Getting ready to plant.

Yes, I realize it is only the middle of February, but there is really is so much to do. We treated the grass with weed & feed yesterday. Today we cut back the monkey grass, the butterfly bushes, lantana and angel trumpet. I also mulched more leaves and spread mulch around.

Yesterday I picked my first daffodils! I have hyacinths with buds. My dark red camellia is just beginning to bloom as well.

Taste of Spring

We have had a week of very warm weather, so early blooming has started. I have Lenten roses, crocuses, and daphine blooming. My daffodils are about to blooms. Around town I have seen early ornamental fruit trees and some star magnolia in bloom. My star magnolia has buds.

I think that cold is coming back in the next few days.

Lots of cold

We have had two deep cold spells in the last few weeks. Temperatures below 20 are not particularly common here. I have a small gardenia bush in the back yard that was hurt two weeks ago. Most of the leaves are now brown. I don't think it will survive. Daffodils are still budding. I think the cold will just delay their blooming. With temperatures up in the 60s this coming weekend, they will probably bloom.

Lenten roses have not bloomed yet, and my daphine is just beginning to bloom.

It is time to start planning for the summer garden. I also planted so many new perennials that I'm looking forward to watching what comes up.