Meanwhile, in the Garden of England

[Christina]

Spring is busting out all over!

The hellebores are in full bloom whilst the winter jasmine and vibernum and irises are still going strong.

There are tiny crocuses showing purple in the border and the narcissi are standing tall and getting ready to show off their flowers in a week or so's time.

Otherwise - the whole place is so wet you can't walk on it. The slugs and snails are having a gourmet time of it on what's left of the irises and I can't get at them! But the frog is doing his best, bless him.

[Holodoc]

Have you informed your plants yet that spring isn't for another six weeks or so?

[Christina]

Global warming, no winter to speak of and seasons come early and leave late in this corner anyway.......

Anything that lives at this address is not entirely 'normal' - whatever that word may mean anyway!  ;D

[Christina]

Weekly update for anyone who is interested.

A cold dry snap has hit us, and things are going on hold, very sensibly.
The winter heather - Erica x darleyensis is still going strong with its bell flowers but the Narcissus February Gold are wisely waiting at the yellow bud stage. (They're a division 1 - Trumpet - Narcissus in case you need a mental picture.)

[Holodoc]

Opposite here. We had colder weather earlier in the week. Today it was about 50F and partly sunny.

There are more bushes budding, several hedges are budding, and all over there are bulbs with those long, spearlike leaves emerging from the ground. It doesn't usually look like this until late March.

Something's very wrong here.

I hope you started planting things, Christina!

[Seven of Nine]

I believe the El Nino--La Nino thing are what's affecting the weather.  Last winter we had feet and feet of snow starting in November and lasting until way into April.  This winter, we've had 8".  Just enough to keep my evergreen trees from drying out--whew!

[Holodoc]

Seven said:

I believe the El Nino--La Nino thing are what's affecting the weather.

That and the fact that we're moving minutely closer to the sun?

Anyway, you said plants take their queues from the amt of time there's sunlight. That hasn't changed, so why are their schedules goofy?

[Christina]

Holodoc said:

I hope you started planting things, Christina!

Planting!
I've got a long list of plants that need pruning this year.

And lifting and dividing..

Those borders are going to get widened AGAIN

[Seven of Nine]

Holodoc said:

Anyway, you said plants take their queues from the amt of time there's sunlight. That hasn't changed, so why are their schedules goofy?

There is a scientific explanation for all this which is refered to as "degree days."  If you'd like to read up on it, here is a link:

mcc.sws.uiuc.edu/FAQ/dd.html

Scroll down to the section where it talks about "growing degree days."  While I think I understand it, trying to explain it would addle my brain.  Degree days will also affect insects.  

In a nutshell, it all has to work together--light and temperature--and because of the infinite numbers of variations, differences occur in the way things grow.

[Christina]

I said I was taking the digital camera outside.
The results are here, well, most.

uk.geocities.com/counsellorbecky/March_flowers.html

Note the fuzzy pink blob called a pink - that's a carnation, Doc.

[Holodoc]

Christina said:

I said I was taking the digital camera outside.
The results are here, well, most.

uk.geocities.com/counsellorbecky/March_flowers.html

Note the fuzzy pink blob called a pink - that's a carnation, Doc.

That pic of the daffydill is awesome.

Your stuff is in a far more advanced state of bloom than ours. Except that I saw a fully developed crocus lying stomped in the dirt a block from here. Yes, it croaked.

[Christina]

The ladybirds are coming out of hibernation to try and work out who's a boy and who's a girl....

The lawn has had it's first cut of the year, and I silently thanked my neighbour for all the lovely weeds he's sent over the fence......

I'll try to update the pictures with new ones over the holiday weekend.

[Christina]

Aunties Garden

It's new, it's improved and it's all my own work.

[Holodoc]

Christina said:

Aunties Garden
It's new, it's improved and it's all my own work.

You're very first website in earnest.

Congrats, Christina!

[Christina]

*curtseys*

Thank you kindly, good sir.

Honest opinions privately, please. Don't embarass me in public.