December blooms, winter sprouts, what do do?

 

While driving through downtown the other day I saw lots of spring blooming trees in flower...in December!

 

There were pretty pink roses loaded with blooms and yellow 'Stella D'oro' daylilies happily flowering too.

In my own garden the forsythia have begun to show some color and the 'Lenten Rose' (Helleborus orientalis) has sent up buds. They usually bloom in consort with crocus bulbs.

Cold loving crops like pansies, lettuce, tatsoi and others are basking in the glory of warm rain and mild weather. I've been picking salads every day and enjoying the smiling pansies too.

 

 

Last year snowdrops were blooming in the garden on January 15. That was the earliest I'd ever seen them bloom in my garden. Even though is was wonderful to see flowers in January, it was also worrisome. With a 600 foot driveway, complete with switchback, I'm loving another easy start to winter. On the other hand, any woody plant which blooms now won't bloom again until next season. Like most gardeners, I'm wondering; What's going on?

Right now the forcythia is only testing the waters with a few flowers, if it explodes in yellow, that's it until next spring...or winter I guess.

Those trees I saw along Penn Ave. are in full bloom, that's it until the following season.

The good and bad news about these blooms is there's nothing to do. These plants have been dealing with crazy weather for centuries and will adapt. All we can do is sit back and enjoy.

I think this quote sums it all up, "When all is said and done, the weather and love are the two elements about which one can never be sure-" Alice Hoffman.