BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 04 Apr 08 - 05:13 AM

Talking of 'rhodies', does anyone know how they sterilise the ground around them, which prevents other plants growing? Is it due to their leaves decomposing or is it something their roots put into the ground? Here in Eire & also the UK, much time, effort & money is spent in trying to eradicate them from conservation areas as they completely take over areas and significantly alter the biodiversity!

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Cats
Date: 03 Apr 08 - 10:32 AM

The real sure sign of spring at last. The first of the 'lost tourists'.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Janie
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 09:16 PM

Mom and Dad (near Charleston WV) planted catawba rhodies forty years ago that now completely cover the north side and the northeast corner of the back of their two story house. They be glorious in May!

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Susan A-R
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 09:16 PM

Lots of wind and a bit chilly today, but the sun is melting the snow. Got another fuel delivery. Bother. Can't wait until THAT'S over. Tomorrow; 40s to 50s and sunny!! It's coming.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 08:45 PM

I grew up in the land of the rhodies--the Puget Sound area. Rhododenron and azalea heaven. They manage to keep some azaleas alive here, but I've never seen anyone attempt rhodies. Some ferns, and I've seen Pierus japonica, whatever that one was in the common name. Andromeda. But no rhodies. The size of a house and such vivid colors. Makes me homesick in the spring. People transplant them when they move, and leave them to people in their wills (I don't know that for sure, but I have a friend who would if she could, so it might happen!)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bobert
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 07:27 PM

Yeah, Janie.... We had a lotta deer damage to our green spires and acubas but they are also coming back... The deer even ate all the leaves off our "specimin" columnal ivy (non invasive so we dug it up and are going to repalnt it closer to the house where the deer usually don't come...

Our Solomon Seals haven't made an appearance as yet but I think we are about 10 days behind you...

We also moved one of our oak leaf hydrangeas 'cause we had it too deep on the woods and it wasn't blooming...

BTW, everyone... Costco has some nice Rhodos fir like $17... They also have other stuff but these come in 5 gallon pots and are nice plants... Okay, a tad root bound but still nice plants... Check out yer local Costco and see if you can find 'um...

Sorry, SRS, they prolly won't survive yer Texas heat...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Janie
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 07:17 PM

The Solomon Seals have broken thru! (The first was again compliments of Bobert). They went dormant early last year and I have been anxiously looking for them, afraid they too had not survived the drought. Lilies are up from 2 to 5 inches, depending on the type. It looks like the old growth on the mophead and lace-cap hydrangeas has died, but new sprouts are starting to appear from the roots.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: GUEST,Springluvr
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 06:02 PM

I feel a bit disappointed that my posts are getting deleted...I really do love spring and the name sphincter for my cat. Today was lovely, 50 degrees F but a bit windy and there was even a small tornado the next town over! I do not speak very english well so perhaps the word sphincter is not what i am for looking? peace and love, springluvr

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bobert
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 05:49 PM

A sure fire sound of early spring is James Dovel's Ford tractor, 5 foot rototiller behind, comin' up the driveway...

Yeah, he does everyones veggie garden... Ours is 80 X 30 and he can do it in 15 minutes and charges only 30 bucks!!!

So we've been out laying out our rows all day and getting everything figured out... I even set 3 seven foot tee-pees for the lima beans...

We have some rain due tomorrow night so we'll get the lettuce, beets, spinach, peas and onions in tomorrow and tater by the end of the week...

This year I have left a couple extra feet between the tomato plants so life should be easier come August and September...

I'm beat... My arm is killin' me but, hey, no gains without pain...

B:~)

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bee
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 05:33 PM

Ah, gnu, the moral of that story is 'Don't build your house on a floodplain' - or at least forget about having a basement.

Windy enough to blow you away here, but... mayflowers showin' a little white at bud tips... daylilies sprouting... rhubarb crowning... cranesbill loosening its leaf curls... little red leaf buds on the beach rose...

Ooo yeah!

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: gnu
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 03:10 PM

One of the two crocuses opened up today! Well, it was actually blown open by the wind, but it LOOKS nice outside with the sun shining. We lost 300mm of snow overnight and close to that already today. (Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada)

The sun and +8 tomorrow and the rain and +10 Friday have got the riverside folks shakin. They don't call em flood plains fer nuthin.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: SINSULL
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 01:29 PM

Tulips peeking up through the the snow in Maine. Very reassuring.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 11:15 AM

We need a Mudelf to come do a little weeding. . .

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=108607&messages=263&page=1&desc=yes#2304476

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: GUEST,Janie
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 11:11 AM

The bulbous buttercups are starting to bloom on southfacing slopes. Also least hops clover and wood sorrel.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 09:14 AM

Snow forecast again this weekend in the Pennines, some spring eh, global warming my arse.

eric

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: ragdall
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 11:46 PM

maeve and katlaughing, thank you.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 11:24 PM

I haven't been keeping up in reading this thread. My apologies.

Janie, you are leaving your beautiful spot?

Rags - beautiful photos!! Really nice that they are so close. Thanks!

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: maeve
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 10:37 PM

Hi there, Rags! Thanks for the links to your always beautiful photos.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 10:30 PM

Was quite springlike here today after a chilly, wet, windy start to the year, sighted a small tortoiseshell butterfly looking for nectar (I've got some hebe & escallonia in flower)

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: ragdall
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 10:25 PM

Thanks, Stilly River Sage and Janie.

I seldom post because when I do I feel as if I must be invisible.

I'm realizing that being invisible can be a good thing. As an amateur photographer, it allows me to get much closer than I though possible without frightening away my subjects.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 10:00 PM

I clicked your links. That owl is wonderful! Amazing that you could get that close, even with a lens that might have boosted it.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Janie
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 09:58 PM

Not at all, ragdall - enjoyed your photos. Sorry not to have said so earlier.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: ragdall
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 09:51 PM

Hi gnu!
Thanks for clicking the links. Looks as if you are the only one who did?

I woke up this morning to Happy April 1st fresh snow.
rags

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: Jeri
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 09:45 PM

It snowed yesterday. It was in the 60s today and right now, it's 53°F and I have a couple windows open. I can see earth (not at the moment because it's dark) and I have hope.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Janie
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 09:38 PM

They take about 30 days to germinate, and will not come up through mulch. If you didn't get them seeded by the end of February you may not get much. Never fear. I'll have more seeds this year, even if I have to come by here under cover of darkness to harvest them. Even if only a few germinate, let 'em bloom, harvest a pod or two and let the rest self-sow. I started with two plants and have a yard full now.

The serviceberry tree is leafing out. The mahonia has bloomed and gone, the peonies are about 6 inches high. The first crop of chickweed is going to seed. Tulips are at their peek. Flowering almonds are in full bloom. The pecans, which are very late to bud, are starting to look a bit fuzzy at the end of the branches. Hope they don't get slammed by a hard late frost, like they did last year.

The squirrels are looking starved and scrawny.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bobert
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 08:22 PM

Yeah, Janie, "Tooth Wart", that little invasive spring wildflower is up... It wasn't here when we moved her but hitch-hiked in with some of the other some 550 plants we moved here from Wes Ginny... Guerss the sumabich is here to stay...

Forgot "Windflower" which is in bloom...

We planted yer poppies but nuthing as yet??? But we are really not familair with their growth habits...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Janie
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 07:52 PM

Bobert, you sure make me miss the hills and mountains. Bet you will be seeing toothwort, trout lilies, spring beauties, etc., before too long. These dry pine woods around here that were grong tobacco just 50 years ago aren't conducive to those lovely ephemerals.

We have had enough rain to actually matter over the last 4 or 5 days. It looks like some of the species tulips have made it after all. The snowball vibernum is budding out.

Thinking I would have been gone by now, I didn't plant pansies and such last fall. Those who did have lovely displays in pots and in beds now.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bobert
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 07:24 PM

Hit 72 degrees here in Page Co. Virginia.... Our farm is on a ridge that runs off another ridge called "Tanners Ridge"....

Today the "blood root" bloomed big white blooms with yellow centers... It is one of the first of the Virginia wildflowers to bloom each spring... "Twin leaf" has decided to make an apppearance...

Two ducks on the pond as we speak so the tadpoles will get thined out....

Today was a day for moving plants... Yeah, every gardener knows that somwetimes things don't work out and moving is the answer... We moved an oakleaf hydranga, a rodo, a grand blande boxwood and an very unusual ivy that frow columnal but does not spread... The dear feasted on it this past winter so qwe figured we'd bring up closer to the house and give it a ***promotion*** which means it is going to get a prime spot...

That's all from here...

B:)

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Susan A-R
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 07:02 PM

It was 50 here today, and lots more mud and bare spots!! If we get more of this, it'll go fast, and there will be spring soon, but who knows. Down into the 20s again tonight and cool tomorrow, but great sugaring season weather. Good stuff too, but expect to pay $40 a gallon for it.

Janie, I was travelling with Mom and my sister and it was too hectic to put anything else in. I do get down to Charlottesville to play with David Scheim now and then and will let you know when I'm in that neck of the woods again.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: gnu
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 04:00 PM

I have the office window open and I hear blackbirds singing!

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Cats
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 03:14 PM

Today I had a slow worm on the step in the garden basking in the sun. The first slowly of the year.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bee
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 02:55 PM

Kat, that's lovely. In my Favourites and emailed to my sister, who's just as snowbound as i am.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 12:56 PM

For those of you still waiting for signs of spring...a little fun:


Happy Spring!

Click on the link below,
You'll get a black page.

Then click your mouse anywhere on the page
see what happens.
Better yet, click and or drag your mouse
all over the page.
Or just hold it in one spot.

LINK

Enjoy!

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: gnu
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 04:20 AM

Yo Rags!!!! Long time no see. BEAUTIFUL pics!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: ragdall
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 02:12 AM

I saw this Robin perched on the top of a Spruce tree beside the Yellowhead Highway, today.

Okay, it's not a Robin, but I think it must be a sign of Spring, anyway? I was so excited to see it! I still am. I never expected to be able to photograph one of these.

If I don't get credit for the bird, I do have some crocuses in bloom. They're my earliest sign of Spring in the garden.

rags

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Mar 08 - 09:44 AM

This morning was THE morning to throw the blankets off with the realization that overnight all of the covers went from adequate to being way too much. A warm front moved through and we will consider switching to the AC. I'll use ceiling fans for a while before I turn it on, but it is a warm and muggy morning.

Guest with no name and little connection to the actual thread, if you don't choose a name to use consistently and make an effort to have something to do with the threads you post to, you'll be deleted. Fair warning.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Peace
Date: 30 Mar 08 - 04:33 PM

Spring has arrived. Only four inches of snow last night. Summer is just around the corner.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Cats
Date: 30 Mar 08 - 04:28 PM

My tadpoles in the pond are looking very healthy. I have marsh marigolds out as well. Felt quite spring like today while I was pottering in the garden in a t shirt!

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Janie
Date: 30 Mar 08 - 04:21 PM

fuzzy looking lavendar colored flowerbuds - about 2 inches long - on the wisteria across the street.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: scouse
Date: 30 Mar 08 - 06:09 AM

Spring has indeed arrived here in dear "Cloggieland." The swan who nests in the same place every year has been sittin' on nine EGGS for at least two weeks now!!!!
As Aye,
Phil.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: black walnut
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 02:26 PM

2 of the MOST ADORABLE little white crocuses you've ever seen are in my front garden near the sidewalk - surrounded by dried leaves and dormant wooley thyme. People walking by sometimes stop and stare at them. Stunned. Flowers. Life. Emerging. It cannot be!

~b.w.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Janie
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 02:18 PM

Just noticed a bit of bloom on the surviving bleeding heart. The dogwoods are just starting to pale. The catbirds are back.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bobert
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 10:32 AM

The daffodils are magnificent this mornin'... Some are in full bloom and others just behind...

Lotta stuff wigglin' in the woods gardens... The yellow trillium patch has expanded to what looks like 6 plants...

A little tooth wart that hitch hiked fown from Wes Ginny is up and will bloom today or tomorrow...

We are growing about 600 azaleas from cuttings in the barn and some of them have actually bloomed!!!

The wax wings get here in 3 weeks for their one week stop over...

Junkos are thinning out and heading northward...

We've seen a couple of ducks on the pond that hang out every year for a month or so and live off tadpoles...

That's about it... Oh, the Linten roses are sooooooo beautiful...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Janie
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 09:55 AM

Oh Susan - next time you are in NC, or in VA near the NC border, let me know you are coming!

I'm looking out my front window at pink and red tulips, blue dutch iris, columbine and creamy daffodils.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Susan A-R
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 09:20 AM

Janie, we only get those 90 days in June, July and early August, and not too many of them. It wouldn't be so painful, but I was just down in VA and NC where there are daffodils, forcythia, pear and tulip trees all blooming like mad. I refuse to wear boots any longer, a decision I may well regret as all of this stuff melts, but I get tired of feeling so darned HEAVY.   

I do smell the smoke from some local sugaring operations now and then. Although the maple sugar season is spotty and really late this year, I'm told the sugar content on what they are getting is amazing.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: gnu
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 05:16 AM

Janie. Have I got some real estate for you! The best of both worlds. -30 to 100F no problem. As I type this, I hear the beep-beep-beep of the salt truck backing up on my dead end street. In two months, I will be installing the air conditioners.... maybe sooner.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Janie
Date: 28 Mar 08 - 10:29 PM

The maples are leafing out here, the stems on the larkspur are beginning to elongate, as are the poppies. Baby house finches in the beaded candle sconces on the front porch. Peepers are scarce due to drought. Lots of ornamental trees in bloom. High today was 79F, but it is going to cool down tonight and be mid 50's tomorrow. Thought we were going to get a bit of rain this evening, but it passed us by. I"m not sure which is best (or worse), snow drifts the end of March, or days and days of 90F+ in August.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Mar 08 - 09:50 PM

"Two feet of snow"?

That is excessive! And here I was whining about a mere 4 inches in our driveway in Maine.

Poor little crocus!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Susan A-R
Date: 28 Mar 08 - 08:26 PM

It's snowing, There's two feet of snow in my front yard, It's supposed to get down around 10 tonight, maybe colder tomorrow night. I had ice build-up on my porch roof and have to rip out walls in the down stairs apartment, There's water, ice and muck in my driveway.   I don't believe it's coming. I have lost faith. (well, at least there's muck, maybe there's hope.)

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: dwditty
Date: 28 Mar 08 - 07:18 PM

Last night when I let the dogs out, I heard the peepers in the pond out back for the first time this year. A sure sign.

dw