In the Garden: March
“Our life is March weather, savage and serene in one hour.”
I photograph our flowers nearly everyday. It’s a great way for me to document what is blooming and when! We added so much to our property last year; I’m excited to share it with you here on our journal.
March started slowly, with the first flush of Narcissus ‘Pseudonarcissus’ dotting our woods and gardens with electric yellow around March 5th. Funny enough, I forgot to take any pictures of these, but they were so lovely after the last ice storms of February and unshakable cold temperatures. When the hellebore began to bloom around our wedding anniversary, the excitement of the dawning growing season crept under skin. I went to our hellebore patch nearly everyday to spy their bowing heads. Soon after more specialty narcissus began to break through, along with the few hyacinth we have. Finally, the spring equinox arrived with the blooming of peach beauty ‘Dear Love’ transplanted from its original home in our cutting garden and one of our inherited Narcissus (possibly Broughshane). So many more followed. Nearly a month later, we still have Narcissus coming in!
Hellebore ‘Ivory Prince‘ on March 14, 2022
Narcissus ‘Dear Love’ & Narcissus, variety unknown, on March 24, 2022
Our patch of native Viriginia bluebells started blooming early this year! This is just one small flower—I have lots more to show you in April’s journal entry. Stay tuned.
We planted over 800 specialty tulip bulbs last November. ‘Exotic Emperor’ was the very first to bloom. They are known to be one of the very earliest tulips to bloom and these were no exception. I love that they are often referred to as a close descendant of wild tulips. Can you even imagine wild tulips? That must be pretty magical to see! These in particular feel quite dramatic—they completely open up and the petals get shiny and translucent, curling up in a sculptural way. I’ve been known to let these linger, long past the common vase life range. Sometimes there is such beauty in decay—but with tulips especially!
I started this columbine from seed last year and got it planted quite late into the spring. How exciting to see them flourishing now! The seed was a mix, so the color is a surprise until it blooms for the first time this year.
Virginia Bluebell on March 24, 2022
Tulip “Exotic Emperor’ & Columbine ‘Barlow’ growth on March 30, 2022