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And the winner is ...

Does your garden have a signal of spring?  The first flower to bloom or tree to bud out?  In my little garden, it's often the "Homestead Purple" verbena or the occasional brave iris.  






This year the winner is an Avalanche narcissus (also called Seven Sisters)  that just joined my motley crew last fall even though it's been cultivated in this country since the 1700's.

There was a "Feedback" iris in the race, but it couldn't quite get opened in time to claim the lead.









  And as much as I appreciate the color it brings to the garden, my flowering quince is a dependable late winter bloomer so I don't really think of it as heralding spring.


Like a lot of other Austin gardeners, I'm grateful for any plants that have managed to survive a broiling hot, dry summer followed by a winter full of snow and sustained freezes.  All of the "antique" roses are happily putting out new growth, and most of the herbs appear to wonder what all the fuss is about.   I'm hoping the five Amarcrinum bulbs that were also planted last fall make it.  Three times they began to put out green shoots only to be slapped down by a hard freeze.    This one just keeps trying, but the others look like they've given up.  Oh well, what's a garden but a lesson in gratitude, resilience, and flexibility?



Comments

Caroline said…
I adore that flowering quince! A 'Blue Poppy' anemone opened today. The anemones always bloom first, followed by freesia.
February 27, 2010 at 7:03 PM
vertie said…
That flowering quince is beautiful! I may need to get one. Hope your back is feeling better.
February 28, 2010 at 7:53 AM
Rock rose said…
Well said, and if you don't have it you will never make it as a gardener. Sometimes I find myself at rock bottom and then I find a little flower and I spring back. Your quince flowers are lovely-I think I should find a place for this reliable winter bloomer.
March 1, 2010 at 5:12 AM
vbdb said…
Well, the flowering quince is certainly getting the "most popular" vote. All of you Austin area gardeners can check out the flowering quince in the "green garden" area at Zilker. They're probably 7 feet tall and truly impressive.
March 1, 2010 at 9:16 AM
LindaCTG said…
I love the quince for sure, but I love Avalanche as the official winner for spring. And that iris looks like it's going to be lovely. I've got to scout around for some of those early bloomers. Mine aren't even at the start-up line yet.
March 3, 2010 at 8:12 AM
Annie in Austin said…
Lovely iris!
After working in a friend's garden I know that looking at a quince is a lot different from pruning one, VDBD- think I'll admire yours but not plant one here.
Some of my amarcrinums look okay, some not. How many times can they be nipped back before they just give up?

Annie at the Transplantable Rose
March 3, 2010 at 7:06 PM
Patrice said…
This is what I can say, those flowers are really lovely specially the flowering quince.
April 11, 2010 at 1:17 AM
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