Please forgive me for being late to Bloom Day hosted by Carol of May Dreams Gardens. I apologize. I was laying sidewalk from the potager to the back door. It is nearly finished, and my poor shoulders and elbows feel older than their years.
March in my north central Oklahoma garden is all about the bulbs, those darling, deer-and-rodent-proof daffodils and their friends, the crocus.
Support staff for the narcissus blooms in the form of flowering shrubs like Spiraea ‘Ogon’ a/k/a Mellow Yellow. I hate the tradmark name Mellow Yellow. Although it trips off the tongue quite well, it sounds silly. Even with its silly name, I have three of these beauties which give me color three seasons of the year.
Other daffs which have long ago lost their tags still bloom prettily. This is an early white one with a large, school bus yellow cup. It blooms beneath a pink, deciduous Jane magnolia which is just starting to unfurl her petals. At the daff’s feet, are dark blue violas planted last fall at the same time.
The pure white narcissus have yet to bloom. They all grow together under a large oak tree, where I planted them over twenty years ago.
Although I find violas perform better for me, where pansies and violas are concerned, I am often a sucker for a pretty face. I was driving by a local nursery where I saw these Viola x wittrockiana ‘Dynamite Pink’ pansies. Such gorgeous color, they may supplant my love for ‘Imperial Antique Shades.’ By the way, I can find very little information on this group of pansies, so although I listed it in single quotes, Dynamite Pink may be a trademarked name. They do seem to be a seed strain since, as you can see in the photograph, there is so much variation within the group.
Although the bulbs steal the show this time of year, I can’t forget the hellebores, some of which are really coming into their own. ‘Red Lady’ and ‘Blue Lady,’ which I planted three or four years ago, have grown into nice clumps and are so pretty in the morning light.
I think the front garden is the prettiest this time of year, but as I was loading this photo, I found another of the same garden last year.As you can see, the nandinas were burned from the cold weather both years, although last spring seemed worse. Also, none of the bulbs were blooming so the pansies had the whole show to themselves. Because of Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, I have comparisons from year to year. Thanks Carol!
This weekend, if you haven’t already made plans, the Tulsa Garden Center, in cooperation with the Oklahoma Horticulture Society, is hosting Tony Avent, owner of Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, NC, for two lectures. He will speak in Tulsa on March 19, at 6:30 p.m. On Sunday, March 20, he will speak at the Oklahoma City Zoo on “Landscaping in Drifts of One: A Focus on Plant Combinations” at 1:00 p.m. I will definitely be in the audience Sunday.
Also, the Central Oklahoma Hemerocallis Society is having a meeting this Friday at 6:00 p.m. I hope to see you there.
Your unknown looks like ‘Ice Follies’ to me, and old variety I planted in my garden many years ago, now. Nice daffodil show….mine are now showing bud color.
Antique Shades were always my favorite Pansy color combination, but I like the blues, too.
Thanks Ilona, it may be. I can’t remember most of my daffs. I love the blue violas. Have a bunch of those too. Must take more pictures today.
Oh, Dee, just lovely! I love spring just for the daffs and the violas. Your garden is truly lovely. And I admire you for building a sidewalk. Makes me ache a little just thinking about it.
Thank you Linda. I hope you make it to Oklahoma someday, and we’ll have some tea and walk the garden. Building that sidewalk was very, very hard.
I’m so glad you included the larger shot of your front garden, Dee–it’s absolutely beautiful! There’s nothing like a mass planting of spring bulbs to cheer you up. Love those pink violas–I would have stopped for them, too.
Thank you so much Rose. I love my front garden in spring best. I saw those violas from my car and had to make a quick right turn.
If I remember correctly, “ogon” means “gold” in Japanese so it’s appropriate and easy to remember. Much better than Mellow Yellow…
I think you’re right Caleb. I love this spirea. It is one of the best shrubs in my garden, and I have three.
Hey Dee,
Congratulations on the ‘Red Lady’ shot in the morning light. That one my friend is flickr material.
We both share Antique Shades pansy as our favorite one. Probably goes really well with your red dirt.
Thank you Patrick. She just poses like that.
Happy Spring, Dee!
Same to you Cindy!
That is a very pretty selection of blooms in your front garden. The red lady is really stunning with so many blooms- and you have success with crocus! I tried them for the first time last year but they didn’t return. Happy bloom day indeed.
Thank you so much. I love my red lady.. I try crocus, but they don’t always work. I’m trying a new type this year to see if I can improve their comeback ability.
I’m so glad you didn’t let being a bit late stop you…we would have missed such lovely photos! The front garden is truly beautiful.
Leslie, you’re too sweet. Thank you.~~Dee
Love those pansies! We are just starting to get crocuses, the daffs will take a while.
Kathy, it won’t be long now.
Love all the color. You’re so ahead of us in Michigan–love the daffs, especially.
Yes, but this summer, Monica, you’ll be glad you don’t live here. 🙂
Sounds like you’ve been a busy bee already this year. Can’t wait to see all your hard work. Your front garden is so pretty this spring Dee!
Yes, Racquel,and I have so much more to do. I was just out there thinking, wow, there is so much more.
Oooh! I can’t wait for my daffs to bloom!!! Pretty photos!
Won’t be long now. Those daffs pop up pretty quickly.
Your front garden is a bloom-fest atm, it looks so very cheerful. It’s daffs galore chez Bliss too. Love those brave little trumpeting troopers, gentle nodding in the breeze. Or sleet. Or hail storm.
Have a great weekend!
I think your mystery white Narcissus is ‘Ice Follies’. Your garden is waking beautifully. It’s like seeing a preview of my garden in a month. I like how you’ve got little blooms at the feet of the daffodils. I need to work on doing that.
If you and Ilona think so, that’s its name. Thank you so much.
Your pansies are beautiful. I love your blue outdoor light too. That is really elegant.
Plant Delights is about a half an hour from us. We went on a spring open house for the first time last year and I could not believe all of the people! First time I toured the gardens there too. They were impressive.
Thank you so much Sweetbay. I got to visit Plant Delights when we were in Raleigh. His gardens are just fantastic. An amazing place really.
It is fun to compare the garden from year to year. Your front garden looks so lively with all of those colorful pansies. Can’t wait to see your new walk. Happy GBBD.
I guess if you can do GBBD on the 17th, then I’m gonna too! Today was the first spring-like day we’ve had this year. Thanks.
I love those pansies. I can never find any like those around here, dog-gone-it.
And isn’t it fun to compare a garden year to year?
gorgeous blooms…love the front garden
Glad to see your garden coming alive!
It is a very pretty front garden and with so much in bloom! Oh my. But, I am waiting quite impatiently to see your bricklaying handiwork. Give!
Dee, Your front garden is charming! I’ve got that spirea and wish for more of them – such a good plant, goes with everything and tolerates my vicious pruning to keep it in bounds. Happy GBBD!
Crocus always remind me to use more saffron when cooking…
I love, love, love your crocus! I keep wanting to plant them, but just don’t think they will do very well here in southern Nevada. So I will have a crocus garden vicariously through your photos!