Salix gracilistyla ‘Mt Aso’ looking pretty in the bed outside the greenhouse.

It is starting to feel like spring and I couldn’t be more excited about it!  Each fall, when we put the gardens to bed and I feel a bit worn out by the long gardening season, I wonder if I’ll be ready for planting again in the spring.  However, the relative quiet of winter always does its magic work in restoring my mind and body just in time for garden planning in March.  Our first round of seeds have sprouted and already been transplanted for further growth.  We also are trialing some new plants this year – Anemone and Ranunculus. True confessions: I’m a huge lover of Ranunculus.  I think they are one of the loveliest early blooms of spring.  When we got the chance to buy some tubers from a local flower farmer, we jumped at it.  We have never started them ourselves before so we have been eagerly watching the pots every day for signs of life.  Gail called me out to the cool greenhouse one morning the other week to show me that the Ranunculus had started to pop. We ooohed and ahhhed over each tiny plant emerging from the soil.  Even if just one of them blooms I will be thrilled!  The Anemone ‘Black and White’ are new for us as well.  The plants are already putting on some lush foliage, so we are hopeful to see their flowers this year.  They are a stunner, so I’ll be sure to keep you posted on their progress.

In other plant news, the sweet peas have sprouted!  Primroses and foxgloves have been moved to the cold frames out in the Vegetable Garden to give them a much needed cold period.  Volunteers came in and helped us transplant seedlings and re-pot some of our stock plants. We direct seeded Larkspur, Nigella, Bachelor Buttons, Poppies, and Bells of Ireland in the Cutting Garden.  Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis ‘Flore Pleno’) are blooming in the Moongate Bed near the Rose Garden.  And we placed our bulb orders for the gardens and display pots.

What about you?  Have you scouted new and exciting plants for your garden this year?  Have you started seeds or direct sown outside?  Here’s to a happy (and early!) spring!