So Much Promise
Buds, like babies, are so full of what is yet to be. There are no disappointments, only promises to be fulfilled. Opened flowers are wonderful, releasing fragrance, giving joy, but once blooming, the peak has passed. It is all downhill from there. Above: Helleborus x hybridus ‘Blue Lady’.
Petals of perfection, unfurling slowly, letting us savor what is to be before it is. Above: Narcissus ‘Little Gem’.
It is the prelude to the symphony as the musicians are warming up. Above: Muscari armeniacum.
Emerging tips tempt. Above: potted tulips from Walmart planted late winter of 2011.
Tightness loosens…. Above: Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’.
….Fresh-faced and blemish free. Above: Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Alison’.
Patiently we wait…. Above: Chaenomeles japonica.
….as Nature directs. Above: Heuchera ‘Tiramisu’ and H. ‘Stormy Seas’.
Excitement builds as changes are noted every day. Spring is coming. Soon! Above: Euphorbia ‘Blackbird’.
Frances
How wonderful – We are busy sweeping up our start of the Autumn leaves and here I get to enjoy all your beautiful buds! The ‘Blue lady’ Hellebore is stunning!
Christine @ The Gardening Blog said this on February 24, 2012 at 5:42 am |
“buds are like babies” made me smile this morning. They sure are and the anticipation about what is to come is so exciting. Here I am seeing crocus for the most part and a few daff buds. I can hardly wait.
Lisa at Greenbow said this on February 24, 2012 at 5:48 am |
Beautiful start to your spring / late winter garden. It sure did feel like spring, almost summer, yesterday! The pollinators sure were happy!
Karin/Southern Meadows said this on February 24, 2012 at 6:36 am |
Buds are like the morning of a day… A lovely post.
Carol said this on February 24, 2012 at 6:38 am |
Your buds are far more developed than ours in South West France. An unusual prolongued cold snap (the worst in 25 years) has stunted everything that should be coming in to flower now. The Muscari are nowhere to be seen, the daffodils and irises are poking up buds at ground level (instead of atop a beautiful strong stem) and the chaenomeles japonica is still resolutely spiky and bare. I hope we catch up soon. Thanks for sharing your lovely pictures.
Julia Faiers said this on February 24, 2012 at 7:00 am |
I thought so too until I woke up to snow this morning. Just a little setback.
Layanee said this on February 24, 2012 at 7:10 am |
What a lovely post! Sometimes, I almost adore buds more than the full bloom. It’s the anticipation, I think. Thank you for the dose of beauty this morning before I head to the greenhouse to schlep around with my seedling babies.
Julie said this on February 24, 2012 at 7:31 am |
Julie took the words right out of my mouth. Your words and pictures were in perfect balance and have given my day a great start.
michaele said this on February 24, 2012 at 8:22 am |
Looks like spring to me. There are quite a few plants that I prefer in bud to in bloom, Physocarpus is one that comes readily to mind, the flowering quince is another, but I sympathize with that transcendent feel of anticipation. It’s always better to have something to look forward to with an idealized perfection, rather than having the thing itself, in all it’s mundane reality.
Barbara, Mr. McGregor's Daughter said this on February 24, 2012 at 8:48 am |
Frances such a wonderful promise of spring…your pictures are enchanting!
Donna@Gardens Eye View said this on February 24, 2012 at 9:00 am |
And here we are seeing the very first autumn colours, although it will be 8 weeks before it is ‘high season’… And this morning we commented on the slowness of the light. Enjoy the season of promise, Frances!
sequoiagardens said this on February 24, 2012 at 9:24 am |
That Hellebore is gorgeous!!! What a great color. I love watching the plump buds, swelling over time, ready to pop. Spring is here, whether the calendar knows it or not.
Janet, The Queen of Seaford said this on February 24, 2012 at 10:18 am |
Beautiful pictures! I have the same buds here in my plot and they are wonderful now but also full of promise for the future.
greenbenchramblings said this on February 24, 2012 at 3:27 pm |
I loved that Blackbird euphorbia, but it didn’t make it through the winter for me.
Kathy said this on February 24, 2012 at 4:58 pm |
Lots of pretties my friend, but, that Daphne is very lovely. My favorite of the big box store purchases are the hyacinths! I will be getting them and tulips soon! xoxogail
Gail said this on February 24, 2012 at 8:48 pm |
Too much Spring excitement, Frances! We won’t have any such sites for awhile (at least we shouldn’t). Given our mild winter weather this year, who knows?? Looks wonderful!
shady gardener said this on February 24, 2012 at 9:24 pm |
How exciting, all of those beautiful buds! It is hard for me to believe now with snow on the ground that spring is around the corner. It should melt this weekend so maybe there are some surprises underneath.
Eileen
Gatsbys Gardens said this on February 25, 2012 at 7:06 am |
There’s a great article with photos on “Hardy Euphorbias for the Garden” on PlantFiles/Dave’s Garden, and your gorgeous ‘Blackbird’ is included. http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/373/
I have a weakness for black and brown flowers/plants. They make such wonderful foils for the other colors. We’d love to see a post on your black garden, Frances. Have you done one before, and I missed it?
sandy lawrence said this on February 25, 2012 at 8:52 am |
Hi Frances. Your garden is really waking up. How wonderful to be getting blooms already. It will be a while longer here and I can hardly wait. Your Daphne is so beautiful and the hellebore blooms are so pretty. Have a wonderful weekend.
Lona said this on February 25, 2012 at 10:29 am |