March 2020 in the Northern Hemisphere

[Gabriela]

It really looks like spring in other countries! Beautiful pictures.

The Corylus 'Contorta' is spectacular Stefan.

Really amazing how advanced everything is Leena! I spotted few Corydalis at ground level where the snow melted, and some are germinating, but that's all.

[Hoy]

Proper winter Trond!

Here we have had gales, rain, and a very occasional light frost... on the whole I prefer a bit of snow and ice.

In the garden things are moving on slowly, the saxifrages are looking very nice and there are still some late snowdrops but we haven't had the warmth to move many of the later things on much.

 These plants are very under-utilised in gardens in my opinion, they flower really early and offer a nice contrast to bulbs.

Tristan,

Your winter seems to have been just like ours!

You really have some nice Saxes!  And I agree regarding Dentaria. It is one of my favorite genera

[Hoy]

.....

It has been cold nights again, but days have been sunny and about +5C, very nice.
Snowdrops are doing well, and many Crocuses and even Corydalis are coming up a.......

Very nice Leena! Looks like a beautiful spring!

[Leena]

Thank you all.  Last time we had an early spring in 2014, I hope I don't have to wait for another early spring for six years again.
Cold nights slow plants down, which is good, and so far I haven't seen any serious damage by it.

[Tristan_He]

Thanks to all for the beautiful pictures.Wish,that I could cultivate Sax. oppositifolia
so successful in my hot garden. 30 years ago i had no bigger problems with these
beauties, but in the meantime the summers got hotter and hotter.

Hmm... yes I can see that would be a problem  I will enjoy mine while I can - still they survived the heat and drought here (about 30C for several weeks, streams drying up etc) 2 years ago surprisingly well. But climate change is a problem for alpine plants both in the wild and in gardens.

[Tristan_He]

Lots of good things to come Leena, it looks like the Secret Garden!

[Hoy]

Today in the garden.

Cardamine pentaphylla, pink











Corydalis solida




Rhododendron barbatum

[David Nicholson]

Cracking photographs Trond.

[Hoy]

Cracking photographs Trond.

Thank you David

[Gabriela]

Today in the garden.

The Cardamine is complementing well the Corydalis Trond; something I still have to add to my garden.

Is this the Rhodo you were saying will bloom first time? Gorgeous red.

[Leena]

Tristan, thank you.

Trond, Cardamines look very nice. I'm looking forward to mine coming up.

[Hoy]

The Cardamine is complementing well the Corydalis Trond; something I still have to add to my garden.

Is this the Rhodo you were saying will bloom first time? Gorgeous red.

You should have some Cardamine, Gabriela!

And yes, it is the same rhodo.

...

Trond, Cardamines look very nice. I'm looking forward to mine coming up.

Probably quite soon. I an crossing my fingers

[Gabriela]

You should have some Cardamine, Gabriela!
And yes, it is the same rhodo.

They are not to be found here Trond, and I never managed to catch seeds of the natives ones. I planted few young C. enneaphylla last fall, hopefully they'll show up later in the spring.

[Hoy]

They are not to be found here Trond, and I never managed to catch seeds of the natives ones. I planted few young C. enneaphylla last fall, hopefully they'll show up later in the spring.

Well, we can see what can be done about that Gabriela 

[GordonT]

Spring is ahead of schedule, here in southwestern Nova Scotia. The wind is currently howling like a banshee, but the snow is gone, and plants are primed for bloom. This is our earliest showing for Hamamelis x intermedia.



The two plants were supposed to be a grouping of 'Arnold Promise' and 'Jelena'. Arnold is on the left, Jelena is the larger plant, and she didn't get the message about proper flower colour.

Pulsatillas are starting to show buds, but it will be a while before they are lensworthy. The driveway turnabout is planted with a mix of heaths, heathers and various conifers (Pinus parviflora 'Ibocan', Cedrus atlantica glauca...). Erica carnea 'Springwood White, and 'Vivellii' have begun to open. They will be crawling with bees in a few more days.



On the north side of the house, Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn' is also primed to deliver its best showing to date. I still wonder why this isn't more commonly grown in the area.



The morning began quiet enough, with a not all that common visit from some geese in transit.



They rarely stay long, mainly because the dogs like to get them to fly. We kept the pups inside for part of the morning... at least the flock had time enough for a swim in the pond.