Spring of Deception

A meme on Facebook that recently sprung up stated that we are now in the Spring of Deception as far as seasons go. It always seems to feel that way during the first good thaw after a long run of winter weather. While we definitely have turned the corner toward spring, how far down the block it is still remains to be seen.

One of the first signs of the season I look for are my early spring flowers, snowdrops and snowflakes.

Snowdrops have a distinctive three petal shape while snowflakes appear more bell-like in their appearance.

Over the years my snowdrops have died off, while the snowflakes have kept blooming on.

The little white flowers have long been a favorite subject. This is evident in photographs over several years. These shots provide a look back at springs past.

I began to search for my little photo subjects

this year after most of the snow pack started to melt. I was able to find the start of the snowdrops just breaking the surface amid a lay of goat hair. Kyle is shedding. 

Last year the snowflakes were well on their way by Feb. 24. 

 By March 5 of last year, they were fully open. However, a photo showed that they appeared to be covered by frost on that date.

In 2019, the snowflakes emerged by Feb. 19.

Facebook memories claimed February 2018 was a rather warm one.
Nonetheless, photographic evidence showed the snowflakes stayed the course and sprung up on Feb. 23.
However, photos of tulips on this date showed their leaves were up by two inches.

A picture from 2017 depicted a fully opened snowflake blossom on Feb. 24 and 2016's photo showed only buds on the little plants.

A look back at several photos from 2015 exhibited that February of that year was very snowy.

The first photo of a snowflake that year wasn't until March 21 and it was surrounded by snow.

On March 21, 2014, the snowdrops were well on their way up with their white blossoms almost ready to appear.
However they still weren't out as far as the flowers in a March 10, 2013, photo where honeybees were visiting.

As far as previous years, the photographic evidence has been erased by a failed hard drive. Nonetheless while looking for photos, I confused myself. There were a couple of very colorful flower photos in the February 2020 file.

I said to myself, "Why are there petunias blooming in February?".

I quickly realized that they were my over-wintering flowers that were enjoying the warmth of the basement under some grow lights. Meanwhile, I still have some of 2020's summer posies still hanging on in the basement. Some are actually opening up. Sadly they will need to wait a few months before they will be able to feel the "real" sun.

My outdoor search for spring flowers this year led me to check up on the peach tree which has buds. Thankfully, the buds are still closed up tight.

I always plead with the tree to try to wait until the middle of May to bloom to no avail. It has been hit by frost over several years.

A photo from mid-April of last year, depicted a tree almost fully in bloom with closed blossoms covered in snow.

While I try in vain to protect the peach tree from frost, it appears some of my other plants may need some shielding from more than just the weather.

I found that there were some catkins forming on a hybrid pussy willow. I went to check

 back a few days later for a better photo opportunity and the catkins were mysteriously missing.

Some of the rest of the willow had been "pruned" back as well as an azalea bush. I may need to put up fencing against some deer visitors.

That's just the nature of things 'round here.
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