Spring Before Its Time

Amur honeysuckle buds opening, 14 Feb 2017 (photo by Kate St. John)
Amur honeysuckle buds opening, 14 Feb 2017 (photo by Kate St. John)

18 February 2017

Our weather has been running hot and cold.  When it’s hot, the buds burst. When it’s cold, it snows.

On February 9 we had four inches of snow.

Four inches of snow in my backyard, 9 Feb 2017 (photo by Kate St. John)
Four inches of snow in my backyard, 9 Feb 2017 (photo by Kate St. John)

Then on Saturday February 11 it melted in one day and warmed to nearly 60oF.

Five days later, on Valentine’s Day, the honeysuckle buds were open (above) and my daffodils were coming up.  This is at least a month ahead of schedule.

Daffodils emerging in my garden, 14 Feb 2017 (photo by Kate St. John)
Daffodils emerging in my garden, 14 Feb 2017 (photo by Kate St. John)

Today’s high will be 59oF but I’m sure we’ll have another cold snap and the early plants will suffer.

It’s Spring before its time.

p.s.  How are your plants doing?  What’s showing up early in your yard?

(photos by Kate St. John)

11 thoughts on “Spring Before Its Time

  1. Everything is right on time here in the deep south. Azaleas and trilliums in full bloom, daffodils almost done, tons of birds stopping at our feeders on their way north…..

  2. Here in Colorado we have been suffering the hot-cold weather also…with so much warm weather that we have NO SNOW on the ground here at 7800 ft, and Jefferson County was just put on a. Stage 1 Fire Restriction!! IN FEBRUARY!! Praying that March, generally our snowiest month,will produce some real snow for us!

  3. The weed crop in my perennial beds is going gangbusters. A few warm days without the usual compliment of rain would be appreciated.

  4. Here in CA, we went from drought to deluge. Those of us who judiciously removed water hog plants and limped the rest through with drip systems and “gray water” now have gorgeous blooms. No way was I removing my bird and bee friendly plants.Those who put in drought tolerant dry loving plants are now seeing a lot of them rot out. Like the Hays Eagles, we’re seeing a lot of tree loss also. Fingers crossed to see if last year’s hummingbird nest gets re-used.

  5. Peonies and daffodils are up maybe 2″ here in the North Hills of Pgh. The deer are so hungry I’m surprised they haven’t already chomped them to the ground.

  6. Noticed the honeysuckles last week too, and took advantage of their visibility to pull them out! My irises also are up, a first for me in February…

  7. A followup, I now have forsythia with a few flowers.
    Also notice a few crocus blooming, including the one
    the squirrels relocates to the middle of the lawn.
    Saw lots of snowdrops blooming on a walk yesterday
    here in Forest Hills. I’ve only seen one poke it’s head
    up in my yard. Guessing the squirrels might have
    relocated those too.

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