Spring seems to be ... um...

... here. 
It's 72˚outside and sunny with a slight breeze and yes, this is still February. This week several other things beyond temperature have started to show that spring is certainly on its way. Here are the signs so far. Let's hope no late freeze messes this up. 

Clematis

This is a lovely purple Clematis that's been in the ground only a year (need to find the name - again).

Daylily sprouting

Most of my daylilies stay during the winter, but I have a few that die down and then come back. It will be time to be on aphid patrol soon. That seems to be a problem when they first sprout, but this does not cause any lasting damage. 

Hydrangea

Out the back door - a beautiful purple when it blooms

Hydrangea

One of two hydrangeas in pots that will be put into the garden this year.

Lady Banks Rose

First bloom and new leaves on the Lady Banks Rose. Thank goodness it has no thorns since I had to squeeze through many vines to get this photos. Lady Banks only blooms once, but for three to four weeks it's stunning. 

Rose

One of the heritage roses I have in the front garden. It's right under the Clematis. They are good friends. 

Strawberry

I have three strawberry pots and keeping the birds away from the strawberries as they mature is a total PITA, but worth it for the Boy. I don't eat them. 

Violet

This violet was here when we moved here and spreads easily in the shady parts of the garden. Some consider them weeds, but I don't. 

Spring is ...

springing - at least at my office. Maples are starting to bud out. Thank goodness. 

Spring

Finally.
The River Birches have their first tiny leaves.Wisteria has huge buds about to explode. Jeep is covered in pollen and the inside of my mouth is itching (icky). It must be spring. 

Spring?

It's hard to believe it, but I noticed the leaves are starting to bud out on the trees in the parking lot of the office. Does it always happen this early? Or is it because we've been comparatively mild since the 13 day long hellish deep freeze at the beginning of the month? Now we just have to cross fingers for no serious freeze or all that will be for nought.


The daffodils are blooming, but that's normal. We have daffs that bloom here in December. We're expecting more rain. We've had way to much for the fall/winter, I can only imagine when the spring rains come what it will be like.