Blooms here—and there


After seeing fields of flowers in Carlsbad, California (above), the bright bougainvillea of Old Town and the wildflowers of Torrey Pines, it might seem like a letdown to come home to snowdrops and the last of the indoor bulbs.


But I’ve never suffered too much from zone envy. As it happens, there was one day during our vacation when the temperature of San Diego and the temperature of Buffalo differed by only 2 degrees. Whatever. Gardeners are of necessity guided by the weather; we need certain conditions in order to be out there planting, tending, and so on. I must not be that dedicated a gardener, because warm weather makes me think more about what it might be like at the beach than what it might be like to get out there and dig.


The double snowdrops were blooming when we got home, and I picked a few so they could be enjoyed comfortably, inside. They’re joined by the eternal bloom cycle of the amaryllis—4 of these are still in bud, while another is on its third blooming stalk. There is also a pot of tulips and some final tazettas. It really looks like the indoor flowers will overlap with the outside ones this year.


Buffalo does not have much of an early spring. It will be chilly and rainy for a while and then all of a sudden I’ll walk outside to see the craftspeople setting up their booths for our outdoor art festival. In between there somewhere are tulips, daffodils and tree peonies, all of which have their brilliant and beautiful—if brief—seasons.


One thing I do envy about California is its reputation for wildflowers (bush sunflowers and poppies shown here). I know we have them in Western New York—trillium, bloodroot, even lady's slippers—but I have never ventured out to find them—they aren’t quite as well publicized. This year, I’ll try to figure out where they hide out and venture forth to find them. There’s a spring resolution for you. And this is by way of being a GBBD post.

Comments

kate smudges said…
The photographs from your trip are lovely. I could use some wildflowers right about now, although I'd happily settle for those double snowdrops and the indoor tulips. It sounds as if spring arrives in Buffalo much as it does here. Suddenly the snow has disappeared and we're sailing well into summertime weather.
I've been watching with interest your comments and photos of your trip to San Diego, where I live. I think you saw the very best of it---judging by your photos. Great job, great perspective on this area!
Those poppies are gorgeous. I love the wildflowers too. Happy GBBD.
Kimberly said…
Yes, the CA flowers are beautiful...those pinks are really captivating! But, your sun room is full of gorgous blooms, and what a peaceful place to be! I'm not sure I would leave that room unless absolutely necessary.
Lynn said…
That's a gorgeous double snowdrop! Good for you for being at home with Buffalo springtime. I gotta say though that it was finding the many native wildflowers last year that helped me bridge the season from a few bulbs & brown to big leafy summertime. I hope you find yours!
Darla said…
You will trot outside one morning and Spring will have sprung....
EAL said…
Thanks Debra and all,

Actually there was an Old Town fan who disliked something I said about the place, but we emailed and everything is fine now. I still regret I was not there one week later, but not that much.
Buffalo sounds a lot like Chicago, spring seems to last about 2 weeks, or we go directly from winter to summer. Those double snowdrops are worth bringing in to admire them up close.
Good luck finding lady's slippers growing wild. Their locations are usually kept a secret to prevent people from digging them up. I've never seen one, and I've spent a lot of time in the wild places in spring.
I said this over at joco's place, and I'll say it again. I MUST have some of those snowdrops. You will be ambushed by the arrival of spring just any day now. Really.
Anonymous said…
I don't remember spring in Buffalo. I was too young when we left, but I do remember spring in NYC. It was too weeks long! If you caught a cold, you missed it.

Here, in Seattle, spring starts in February and ends at the end of June. I think the long, slow unfolding of spring is what I love best about this area.

I bought a 100 snowdrops last fall. One double seems to have slipped in with the rest. I should follow your example and bring it inside.

Deirdre
Patsy Bell said…
You had me at hello. That is a wonderful first photo. I never thought of bring in the tiny snowdrops. But I do love them.
Dreamybee said…
The California fields are beautiful, but I love the delicate detail of your snowdrops!
The double snowdrops are just lovely and I'm happy you have some outside blooms beginning. You are a good example of the phrase "bloom where you're planted."
Kathleen Scott said…
I found you from May Dreams bloom day. Figured from the name that you'd be fun to read, and I was right. We'd all be happier if we conformed to your philosophy of being fully where we are. Although I wasn't able to do that during our epic drought last year...

Life moves on and this year here in the Texas Hill Country, wilflowers are exploding into bloom.
Jenn said…
Hunting wildflowers is fun. you'll never forget your first ladyslipper sighting!
Robin Ripley said…
I don't so much suffer from zone envy as weather envy. I'm happy gardening in zone 7. But when I get weeks of dreary cold rain, I do long for a balmy breeze.

Love your garden room!

Robin Ripley
Love the way you write this post with the juxtaposition of California's weather with your own.~~Dee
Carol Michel said…
I've always been a zone 5 gardener, and probably always will be so I don't suffer (much) from zone envy. I do enjoy the seasons, and it is nice that other places are different. Makes for a nice visit.

Let us know when you find those wildflowers!
Noel Morata said…
aloha,

i've always wanted to visit torrey pines, thanks for sharing those pics
Love your garden room and the double snowdrops. Zones are overrated!
Kathy said…
Cornell has a wonderful native plant garden. Just sayin'
Unknown said…
I too have always been a zone 5 gardener, so while I play at having zonal envy, i like what we can do here, too. The poppies in the first photo are soul-drenching with colour, and we'll be enjoying that sort of effect here in a couple more months. Meanwhile, snowdrops are just the happiest flowers my heart can imagine, and yours are just exquisite.
The photos are gorgeous and you trip to CA sounded divine. The wildflowers wow me as well, but the ver first photo was magical. H.
Patty said…
Beautiful pictures, I love the snowdrops. Hope you're having a good time in sunny California!
Beautiful photo of your snowdrops. I'm a wildflower fan and CA has some gorgeous ones (especially those poppies). I sometimes have zone envy for what can be grown up north but I also know that I'm a happier person in warm weather.
I adore that snowdrop!! I love when they have multiple petals and green edges... so gorgeous!
lisa said…
I'm having such a bulb envy moment...forcing bulbs has always been a gardening "black hole" for me. I need to try again! Our spring usually creeps in slowly which is great for me, since I move rather slowly too :)
Lisa said…
I spent eight summers working in central NY, and I now live in northern California. And I gently waggle my finger at you for not seeking out your native wildflowers. Trout lilies in the spring! Knapweed in the summer! New York has *glorious* wildflowers!!

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