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It feels like an in-between time in the garden at the moment. Spring isn’t here yet, but winter has become less harsh and it’s grip is not as cold as it was a week or so ago. Some mornings there may be traces of frost on the grass, but the heavier frosts that have iced the garden plants are absent. Now is a time of waiting for the new season to arrive.
There are some signs of the approach of spring already. The leaves of daffodils are well above the ground and their flower buds are slowly swelling. Hellebores are getting ready to bloom. A few crocuses have bravely opened their yellow flowers – the same crocuses as in the photo. (These are Crocus chrysanthus var. fuscotinctus, growing with Iris reticulata ‘Cantab’ and Iris reticulata ‘Harmony’ behind. I grew them together in a pot a couple of years ago to make a welcome by my front door.)
The cold weeks of January have made me impatient for the start of spring. I want to see plants bring life and excitement back to my garden, to feel the sun warm me, to hear the first bees buzz past. For me, the start of spring is a time of hope and of building anticipation as I gradually see plants reappear, like familiar and much-loved friends. While I’m waiting, the photographs from previous years are a reminder of the joys to come.
Ann Mackay: Inspired by Nature 
The blue and gold flower colours are perfect together!
Wonderful photo, Ann.
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Thank you Liz! This one’s from a couple of years ago – it made a lovely display to welcome visitors. 🙂
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Yes, an exciting time to see whether last year’s bulbs come up, especially the tulips!
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I have a few new tulips this year, so I’ll be waiting anxiously to see if they appear!
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Yes I planted tulips 2 years ago and they were fine, but then I read I should dig them up and replant them. I didn’t – lazy me – so hope they will reappear. Do you replant yours every year?
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No – but I might if I had them in containers. I just plant them fairly deeply and hope for the best. (Botanical/species tulips are most likely to come up again and maybe spread too.)
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We are a few weeks behind you weather wise, and it has been bitterly cold here, so no daffodils have dared break through yet. It is a favorite moment when that happens. I, too, love the yellow and purples of spring. I plant grape hyacinths in front of daffodils to achieve that combination. Lovely photo. Think spring.
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Grape hyacinths will look lovely with your crocuses – a super combination. 🙂 I seem more bothered by the cold this year – blaming it on the cost of heating the house!!
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What bright colors. It’s easy to understand why you’re eager to see them in person again.
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Right now I’m feeling a bit starved of colour. There are hellebores beginning to open though… 🙂
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Good to hear they’re boring their way up through the ground already.
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But they won’t bore me, hehe!
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Beautifully contrasting colours…lovely picture, Ann! Yes….spring is on the way!
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I certainly hope so, Indira! (But the photo is a bit misleading because it’s from a few years ago. The little yellow crocuses are starting to come up though. 🙂 )
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I love the contrast of colours here Ann. I once had some very similar yellow crocuses in a bowl, but they refused to reappear. Harmony is a favourite blue iris of mine, I haven’t grown Cantab, but I do have Clairette which is a sky blue and new to me this year. My Hellebores are struggling to get going this year.
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I think some things are struggling a bit here too. The incredibly hot & dry weather last year must have affected some things badly. I’m waiting to see what can cope with such extreme summers. Looks like there’s a whole new learning curve ahead of me!
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How nice that your crocuses, or Croci? :-), are opening to add some cheer to the end of a bleak winter. It will be awhile still before ours grace the yard. Happy almost Spring, Ann. 🙂
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Thank you Steve! Happy ‘Spring to come’ to you! (Actually, the photo is from a few years ago, so a bit misleading…although a few of the crocuses have started to appear. 🙂 )
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Buttercups are starting to spread here now: only in spots, but in patches large enough to be easily visible from the road. Whenever I see yellow and blue combined as they are in your lovely photo, I think of Van Gogh, and his sunflowers. I have a feeling he looked forward to spring as much as you do: for that clear blue sky to set off his flowers, if nothing else!
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I suspect you’re right about Van Gogh and I’m sure he’d have appreciated the increase in light levels and warm sunlight too. We have sunshine here this morning after a few grey days and it makes the world seem like a much better place! 🙂
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Lovely photo, Ann. I hope you won’t have to wait too long for this year’s spring flowers to cheer you.
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Hehe, thanks Tanja! I’m going out and peeping at the hellebore buds every day – a couple are just starting to open. Yay!
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I’m happy for you. And there is more to come!
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Yes, evidence of crocuses at last. Spring has seemed a long time coming this time, but I suppose we always say that.
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I think we’ve all been a bit more aware of winter and the cold because of the higher heating costs this year. So spring will be extra-specially welcome when it gets here!
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Absolutely.
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Hi Ann – Gorgeous image! Trying to get through again.
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Thank you! 🙂
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Just thought I’d mention that your comment was marked as coming from ‘Anonymous’, so maybe you’re not properly logged into WordPress Reader or something like that?
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