First Signs of Spring?

I saw a robin this morning on the way to work and I noticed how warm the sun felt while driving. Still a lot of snow on the ground, but melting fast. It's suppose to be 40 by Sunday. Time to prune some trees. Can shorts and Hawaiian shirts be far off?

I spotted a red-winged blackbird--a few actually--for the first time yesterday. So charming--always a welcome sight!
Our weather has been the same--sunny--and feeling very warm. I've been busy wrapping up all kinds of inside chores knowing the weather w/ crack open soon w/ sun and temps above 50.

Shorts? I never stop wearing them! But I do stick to the house and quick runs outside. ;0)

beaker- down here in South Minneapolis is it cloudy with some snow floating around. I pruned my cherry tree and have the branches I cut off in the house in a vase. They are starting to bud out.

This isn't a sign of spring, but over the weekend I was sitting in my studio when a Bald Eagle swooped by, following along the creek. Right here in the city!

I helped a friend tap 150 maple trees in snow still over 25" deep. Remarkably, when we would tap the sunny side, even though the outside temp was ony a little over freezing, the sap would be running before you could get the bag to hange on the tap. Spring's life-force will not be denied. Ken

Gee, Pauline, it must be a heck of a lot warmer in South Mpls as compared to NE Mpls. I haven't seen any buds. Yup, was a little dismayed by today's weather. At least nothing accumulated and I've been running around all week without a jacket. Belinda said this morning the reason it wasn't warmer was because of all the snow that fell south of us. So let's blame it all on those folks in Iowa and Nebraska (LOL).

For sure, what good is a south breeze if it flows over the white stuff.

beaker_ch It is warm inside where I am forcing them to open they are asleep outside. I just figured since I was cutting them off I would bring them in to see if they would open. It is slow going but fun.

Gray again today, no flurries yet.

kandlmidd every fall we say we are going to go to our cabin in the spring to collect maple syrup and every spring we don't. One day maybe. The thought of getting in there through the snow always puts us off. It might have something to do with no heat or water this time of year also.

Zen, These good friends are in their mid 80's and although they have a small crawler type tractor with tracks that they set a 200gal tank on and transfer to a larger bulk tank at the shack, the sheer volume in a short time amazes me. Sort of reminds me of lambing: about 15 straight days of backbreaking labor with little or no sleep. In each case your mind goes numb and it work just becomes rote and sustainable food becomes the only break in the routine. Sound like something you still want to do for something you can get at the market? Ken

Ken, the market sounds just fine to me.

Pauline

Great thunderstorms in Western Wisconsin last night. Took a quick stroll around the gardens before 6 this am and found lots of green stretching out of the ground.....what a welcome sight!

I finally have a sign of spring to report!! This morning some tulips and daffodils are peeking through. A few other plants are starting to show some life. YES

zen, is your snow gone now? that always helps. ;0) I think my daffs grew 2 inches overnight...I swear they were not up yesterday morning! I've got to stop STARING at the hellebores, but I am encouraged by some buds.....

Here's mine, taken this morning!

Nan, who is your friend?

Mudgirl, the snow is gone as if this afternoon. It is 44º and it has rained all day, The prediction is for 56º and sun tomorrow, if we get it lot's of things will start popping up.

My kitchen window is on the south side facing a small lake. Here are my daffodils today. I'm so excited, I can hardly wait to see them bloom.

woo hoooo I have blooming iris!! Odd that they came gefore the hellebores, crocus, etc, but I'm happy none the less.

I had some worms on my driveway with today's rain ;)

ROFLOL!!!! Worms! Yes, that is a sign of spring!

The Linders Greenhouse is up at 43rd and Central! Must be spring. Boy are they fast, they were't there on Thursday.

HurraH for the first crocus bloom and a ray of sunshine today! This has been such a long and grey winter, (except for January, which was actually nice for the first time ever.) I am so winter weary I know I will go into a hyperactive frenzy once I get going out there. Bring it on!!!

I will have to check to see if there is a Linder's green house set up near me.

No doubt about it; if Linder's is setting up, spring can't be too far off. I love Linder's main store over in St. Paul.

I was suppose to work on my new lily bed today, but this morning, while contemplating which sneakers to trash, I noticed tulips up about 4 inches. I spent the day cleaning out the beds where I have spring bulbs planted. In addition to the Madonna lilies, I found 5 other lilies up about 3 inches. I was very surprised to see those. 3 I know are LAs, but the other 2 could be orienpets or trumpets. I'm saving all the leaf mulch in case I have to recover everything.

Boy am I sore tonight. I took 3 Aleve about 2 hours ago and just took 2 more.

Looks like most of the phlox wintered through OK. Another surprise was a perennial sweetpea. The vines were about 3 feet long under all the mulch and just as green as green can be. I also found a whole slew of crab apples buried under mulch. At first I thought they were bulbs. I was so relieved when I finally figured out what they were. Darn squirrels. If apple trees start growing in my garden, I'm sure going to be mad.

Had to make a run to HD this afternoon when I ran out of leaf bags. They had a big sign that said the garden center was open - no plants though. They did have all sorts of bagged and boxed goodies, but I stopped myself. They moved all of the bagged bulbs to the front entrance which is unheated. They left all the boxed periennials inside. They also had all sorts of fruit plants, asparagus, onion and potatoes. Everything I looked at looked good.

Sorry to be rambling on so, but it was so nice to out all day. Even the dog seems perkier this evening and can't stop chasing the cats (LOL). It was a good day.

Beaker, that is super early for lilies. I hope mine stay put. But I fear I am not too far behind, because I see my Lycoris squamigera peaking on the north sidish of my house that is the last place to lose its snow.

What you need, beaker, is a good pair of mud boots. Got mine at Fleet Farm. Get a high top kind and you won't have to worry about getting the legs of your pants wet.

The Chaska HD has some of their cole crops in now. Yours can't be far behind.

I am sorry but, every time I see your name (beaker), I giggle inside myself. Remember Beaker on the Muppet Show? When that program was on, I never missed it. Fond memories.

--------------------------------

I uncovered my potted materials yesterday, and they are farther along than normal. I have buds up for the first time on 3 different species of Pulsatilla's I grew from seed, and a Draba is just about to bloom. Outside, the only thing showing color is a hellebore (that will bloom for the first time too).

Rick

So are these the same Linders that catch big 'eyes in 14 foot of water?

My MIL's maiden name was Linder...

Al, the link is about the Linders we are talking about. They put up small green houses around town in various parking lots every year. It is a sign of spring here.

Pauline

http://www.linders.com/

Leftwood, that's exactly where Beaker came from. Years ago I remember telling my boss how clever I thought the Muppets were, so he took in an episode. Came back to tell me how awful he thought it was and was surprised that I didn't enjoy "more sophisticated" humor. I always thought it was a hoot and tried to catch it whenever I could.

With all the rain this morning, I've been browsing lily sites. Found one at Parkland Perennials that I'll probably be lusting for until I order it. Honeyqueen; an asiatic that is suppose to be fragrant.

Beaker, that's so pretty!

beaker-I have to have one.

Leftwood I read on the other site that you garden is something to behold. Can't wait to see it in June.

Until recently I have been lumping all the Saints together and thought Saint Bonifacius was near St. Cloud.

That's just so funny about your name, Beaker. We just may think alike, you and I.

The trillium is up!!!!

My crocus are usually the first to peek through and they just started today after many other things. Guess they were just being careful this year.

Bigcityal, I smelled worms after our rain the other day. Now that's spring. We also heard spring peepers Sunday!

We've been hearing the spring peepers, too the past couple of days....I think they grow in numbers each night.
Had a couple 'stuck' to the door last week (see link above).

The sedums are *really* popping up now!

Yes the sedum is coming to life here to. It is another one of my favorites. I keep looking for new varieties all of the time.

My sedums were one of the first things to start up this spring.

Yep, sedums. I just broke all of last years stems off. Next year I'm cutting them back in the fall. I hate to try not to cut new growth. My peonies and fern peonies are showing now! The siberian iris are farther behind than the daylilies. I cut them back today. Now the rabbit has no where to hide.

Well I finally got to work in the actual dirt this past morning. The beautification committee of our little town "redid" the entrance and exit signs to the cemetery and put a raised bed around each and planted siberian cypress, Microbiota decussata, on the mound and between the two pillars. Nothing fancy, the understated look really works well in this kind of situation. Anyway these signs are on a south facing slope which always loses its snow first so I was able to edge and weed the beds and renew the mulch. This morning I woke up to the dry hands which come from handling our acidic dirt. Feel like you've brushed them lightly with sandpaper. Spring has finally come to the north country. Ken

Aahhh, sandpapered fingers. I finally tried the coated gloves with the stretchy back and wear them faithfully. No more really dry hands and I don't miss the feel of the dirt like I thought I would. I also need an update on my tetnus shot!

Yesterday I got out and finished cleaning the beds. It rained over night (almost 3/10th's) but that is on top of other good rains. I walked around this morn ''surveying all that I own'' and couldn't believe the greenery that popped up overnight. The grass is officially green!

It's raining off and on today. A perfectly gloomy afternoon!