Bobbie, they look about the same size as the ones I started outside. yours might be a bit bigger. Isn't the anticipation addicting? Just thinking of all the possibilities of what the blooms will look like - that is my favorite part of the process -- well, next to the early morning run to the garden in my nightgown to see what opened for the very first time! Then, it is like Christmas!

Bobbie I don't think they look pitiful at all!

Brian, you are too kind! I envy those in warmer climates (at times)

Juli, you are always ahead of my area. Usually by 2-4 wks. All of inside USA is. I am even behind my inside the coast area by 2-3 weeks. I go by things like when Lilacs blooms as well as temps.

I have done as you. Planted outside in Dec, and then heavily mulched with salt marsh hay which I have not pulled back until mid April. Worked good!

I have also planted in the spring (May) if the seeds were in the fridge. I have an area to do this again this spring. Not big enough to do all, but will try to get some done. My problem is time outside here in the gardens once I start on the estate work. Like the shoemaker whose kids don't have shoes. Everyone else comes first!!!

I am excited for you, as with all, who start their seeds with such anticipation!

Bobbie, I think your seedlings are looking good.

Been sick with a chest cold for over a week now but today went to one of the estates with Kate. She is grubbing out lily of the valley, transplanting sib iris etc.

Since no one is around to enjoy them, we picked these gorgeous blue hyacinth. A couple of bunches for each of us.

Speaking of blue, the scilla are still out there and the Va bluebells are just beginning. I took some pics but next week they'll put on their real show! I just love them!

Virginia Blue Bells are wonderful, beautiful and such a delight every Spring!!! A lady in Middle Tennessee gave them to me about 10 years ago and I love them so much. Please, if you can, get more pictures when they bloom out. Mine are already gone and I do enjoy them so much.

Your photos are great. The hyacinths are so pretty. I love the scent of them even though I can not longer smell them. When I see them, I feel as though I can smell them. Their scent is one that always brought pleasure so my brain still remembers the aroma. Blessings, Mona

Still not feeling up to doing all the potting I should - bronchial 10 days now. Groan.

But I did walk around today and take a few pictures, as my overhead was on for the second day for my intro line out beds. Can't believe I have to put on sprinklers this early but we haven't had rain in a month or more and it is getting warm again this weekend.

Back to the garden pics

I love the weeping larch when it first buds up. There are a facing pair of these to the island garden.




I love pairs of things blooming at the same time. The old double daff is just about fine' but the tulips only open 3 days. What is not showing in the pic is the yellow pattern inside this red tulip, then marked in black.





The girl magnolia...





This quince was one of the only things found on this old property. Previous owners gutted almost everything before I purchased it. Had to. It had been vacant for 40-50 years. Love the color. What is it? Coral?





Arabis has been in bloom for a month. Can't wait for the white variegated lunaria to bloom. Hope they both bloom at the same time!





Spring is ANTICIPATION time for me. Love to watch things unfurl!

Spring daylily sales list is going on the Bulletin Board tomorrow morning. I didn't want my friends here to feel left out so just giving a heads up!

Northern grown hardy plants. I have never had rust. Got some odd balls that aren't often available elsewhere plus some past intros.

I am uncomfortable posting a sales list here, not sure what the protocol is, so if you wish for me to send a list PM, I will. Everything is quite limited as this is not a nursery garden. I'll ship early/mid May so that plants will grow in your garden. These will not be southern hunks but good plants. Many will do well in both north and south.

In the meantime, I also put some pics up on photobucket (4 pages), and of course, my intros are on my website with descriptions.

http://smg.photobucket.com/alb...

http://www.distinctivegardende...

Hope you feel better. Did you go to the doctor??? I had bronchitis in February for 3 weeks before I finally got on antibiotics. Was feeling great within 3 days.

The baby weeping willow is lovely. I bet it will grow fast. And I love the red flowering quince. Tulips and daffs are always welsome in spring.

Cindy, no not yet - self employed!

I think you might be looking at the weeping larch, Rita. I think that they (one of a pair at the garden entrance) will stay about the same size but just get fuller and thicker. Lord knows what I'll do if they don't!!!

They turn a wonderful shade of gold in the fall, then loose their needles and look lacey when the snow falls on them.




Pink tulips, azaleas and magnolia lilput went into bloom today. Yummy! Will upload pic in the morning.

Oh BB those are astounding! What a wonderful color for the fall garden. I've never heard of a Larch tree. I'll just have to go look it up.

Thanks for sharing your beauties, Mona

Just beautiful, wonderful fall color.

Opps, sorry. My mistake. I had never seen a weeping larch before,. So very pretty, especially in that golden color.

Ok, looks like this is one that is for my Northern friends. The site I visited said for Northern climates. It doesn't like hot!! So you have a wonderful beauty in your garden.

Weeping larch. Unknown to me. Attractive and unusual plant.
I gotta look that one up. Thanks for showing it.

I was hoping that they would be great for all of youse guys! A larch tree is like a tall evergreen in the summer but light and airy, which then looses its needles. I grabbed these two about 10 yrs ago in a nursery. Good thing, as I have not seen them since! I had visions of doing a tunnel with them across the path but could never figure out how to make a structure for them.

Here is the new pink tulip bed. I redid this bed (going down to the brook) last fall. Moved the large azalea via a landscape crew (along with several other misplaced shrubs) in the spring last year. This bed is the plum purple lavender garden in the summer. Darwin Pink Impression tulips planted amongst the daylily clumps. We took out tons of self seeded phlox, and some thugs that had been growing, added 4 yds of compost and redesigned the bed. 2 days, 4 hrs with my helper.

Across the brook, going up hill are daylily seedlings and tons of forget me nots getting ready to bloom!






The Darwin Yellows are interplanted with blue muscari and inbetween huge hostas. Soloman Seal can also be seen emerging. That's a 200+ yr old oak tree!

I noticed that gorgeous old stone wall in the second picture right away. I love the yellow tulips. But my favorite is the bed in the first picture with those pink tulips and the flowering trees. Simply stunning. Do you have to replant your tulips each year or do they return for you?

Rita, Lucky am I to have that long stone wall. After the war efforts (I forget what that is called). 275 ft! Must take back some of that vine this year again. I like some, but not that much. I do have Hydrangea petiolares started there. (climbing hydrangea)

Here is the Va Bluebells in full glory! At one of the estates, can't seem to get it to take off here. Wetter soil there, heavy sand. Mixed in with hosta.

Those bluebells are really pretty but that stone wall is a treasure!