Merry Christmas!
Yes, it was cold here yesterday and today, too. Brrrr... It's hard to take when we're used to milder weather. Then, next week it's back to warmth, just in time for Christmas! I wouldn't have seen mine either, except I pulled away some of the mulch and leaves to check on them ... and promptly covered up the little buddies again. I don't want them to freeze their tootsies. ;-)
Definitely crazy weather we've been having. I saw on the news at noon that they are predicting above norm temps for January as well. Poor confused flowers!
Some of these early bloomers seem especially vulnerable--although they're also very hardy, too, and should be fine. Part of me wants winter to be "normal," and part of me is secretly hoping we can escape the subzero, blizzardy kind of weather this winter.
Yes, we've been cold the past couple of days, too. I hear it's supposed to be in the 50s in the Chicago area for Christmas. That will be weird! We'll be there celebrating the holidays with the in-laws. Enjoy the warmth!
My spring-time azaleas are beginning to bloom! At least they were until the last couple of nights of hard frost we just had. That will teach them! This happens all too often here. Our typical winter weather is a constant see-sawing between freezes and temps as high as the 70s. Plants put out buds, then get frosted. It is tough.
Dear Beth, wow, that is amazing that these plants are daring to stick their heads out of the soil. Hope when the real frost comes that they don't get all zapped by it.
ReplyDeleteApparently others nearby have Hellebores blooming! Mine are in a shady microclimate area that stays a more consistent temperature. I imagine I'll have Hellebores blooming much earlier than normal this year, though. The Daffodils and Grape Hyacinths should be fine. They're mulched and south-facing, so they're on their own! :)
DeleteSo will they get dinged once Wisconsin's true winter face shows? Or do they hunker near to the ground throughout winter?
ReplyDeleteI've never seen this much growth this early before. The Hellebores always have buds in December, but they don't usually bloom until March or April. Since they're starting to unfurl, I imagine they'll bloom in February. All of these plants are mulched with wood chips and Oak leaves. They should be OK. With El Nino, this is new territory for me. It's like we're in a zone 7 this winter.
DeletePoor plants! Winter's coming. Laramie's highways are shutdown by a blizzard -- "indefinitely" according to the Highway dept.
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays!
Yes, they will be cold in the days ahead! I think our winter is projected to be milder than yours because of El Nino. But still, I'm sure we'll have cold days and snow ahead (not until after Christmas). Most of the plants should be fine. I hope I won't lose the buds on the Hellebores. We'll see.
DeleteBeautiful! I hope the weather is kind enough to them over the winter.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tim. We're projected to have a mild winter, so I'm sure they'll survive. But I hope I don't lose the blooming buds on the Hellebores!
DeleteMe too, I really like Hellebores and would like to see photos of yours :)
DeleteIndeed it has!
ReplyDeleteIt has definitely "sprung." Now I imagine it will be in a holding pattern until February, unless we have a spectacular January thaw. Crazy weather!
Deletehope for a gentle snow blanket, not a fierce frost
ReplyDeleteHi Diana: No snow in the forecast, unfortunately. But we will have heavy freezes for the next few nights. Fortunately, all of these plants should be able to survive, and they're all mulched to keep them insulated. I just hope I don't lose this year's blooms on the Hellebores.
DeleteI was looking at Hellebores the other day but only one seemed to have buds showing. Did not think to check the daffs and they get a fair amount of sun. I am trying not to let this worry me!
ReplyDeleteYes, trying not to worry here, too. The Daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs are on their own. The Hellebores have a special place in my heart. ;-) They should be fine, but I've never seen them unfurl this much so early. I'm guessing they'll be blooming by February, unless we get a big snowstorm.
DeleteWeird winter for sure...
ReplyDeleteHope all your plants are fine with this abnormal 2015-16 "winter"...
Now we're cold again, but more warmth to come. Looks like we're moderating a bit, though. Hopefully, all the plants will stay in "suspended animation" until it's safe to bloom. ;-)
DeleteWe're seeing the same thing, and I still have narcissus to plant outside because they came so late. I'm going to work on that next week. I hope the weather gets a little bit cooler or it won't feel like Christmas. ~~Dee
ReplyDeleteAt least the ground is nice and warm still for your bulb plantings. It's looking like we will be warm for Christmas--and even more so because we'll be in the Chicago suburbs, with predicted highs in the 50s! That will feel more like Easter than Christmas.
DeleteFor once I think yours and mine daffodils are about at the same stage Beth! Although I have hellebores in flower too. I wonder if winter will bite back over here, some years this is what we have had the whole winter, but the following spring have often been cool and disappointing so by the time we got to end of June, things were kind of on time.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. Yes, usually you're way ahead of me this time of year, Helene. I'm hoping the Daffodils know what they're doing. ;-) It could get mighty cold here still this winter. It would be nice to avoid subzero weather (-18C and colder for you) this winter. I hope your winter and transition to spring are pleasant this year.
DeleteI am seeing "peeks" too . . ,
ReplyDeleteI checked my Helebores but nothing there . . . I must admit, I was relieved.
Merry Christmas Beth . . .
I guess we will enjoy green instead of white this year.
Makes for safer travels!
Yes, it's good that your Hellebores are hiding away. Mine are in a funny little microclimate part of the garden--at the base of a rock wall, near a sidewalk and driveway, and covered with Oak leaves. So the temperatures don't fluctuate as much and they stay cooler in spring and summer and warmer in fall and winter. Good luck with your plants. Enjoy the green! Safe travels! Merry Christmas!
DeleteToday is our coldest day yet this fall. Strange weathers we have been having. I haven't seen any bulbs popping up thankfully.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was cold here yesterday and today, too. Brrrr... It's hard to take when we're used to milder weather. Then, next week it's back to warmth, just in time for Christmas! I wouldn't have seen mine either, except I pulled away some of the mulch and leaves to check on them ... and promptly covered up the little buddies again. I don't want them to freeze their tootsies. ;-)
DeleteDefinitely crazy weather we've been having. I saw on the news at noon that they are predicting above norm temps for January as well. Poor confused flowers!
ReplyDeleteSome of these early bloomers seem especially vulnerable--although they're also very hardy, too, and should be fine. Part of me wants winter to be "normal," and part of me is secretly hoping we can escape the subzero, blizzardy kind of weather this winter.
DeleteSame here, though today it's 32 degrees, so it seems to remotely resemble what December is supposed to be.
ReplyDeleteYes, we've been cold the past couple of days, too. I hear it's supposed to be in the 50s in the Chicago area for Christmas. That will be weird! We'll be there celebrating the holidays with the in-laws. Enjoy the warmth!
DeleteI'm concerned about wildlife especially native bees that may come out of hibernation too early... Michelle
ReplyDeleteMy goodness our plants are mixed up aren't they!
ReplyDeletehellebores are tough usually, hopefully they'll adapt to changing weather. That first photo is quite magical.
ReplyDeleteMy spring-time azaleas are beginning to bloom! At least they were until the last couple of nights of hard frost we just had. That will teach them! This happens all too often here. Our typical winter weather is a constant see-sawing between freezes and temps as high as the 70s. Plants put out buds, then get frosted. It is tough.
ReplyDelete