SPRING FEVER !!
* Find links at the end of this post to see how my charming friends handle spring fever!
Winter & Spring at Our Fairfield Home and Garden
SPRING FEVER!!! I have it and I have it bad! Winter has drudged on and on this year with snowfalls and ice setting regional records and fraying my nerves. If ever I wanted to be done with the cold and wet, it is this year. Only a month away, but spring seems to be only an elusive dream as I gaze out onto fifteen inches of snow. So here I sit dreaming of spring and what I’ll do when I can finally get outside.
Just look at the same scene in Winter and Spring and you will understand why I am longing for the sweet new greens of the leaves and early buds that accompany them. While trying to occupy myself with tending the indoor plants and planning the new season’s garden, I just have an itch that can’t be scratched!
Braving the cold, Hellebores will arrive on the scene in late February and early March. Trimming away their weathered foliage, I’ll witness the renewal of spring.
Hellebores brave the cold beautifully!
Little pots of tete a tete narcissus will be on sale and I’ll buy a few to dress up the kitchen window box. After they’ve put on their show, I’ll transplant them into the garden for many years of enjoyment to come!
Spring Window Box
First of the bulbs planted in the flowerbeds, little crocus will pop up amidst the leaves, a reminder that it’s time to tidy up. A stone garden art piece is nicely surrounded by crocus, more each year as they spread.
Crocus and garden art in the flowerbed.
Spring calls for spring flowers! I’ll change out the window boxes and fill them with spring blooms. Last spring I used pussy willow, tete a tete narcissus, primroses, heather, tulips and pansies framed by a bit of ivy from the yard. Adding a watering can or two and some little birds made this window box display sing!
Spring Window Box at Our Fairfield Home & Garden
Pansies just make me smile with their sweet, upturned happy faces. Last spring, I found these wonderful ruffled purple pansies and will be on the hunt for them again!
Ruffled Purple Pansies
A flush of new white growth on the Japanese Variegated Willow and lush Jackmanii Clematis blooms will frame the trellis entrance to our gazebo garden. Pastel pink climbing roses are soon to follow, old-fashioned ones that make you breathe deeply to suck in their scent as you walk beneath them.
Our gazebo in spring!
Earlier than all the rest, and by far my favorite Clematis of all, Montana Rubens will cover our porch railing and entry trellis. Remarkably, this clematis seems to do as well with full sun as part shade in our garden, an endearing trait indeed!
Early spring blooming Montana Rubens Clematis, my favorite!
Early spring is signaled by the pastel blooms of Kerria, Lilac and Leucothoe shrubs and Dicentra on the side of our house. Wafts of the Lilac’s fragrance will follow me as I progress from one flowerbed to the next, cleaning up and weeding.
Kerria, Lilac, Dicentra and Leucothoe blooming in early spring on the side of our house.
Pansies and Creeping Jenny are great spring starters in my tipsy pots. Later in the season, I plan to do a succulent display in them!
Tipsy Planter Pots planted for spring
By mid-Spring, tree and shrubbery foliage will be leafing out and my Dad’s Iris will bloom, always a sweet remembrance of him. Their official name was lost long ago before I ever got divisions. We simply call these beauties “Dad’s Iris”.
Burgundy Iris passed on to me from my parents’ garden.
Best of all, I’ll know it’s spring for sure when I get an e-mail from our favorite nursery, Groff’s, announcing they are opening for the season! My friend and I will mosey into Pennsylvania farmlands through Amish country for a gardening road trip. We always fill her car! Then it’s time to get planting!
Can’t wait to fill the car at our favorite nursery, Groff’s !
10 Ways To Catch Spring Fever With The Garden Charmers
- 1. Barb Spring Fever | Our Fairfield Home & Garden
- 2. Lynne Spring Fever: What Not To Do | Sensible Gardening & Living
- 3. Heather Spring Fever: Don’t Fight It| New House New Home New Life
- 4. Jacki Finally; spring! There’s nothing like a garden after that first spring rain… | Drought Smart Plants
- 5. Melissa What’s your garden name? Come find out! | Empress of Dirt
- 6. Judy Spring Fever | Magic Touch & Her Gardens
- 7. Shelley Kickstart Your Spring Garden Now | Sow & Dipity
- 8. Amy Planning Ideas For Your Vegetable Garden | A Healthy Life For Me
- 9. Stephanie Seed Starting In Mini Greenhouses | Garden Therapy
- 10. Carol Spring Fever In My Garden Starts in Winter | The Gardening Cook
You might also enjoy these spring posts from Our Fairfield Home & Garden!
Spring Is Bursting Out All Over!
Spring Snow!
I feel the sun as I read your post…Warmth is on it’s way!
Let’s hope talking about it brings it on, Judy!
One more coming this week…:(
Fabulous pictures Barb. I can see why you are so looking forward to spring! Carol
Thanks, Carol! I am ready and waiting for spring in all its glory to commence!
Beautiful post as always Barb. I am sure your readers love how you teach and share. As I am watching the snow fall out my window I am really looking forward to #springfever.
Thanks, Amy! We have had a run of a couple warm days and the snow is melting – plus I am getting the bug!
I think all this snow has made us crazy! Your gorgeous photos have tipped my spring fever to frantic levels. Let’s hope we both get some warm weather soon.
I quite agree, Melissa! After a couple of warmish days, I don’t want to go back to winter at all!
gorgeous Barb! No wonder you have spring fever…that is a lot of snow covering your absolutely stunning garden. Soon it will be time!!
It has begun to melt – great to see some of the ground again! Soon …
I LOVE hellebores… and all your garden pictures :)
Thanks, Shelley! The flowers and nature do most of the work : )
Oh Barb, just looking at those pictures makes me yearn for spring even more. I was blessed to see your garden towards the end of last year, and pray that I will be blessed enough to see it as it comes to life or is in full bloom! You always have such wonderful vision and carry it out perfectly – what goes where and with what.
Thanks for your visit, Terri ! The garden is best in spring and early summer although I am planning on plantings that will keep that going longer into fall!
Oh Barb, I think my soul may disappear before the snow melts! Thanks for your inspiring post. You give me hope. I will try to be patient!
When the winter seems endless (like this year) patience is hard to come by, Karen! Hang in there!
Oh, Barb! You need to know how all of these beautiful colors have lifted my soul! We’ve had snow here since November and it isn’t over yet. This post is literally a life saver for me! I keep track of you on hometalk, but now I’m following your blog as well.
Keep doing what you do!
So glad I could throw you a lifeline, Cheryl! This has been about the longest winter ever, hasn’t it? So happy to know you enjoyed my post and will be following me and my gardening fun!
Barb, I so enjoyed your post! Your words are poetic and the photos just make me smile! You have also given me some wonderful ideas for when the snow is gone and weather has warmed! Thank you!
Thanks for your sweet note, Beth! I am full of ideas and raring to go as soon as this weather permits! Happy Gardening!
Barb, I LOVE your gazebo pic! So pretty. Oh, hurry up Spring!
Thanks, Sherry! Can’t wait for the weather to warm up so we can get out there and use it again : )