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February Gardening, Last of Winter in the Flower Garden

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I’ve had plenty of winter this year, yessiree. It is mid-February and that means the worst is over and spring is on its way. Eventually. February gardening in Ohio usually means lots of waiting, unless you are starting your seeds inside. Then, under the lights you see sprouts of spring -just about when March is ready to blow into the calendar year. The last of winter in the flower garden will not likely yield many flowering plants here, unless it is one of those unusual mild winters.

We were in deep freeze until recently when the climate had wild swings from near zero (or below) to tropical 50-60 °.  Presently we are looking to receive more rain on top of our already saturated ground. I didn’t experience them, but learned about frost quakes for the first time. Apparently places like Pennsylvania and Minnesota had them. Due to the saturated ground and polar vortex, there were pops and explosions of the earth.

Yes, I’m a little worried for my peach trees. I planted three new ones and gave them no protection. They would have been better prepared with some mulch and wrapped trunks.

Winter Beauty

We had plenty of winter beauty this year, and with the snowfall this month, it was prettier than usual for this month. I have memories of February being soggy with dirty half-melted snow. We either have snow or not around here (usually not) in cold weather; and it looks halfway presentable for photos. Although I took almost none this winter.

I love the beauty to be had, but was a bit jaded when it comes to photographs. I get tired of winter snowscapes -except when experiencing them firsthand.

We had some exceptional scenes, and it is too bad I had such an attitude about using a camera. We had ice storms that coated the trees, winter wonderland snowfalls, and a particularly magical scene of hoarfrost and new fallen snow together one night. The ground was covered in fluffy white, while the fog froze on every branch and withered weed. The wands of the willow tree hung like cascades of diamond dusted ice curtains over the driveway.

Truly magical in the deep night of winter.

I did take a few pics for instagram, after one of the recent snowfalls.

 

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The Flowers Are Coming

All this month the spears of daffodil and snowdrops have shown that they are eager to emerge.  I should be inspecting since sometimes the snowdrops have come into full bloom without me even realizing it. I used to get a glimpse from the window, but now I have to actually venture into the yard to see them blooming. (I let the pyracantha grow over the window last year)

After about a decade or more they finally decided they liked my yard. Galanthus nivalis has been planted here in a couple spots, but never multiplied in the happy way that the Glory of the snow (Chionodoxa)  bulbs have. Until the last year or two! Then there were snowdrops coming up in the lawn and all around the Magnolia stellata.

The snowdrops are the earliest blooming bulbs, here.

Then come the daffodils, and ‘February Gold’, despite its name, usually does not appear until March. A diminutive sized plant and flower that has perfect proportions in a clear golden yellow. It is one of my favorite daffodil cultivars. ( Although I have many, many favorites, honestly).

Spring 2009
Scillas in the box, a young Magnolia stellata immediately behind.

Magnolia stellata starts budding out at the end of this month, but because it flowers early sometimes the blossoms are ruined in late frosts which we can expect into April. Groundhog Day predicted that winter will end sooner rather than later… but I have my doubts.

All The Rain

I can’t imagine being out in the garden anytime soon with all the rain we have had, and continue to have. It gets soppy-soggy and muddy even in normal years. This year is exceptionally wet… as I think I said.

The frozen state of the ground helps a bit, but when it thaws- it sucked my husbands shoe right off!

That reminds me. On a topic detour: so many gardening people complain about grass and lawns, but it is during mud season that you can appreciate the quality of grassed areas. The grass is useful for swales to help water runoff without losing soil, and when walking anywhere in my yard at this time, the protection of grass means one can walk through necessary areas. A garden isn’t the place for fads, but a stewardship of the ground we borrow for a time. I don’t love lawns at all, but they do have their uses.

That winds up my little chat as I drop in on this blog and update you on what is happening in the garden.

‘Til next time

Ilona

In Touch with the Weather

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Galanthus nivalis
Snowdrops are blooming

A definite benefit of gardening is being in touch with the weather. It’s a necessity, and counters the tendency of a modern life to live in isolation from nature. Of course, mankind has always been in something of a struggle with natural forces; but that is just an explanation for why we complain so much about the weather. (A vestigial sense of our recognition of nature’s importance in our lives).

Funny how the weather in spring sends a message about the rest of the growing season. We can’t always make predictions, but we sure know if we are going to start early, late, or on time. This year in Ohio it has been wet. Despite the fact that neighboring farmers have tiled the fields in past years, a large pond formed in the field across from my house. Gardening and farming will have a bit of a late start in my area.

This is what it looks like. Usually such rains come later in the season.

(This is my main indicator on how saturated the ground is in the entire Central part of the state). Plenty of flooded fields and swollen streams noted between here and the city, too.

The ground is much too soggy to work, but pruning and clearing winter debris is in full swing.

The Spring Walk

I took the “garden assessment” walk the other day. Crocus are starting to bloom, and many other early spring bloomers have popped up and are showing color: Muscari, Scillas, Puschkinia.

Scillas and the P.s are in the family Asparagaceae, I just found out.

snowdrops blooming
Original spot under the Magnolia stellata

I had a nice surprise with the Snowdrops. Planted here very early on, they stayed put in their little places for years and years. Even the crocus tended to rove, but the Galanthus nivalis just seemed content with its little spot.

I finally planted more, because I like them so well, but drew the opinion that snowdrops didn’t particularly like my garden. This year, however, a number have popped up in the grass in surrounding ground. It was one of those unexpected delights of the garden.

Multiplying Bulbs

Every year I tell myself I will dig up some of the bulbs around here and replant them in new places, so maybe this year. And perhaps scatter some fertilizer to give the bulbs a boost.

2017 was the first year, in as long as I can remember, that I didn’t plant bulbs in the fall. If I divide my daffodils this spring, it won’t matter, because I can increase the plantings by hundreds if I want to –  all I need is the energy.

The State of the Roses

My roses go through hell here. The winters winds are so desiccating, the temperatures so low, and the snowcover so nil, that I am reduced to only the hardiest. Each year had picked off more and more of the Hybrid teas, the heritage roses, like ‘Madame Isaac Pereire’, and even the shrub roses like the ‘Königin von Dänemark‘. The real blow came with the advent of Japanese Beetles to our region.

But I have a few survivors. I was worried that my new rose hadn’t made it, but thankfully saw green stems below the snow line. This year there was snow cover during the worst of the winter freeze. I’ll try to coddle it once it gets growing.

It is “Coral Drift® Groundcover Rose“. What I like best about this rose is that it is an everbloomer, and not stingy with its blossoms. It gives autumn roses – the only rose I have grown that will bloom so late. Growing in an exposed position, it truly lives up to the “hardy” designation.

My Poison Ivy Saga

As my garden has matured with trees, shrubs, and organic practices, so has the proliferation of the poison ivy plant. First in little ways and out-of-the-way spots, it now is a thug. My family members are highly sensitive, so it is left to me to wrestle, struggle, and otherwise go to war against it. 

When I was young I was immune to it, a trait I inherited from my Dad. I find that now my body has become somewhat sensitized. I tend to (very carefully) use long handled clippers to remove it.

Well, some very lush growing vines have been a problem and I felt that without the oily leaves I could safely get to work on it. Think again, Ilona. I ended up with a mild case that is over a large part me. I use gloves √ long sleeves √ long pants √ socks and shoes √… and sometimes a hat. Still, even after washing well, the itching developed. I am still itching.

Not a surprise when considering the yards and yards of vine and root, and the many upright bushlike growths that I pulled up and hauled out of the place where it had really taken hold.

poison ivy leaves
The new leaves look so innocent, don’t they?

Things to know about Poison Ivy

  • The offending oil is found in the roots, stems, and branches, not just the leaves.
  • The oil can last on surfaces for years. Wash off the clothing and gloves.
  • When washing up, after gardening or a walk in the woods, scrub off the oil.
  • Never burn it, the oils get into the air and can result in severe allergic reactions.

… Besides gathering up wind blown branches, this is my main activity lately. I had my husband use the chainsaw on some trees. One of my daughters put in a major effort in an overgrown part of the yard.