Wednesday, March 18, 2009

My Early Spring Show and Tell!

I have had these pictures loaded for several days now-just haven't had the time to add narrative. But tonight, after reading so many spring blogs, I so wanted to add mine to the show and tell.



Isn't this a lovely flower? I love the blueness of it. Anybody want to take a guess as to what it is?

The forsythia stems my cousin sent home with me a couple of weeks ago have provided many smiles for me as I do the dishes. I have the vase sitting in my kitchen window and the bright yellow blooms are so cheery. (I am hoping they will take root!)



I did get a couple of flats planted on the 10th. I planted several varieties most of which came through the seed exchange or from very generous bloggers.



Sunflowers are up in 5 days.


As well as several others.

A week ago the these tulips were just a couple of inches tall.



60+ degree temps and they are growing very quickly!



All of the iris I transplanted from my Mother-in-Law's last summer have new growth. I am SOOO happy.
And in the few days since I loaded these pictures, I have seen day lilies sprouting, green shoots of yarrow, and new growth on the Silver Mound Artemisia! Yea spring. I think it is truly here.. :} I hope you are enjoying spring in your gardens.

31 comments:

tina said...

It is a violet? So glad for you to see the ground-and not snow.

Anonymous said...

Everybody's happy for all those flowers are blooming now. It's a pleasure looking at their photos in blogs. Beautiful.

beckie said...

Tina, no it's not. But is is a very common plant.

Blossom, thanks! Het why can't we comment on your posts?

Cheryl said...

Hi Beckie.....how lovely to see growth....and tiny seeds coming to life......I know that this will feed your soul. The winter was hard for you this year?

Our days are warm but we have a harsh frost most nights......this is a always a huge problem for me....the greenhouse is heated so hopefully the seedlings will be fine....always a little nervous when I open the greenhouse door!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Beckie. Your mystrey plant is a Speedwell. Not sure which one though, as i`m not familiar with American species.
We have one similar, called Common Field Speedwell.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Gosh Beckie your mystery plant is a mystery to me. CAn't wait to hear what it is. I don't have any blue in the garden yet.

Just seeing your flats of seeds sprouting makes me wish I had gotten some going. It is so exciting to see seeds sprouting.

Our forsythia was blooming yesterday. Yipeee... it does seem that spring is here.

If your forsythia doesn't sprout I could bring you a tiny bush already started. It is growing in the wrong place here. I was just thinking the other day that I should pull it out. Let me know if you need it by the time of Spring Fling.

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Hooray for seedlings (I winter-sowed the last of my seeds this week!) and bulb foliage! I also like forcing forsythia, which I used to cut from an overgrown shrub at an apt. complex that I passed walking to/from the library--but last year they trimmed it to a ball shape! Instead I bought six daffs for $1.50 at Trader Joe's for my yellow sunshine, and they'll open soon!

Laura said...

Isn't it great to see these signs of spring? We sure were spoiled with the 70 degree temps- woke up this morning to a temp of 29! Think I'll stay inside today!

Roses and Lilacs said...

Tiny shoots of green and blooms of any color are so welcome in the spring. Later in the season even the most beautiful rose blooms aren't as prized as those first signs of spring.
Marnie

Susie said...

Beckie I know you are excited just seeing these plants popping up. I'm glad you are having good success with your seedlings. Mine had a less than stellar performance.

Rose said...

Beckie, I know you've had a busy week, so I'm amazed you have all those seedlings planted! My goal is to get a bunch more started tomorrow. Isn't it great to see the tulips and daffodils starting to come up? Glad to hear the yarrow has returned--you should have even more this year once it's established. I have no idea what your blue flower is--is it a speedwell as Dean said? I didn't think those came up so early here.

Take care and take time to relax a little. And if you don't want Lisa's leftover forsythia, I'll take it:)

flydragon said...

Hi beckie,
Well you certainly have been busy. All those flats!!! I'm envious of your iris. Mine are only poking up about an inch so far.

Anonymous said...

Love your spring blooms Beckie. Don't you hope the warm weather is here to stay?? I know I do. I'll have to check back to find out what the blue bloom is ~ I'm not sure at all????? Looks like you're having a lot of good luck with your seedlings too. Those keep me going until we can be out in the garden daily. Enjoy the warming temperatures.

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

Yippie, things are greening up outside! I still haven't started any seeds yet. I'm not sure what I'm waiting for.

Gail said...

Hi Beckie, Everything is coming up spring in your garden! I love the speedwell...such a dainty flower and the blue is lovely. Btw, a great header photo today! I have great luck with forsythia rooting in the vase. But I don't need anymore! I have way more then I need. I hope the warming trend continues....have a good day~~gail

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Violas? Your pictures look full of promise and spring!

Anonymous said...

Yep I think spring has arrived in your garden Beckie! I'm going with what Dean said, is it Speedwell?

beckie said...

Cheryl, the seeds growing are really a delight to watch. A little colder here for a few days, but much more seasonable. Frosts aren't too bad and of course won't hurt the tulips or daffodils. The sun has been out for a few days and I am sooo enjoying it. Have a great weekend!

beckie said...

Dean, you are right! It is also called creeping veronica and of course is considered a weed here. However I find the tiny blue flower so pretty, especially this early in the year. Thanks for visiting.

Lisa, would love the forsythia if it isn't too much trouble to dig it up. I've priced them here and they are so exspensive for such little plants. If you find another stray, Rose would love one too.

The flower is actually a weed called speedwell or creeping veronica. Can you tell I have been playing with my super macro on my new camera? :}

beckie said...

Monica, I don't blame you for snipping branches from the over grown forsythia. I would have too. Am so interested in your winter sowing. Can't wait to see how the seeds all do.

Laura, it was a tease-all that great warmth. But at least the sun is still out and the spring ulbs are still growing!

beckie said...

Marnie, that is so true! We wait such a long time to see out gardens start to bloom again. And even a weed like the speedwell is welcome if it has a pretty flower. :}

Susie so far the seeds are doing fine. We will have to wait a while yet to see if they continue to do well. I hope you dry out some dwon there!

beckie said...

Rose,I took time to post so I could relax a little! This speedwell or creeping veronica is a weed on in a protected place on the south side of the house. I need to start more seed too-maybe next week.

Flydragon, I was so surprized to see the new growth on the iris. I hadn't given them much thought yet and saw the first one and was amazed. When I looked for the other new starts they were all growing. Finally, I think I got the iris planted at the right depth!

beckie said...

Kathleen, I did love the warm weather. It is such a joy not to have to put on a coat when I go out. :} That lovely little flower is a weed! Speedwell or creeping veronica. But this time of year, a bloom is a bloom.

MMD, even the grass is getting green. And you do need to get some seed started!

beckie said...

Gail, so far no roots, but the stems still look good. I would gladly take some of your extra. :} I saw the tiny flowers on the speedwell and had to try my super macro. I suppose i should pull it before it spreads anymore, but will enjoy the blooms at least a few days more.

MG, nope! It's a weed! And the flower is very tiny. But it is a bloom and so I am enjoying it for a few days. :}

beckie said...

Racquel, Dean was right on! Even though a weed and very invasive, I will enjoy the tiny blue flower a short while longer. Next will be the henbit which is a lovely heather like color. Weeds really seem to like my gardens. :}

joey said...

Lots of good stuff happening here, Beckie. Wishing you a glorious spring! ('bout time for another Thelma & Louise adventure :)

garden girl said...

What a pretty little blue flower Beckie! Seems to pretty to be called a weed.

Isn't it exciting - something new seems to be popping up every day. Happy Spring!

Wendy said...

Spring is busting out all over!!! Happy Spring! I do love all your flowers, especially the forsythia. I hope it continues to be warm for a while yet.
Hugs

Laurie and Chris said...

We have lots of spring poping up but no flowers yet. Thanks for sharing your blooms.

Aiyana said...

No idea what the flower is. Looks like your spring is off to a good start. Ours is almost over, with temperatures in the 90s.
Aiyana

Corner Gardener Sue said...

Hi Beckie,
Before reading the other comments, I am thinking the flower could be a perennial geranium, except it is kind of early for blooms, and the leaves almost look like verbena. Oh, I see I was wrong. I have seen what may be speedwell all over some yards, and it does look pretty in the spring.

Isn't is awesome to see all the new growth? I just saw some things coming up this morning that I didn't see yesterday. We are supposed to get some lows in the 20s later in the week. I need to remember if there is anything I should cover.

Take care!
Sue