This is why I planted this lovely Japanese Quince.
Today. The first of January, in Austin Texas (which is a totally Spring-like day), my Quince has given me a wonderful gift — the first blooms of Spring.
I know it’s technically not Spring. And we’ll have a few more cold spells and maybe a freeze or two, but very sporadically. It’s just that we have so many nice warm days that plants are fooled into thinking … “Hey, it’s time to bloom!” And that’s what they do.
Here’s my daughter enjoying our beautiful 68 degree day looking for seeds and such in the garden.
A little Skullcap blooming and happy.
The Euonymous that likes slightly cooler weather and sunshine.
Mexican Mint Marigold that has totally redeemed itself by blooming since September straight. And it’s still blooming. It has earned itself a solid place in that bed, even though this summer I was ready to rip them out as they were blocking the water from my vines. I’ve worked around that, vines are getting watered again and the Marigolds are my new best friends!
Here’s my daughter enjoying our beautiful 68 degree day looking for seeds and such in the garden.
A little Skullcap blooming and happy.
The Euonymous that likes slightly cooler weather and sunshine.
Mexican Mint Marigold that has totally redeemed itself by blooming since September straight. And it’s still blooming. It has earned itself a solid place in that bed, even though this summer I was ready to rip them out as they were blocking the water from my vines. I’ve worked around that, vines are getting watered again and the Marigolds are my new best friends!
And this is one of several blooms on the Helianthus Multiflorus Maximus that I planted last Spring and normally blooms in August. Go figure.
Oh how you make me homesick (an Austinite Stuck in IOWA) *sighs*
My sense of time is always off because of the weather there and weather in the real world.
Thank you for sharing
As soon as the calendar turned to January and I saw paperwhites blooming in someone’s yard in the neighborhood and the weather has been in the balmy 60s and 70s—I thought, Spring is practically here. Of course it will get cold again, but by Feb. spring flowers will be opening in earnest, and then it’s just a countdown until summer. How quickly winter goes in Austin.
Yes, a blogger breakfast in January would be great. It may be hard to make too many plans for Chicago without a little more info on Spring Fling events, but hopefully that’ll be coming soon.
Mrs. Flam – yes, as you well know, things are topsy turvy here. I’m sure you are dying for green by about March. I spent 4 years in Mn and was always itching for Spring by then. Hang in there!
Pam – Oooh – I love paperwhites. Haven’t seen any bulbs out here yet, but I know it won’t be long. In a week or so I’ll send out an email about breakfast so we can all catch up in person!
These pictures sure do look like spring to me. Love seeing a few flowers.