Bloom Day April 2009

  • Post published:04/15/2009
  • Post comments:9 Comments

Finally I have blooming flowers other than houseplants to report on Bloom Day. I planted scillas and a few Glory of the Snow (Chionodoxa) in the grass a few years ago. Yesterday, when I tramped through all the dead tansy stems from last year, out to the new Potager my eye caught these two tiny plants pushing up through the rough stems and weeds. I can tell you that I have never planted any little bulbs in this area which has been overrun with spearmint and tansy for probably 20 years. Take note. Never ever plant spearmint or tansy where it cannot be firmly controlled! In fact, there were several isolated brilliant blue scillas winking at me, far from where any were intentioally planted.

I certainly intended those two sets of little bulbs to increase, but to find them so far away from the orignial planting is very mysterious. Does anyone know whether these flowers can somehow self seed? It seems as if they must, but so unlikely.

It is also amazing that these flowers growing among strong weeds should bloom before the ones planted in grass. Those showed their heads just this morning.

The daffodils that were here when we bought our house in 1979 have also just started blooming. This is a daffodil unlike any other I have seen. It is a very early bloomer, although I have to note that it is growing in a protected spot, against a bit of stone wall. Also the flowers are very fringey, both cup and petals. I think it must be a very old variety.

I am going to take a cue from Veg Plotting in the UK and note that this is the Middle of the Middle Month of spring and send you on to Carol of May Dreams Gardens who hosts Garden Bloggers Bloom Day and Mrs. Nesbit of ABC Wednesday.

This Post Has 9 Comments

  1. Blossom

    Daffodils are my favorite flower. I love them especially the yellow ones. They bring back lots of old memories.

  2. Commonweeder

    Blossom, I love every color of daffodils, but the yellow ones are so sunny, and as you say, ignite old memories.

  3. Darla

    We have large yellow early blooming Daffs here. I want some white ones!! Maybe a squirrel dug up one of the other bulbs and buried away from the original ones.

  4. Commonweeder

    Darla – We don’t have many squirrels, but I also just read Kathy’s post at Cold Climate Gardening and she mentions that scillas can self seed! Mystery solved.

  5. Rose

    I’m often amazed, too, at where bulbs pop up. It makes you wonder if squirrels or some other critter may have carted them away and then dropped them somewhere. But it does create a pleasant surprise in the spring to see these little white and blue faces, doesn’t it?

  6. Nan

    I have some scillas just up in the garden! No flowers but just the green is exciting! And the garlic has popped through. Thrilling time, isn’t it?!

  7. Commonweeder

    Rose – I find there are many mysteries and great surprises in the garden.
    Nan – Yesterday I went and interviewed the folks at Seeds of solidarity Farm, founders of the Garlic and Arts Festival. They sell 16 types of garlic for gardeners to grow. I’ll be posting about my visit soon.

  8. Kathy

    I think that daffodil is an old heirloom kind called Van Sion. Google it in images.

  9. Commonweeder

    Kathy, Thank you so much. You are absolutely right. Van Sion is my double daffodil, and Old House Gardens has it for sale. It is a fabulous bulb, early, beautiful in a ruffly, shaggy way and a real spreader.

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