Spring!!!

Spring officially arrived earlier this week.  On Thursday, March 20th, to be more specific.  At 12:58 in the afternoon, to be exact.  And, so far, the weather has co-operated and been pleasantly mild since Spring began.  It's been a tough winter here this year.  I can tell my plants have suffered.  Some may not make it.  And others show damage from the cold.

My forsythia has blooms on it.  The harbinger of Spring.  The plant itself looks pretty sad, but at least there are some clusters of bright yellow.

Every year I tell myself that I am going to transplant the periwinkle so it will grow under the forsythia.  They bloom about the same time and the blue and yellow together would be so charming.   Maybe this is the year...

My camellia bush is blooming.  I hate to say things like this, but it doesn't really look very good.  The fungus that attacks camellias is having a heyday with my bush.   This flower looks okay, though.  I have fond memories of picking camellias when I was a little girl.

My blue hyacinths smell so good!  And, of course, the color is incredible!  I love having them in my garden.

Some of my muscaris are are blooming.   They aren't doing well this year.  I don't know if part of it has to do with the wicked winter.  I do know part of it has to do with the deer.   My neighbor doesn't have his dog any more and the deer have decided that my garden is a lovely place to eat.  And, guess what...  They seem to really like my muscaris.  If you look, you can see the chomped leaves.

I bought this hellebore as a tiny seedling at a Cooperative Extension garden sale probably about five years ago.   This is the first year it has bloomed!  I'm so excited!  I love the pale pink and pale green tints in it.   Several weeks ago, the deer had eaten its leaves, but thankfully they haven't discovered the flower yet.  And I think there is another bud on it, too.

Have a beautiful day!