January 30, 2019

Coming Soon to a Garden Near You
After the Polar Vortex

crocuses 1

daffs 1

crocuses 2

aconite and squill

crocuses 3

daffs 2

first pollinator

hellebore 1

hellebore 2

hellebore 3

50 comments:

  1. I am assuming these pictures are from last year. They are wonderful, I am glad that you posted them. At least here the sun is out. Of course we aren't as cold as your area, 0 with feels like -12. For here we don't see these temps very often, thank goodness.

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    1. Yes, I just need to focus on something other than the cold, Lisa. ;-) Reassuring myself and others that spring will happen. And it's incredible that these plants and so many others can re-emerge after these extreme temperatures. Stay warm!

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  2. Beautiful hopes for spring. Stay inside and KEEP WARM!

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  3. Beautiful signs of hope! We've been very lucky to have avoided the polar vortex this time around but I feel for those experiencing record low temperatures. Keep warm.

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    1. No records here, believe it or not. But close to records, and nearby Chicago will probably break a record tonight. Time to focus on the next season!

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  4. Thank goodness for the sun or I'd really be going stir crazy. I've got a few ferns indoors and they are reassuring me that spring will come.

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    1. The sun is amazing! I have the south-facing shades open to let in the warm sunlight. Hopefully the furnace and the water pipes will hold up! I'll feel so much better by Friday. This is scary. Take care, Linda!

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  5. The sun is shining here - and my husband is out shovelling. Upstairs in my so-called office my forced bulbs are showing promising growth but there are no blossoms yet. It is a joy to admire your blossoms - even if they did come last year.

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    1. It's very sunny here, too, Pat. But we won't get above -10F today, so no one is outside shoveling. I can't illustrate the polar vortex, so let's move on to spring (in our minds, at least). ;-)

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    1. It helps, Deb. Glad to share the encouragement. Spring will happen, eventually! :)

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  7. I've been wondering how you are. The thing about gardeners, we always look forward to the next season. Stay warm, be safe!

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    1. Thanks, Tina. I've been trying to live in the moment, but today I have to think spring to get through this polar vortex. Still a few winter hikes to come, but at least we'll have more reasonable winter temperatures in a couple of days, and we'll actually be "warm" on the weekend!

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  8. Tough little beauties - thanks for sharing them with us.

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  9. These cheery photos are good for the soul.

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    1. Hey Pat: I agree. There is hope that the winter will end ... before we know it! :)

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  10. Your weather is making our news.. please keep safe and warm.

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    1. We survived the polar vortex. Fortunately (or unfortunately) I was able to stay inside for a couple of days, although many family members had to brave the brutal cold to go to work. All schools were cancelled for several days last week. I had a bad case of cabin fever, and was thrilled to get out when the weather warmed--and it changed dramatically and fast!

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  11. Wisconsin is getting mentioned in just about every national news report we've heard for several days now. I hope you thaw out soon and get a chance to show off another batch of blooms in real time. Stay warm!

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    1. Time for us to fade into the woodwork. LOL. The polar vortex is gone, and hopefully it won't return...ever...or at least not for a few years. Ugh. I'm pretty hearty, but the worries about the furnace and the water pipes and loved ones outdoors are not fun. We've had highs in the 40s for the past few days, which is lovely for February. :)

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  12. Aren't bulbs amazing!??

    Thanks for sharing and stay warm!

    - Lisa

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    1. Thanks! Yes, they are! I can't believe they can survive and thrive after our winters!

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    1. It should be--we might have a few losses, but we had quite a bit of snow cover, which is excellent insulation. :)

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  14. I love your positive thinking, Beth. Last year I had crocuses blooming before the end of February--that's only a few weeks away!

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    1. Wow! It's always wonderful to learn about your first blooms, because we follow a short time later. I wonder when we'll see our first blooms this year?...

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  15. Oh how I can't wait for them to get here!!!

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    1. I agree, Jodi. The polar vortex really gets to me, and when it's gone I want winter to fade fast!

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  16. I know we can count on our spring plants to come back. Your pictures are a treat! Wouldn't it be great if this record cold would kill off those disgusting jumping worms!

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    1. Hi Becky: Thanks! Yes, it would be nice to have the jumping worms disappear. I don't know if we'll be that lucky, but it would be nice. I haven't found any here at my property yet, but of course they're at the arboretum. I know it's only a matter of time.

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  17. Think Spring .. I am also counting down Opening Day of Baseball. ;-)

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    1. I think we're close enough now to at least think about and plan for spring! I'm not a baseball fan, but yeah, that time of year is awesome. :)

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  18. Almost Friday - hope you get to thaw out a bit.

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    1. We made it through, Diana. Still too early to know if any perennial plants perished, but most of my plants are zone-hardy and we had plenty of snow for insulation. So I'm hopeful. It has been quite mild for the past few days, which was a nice change of pace.

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  19. The polar vortex hit you then hit us yesterday. Now the weatherman says it will warm up to 60 degrees on Saturday!!!! I cancelled all plans for that day and will be working in my garden. This weather is crazy.

    Jeannie@GetMeToTheCountry

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    1. That is so weird how much and how fast the weather has been changing from day to day this winter. I didn't venture out into the garden much (we were in the 40s), but just being comfortable during errands and being able to breathe without it hurting was nice. ;-)

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  20. Thanks for the lovely distraction from this brutal weather.

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    1. You are welcome, Jason. Spring is just around the corner!

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  21. When I lived in North Dakota I knew spring was coming because all the giant mounds of snirt (snow + dirt) melted and I could see parking lot. Flowers are a much nicer sign! This too shall pass and in 6 mos we'll all be complaining about the heat...

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    1. True, Tammy. I remember the same when I grew up in Central Wisconsin--they get a lot more snow and usually are a lot colder than we are in the southern part of the state...except when we get a polar vortex. Ugh. I can't imagine living in a place like International Falls or Winnipeg--where "polar vortex" winter weather is normal! It's all relative, as many people have pointed out. Winter weather in which I can breathe is doable for me, although it's my least favorite season. I rarely complain about the heat, and we have many hot summer days here, too. As you know, the Plains and the Midwest get the extremes.

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  22. After seeing Jason's crocuses coming up in his garage, at first glance I thought that those were coming up for you now...silly me! I'm SO looking forward to this spring when I will hopefully see a few popping up in our front beds (from a bargain bag of bulbs I couldn't resist at the garden centre last fall)

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    1. I know--that wasn't very fair of me to tease that way, was it? ;-) I just had to remind myself that the spring bloomers are preparing under the snow and cold top layers of the soil. I can't wait to see pictures and read about your new spring blooms! :)

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  23. Nature's indomitable spirit! There are signs of spring to come everywhere I look. Stay warm!

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    1. Yay! Thanks for the update about spring signs in the South. That's encouraging even for those of us in the North. :)

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  24. Stay warm there! Such crazy weather. My snowdrops have started here in Massachusetts, so I'm sure yours will be soon too with spring on the way before too long.

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    1. Hi Indie: I suppose things are starting to want to poke through under the snow, but we have about 18 inches that needs to melt first. From the forecast it looks like I'll have to wait for mid-March for that. I guess that's just around the corner!

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