Sweet spring bouquet
As the temperature soared toward a record high of 91 degrees (32.7 C) yesterday, I plotted another garden raid at the Unsold House.
With clippers in one hand and a vase of water in the other, I snipped a few daffodils and bearded iris, rescuing them from the Death Star that was making an early and unwelcome appearance.
Some of the flower stalks were already prostrate on the ground when I arrived.
Cool water and instant shade in my air-conditioned car perked them back up.
Now the sweet-smelling daffodils are scenting the dining room.
Their sisters in the old garden must be feeling better today. It’s back to normal end-of-February weather with an expected high of 61 (16.1 C) and cool north winds.
Good! I wasn’t ready for summer just yet.
All material © 2006-2009 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Those are simply gorgeous, and I bet they’re happy you came back for them! The only blooms I have right now are rosemary, lantana, and verbena–pretty pathetic. But with the face houselift finally completed, I’ve got some new landscaping opportunities, so thanks for the inspiration!
You definitely need some spring bulbs, Iris. I found daffodils too temperamental, as they died off one by one in my old garden, with only a few survivors still showing themselves. But grape hyacinths, summer snowflakes, and irises (not technically bulbs) are easy cheesy. And they just shout, “Spring!” —Pam
What a nice spring display! It’s cold & rainy here so that cheered me up quite a bit. 🙂
Hi, Racquel. Cold and rainy sounds like a drag, but we could actually do with some rain here. Wish you could send it our way. 🙂 —Pam
I can’t believe how hot it got in Austin yesterday. I’d be flat on the ground, too, in that kind of heat. Your bouquet is beautiful.
Hot, hot, hot. It was a sneak preview of things to come, but we won’t expect a steady supply of it until May. —Pam
Your bouquet is gorgeous. My iris aren’t blooming–just a couple daffies. Didn’t it just break your heart to see those beauties lying on their side from lack of at least cool moisture!!! It’s good you did rescue some of them.
I think so too, Lola. It was a mercy I thought of a raid that day, actually. 😉 —Pam
Pam,
What a wonderful spring bouquet! I love the color combos.
It is a crazy year for weather. I wore shorts and tee for my walk yesterday, but we’re expecting snow and high winds Sunday evening and Monday.
Cameron
Winter in the South is a roller-coaster, isn’t it? Stay warm tomorrow! —Pam
Pam, I can’t even begin to imagine 91ºF! That must’ve been very hard to take so suddenly…for both you and the flowers.
Your bouquet is sweet, superb, glorious, and more!
I’m imagining the perfume of those dear little daffs. Mmmmm. Lovely!
Hi, Kerri. I wish 91 were that surprising a record temperature for early spring in Austin, but alas, no. We usually get a hot, stuffy day (courtesy of the Gulf of Mexico) right before a norther sweeps in, and that’s exactly what happened yesterday. —Pam
Hi Pam, oh those poor flowers, and people! So glad you have cooled back down, for the sake of all. That is one gorgeous bouquet. Those tiny daffs are darling!
Frances
The tiny one is called ‘Seven Sisters’ or ‘Avalanche’, Frances. They smell so good! —Pam
Pam, 91 degrees in February is just plain WRONG. I’m getting more than a little apprehensive about what this summer will bring for all of us!
I expect the heat will be the same as always, Cindy—hot. But I do worry about the lack of rain. Is Houston thirsty too? —Pam
I hate when it gets hot too early & cooks all the Tulips & Daffodils. Your flowers are so lovely. I just can’t wait for it to be spring.
It won’t be long, will it? Even in Chicago? I hope it comes early for you, MMD. —Pam
Hi Pam, Lovely daffs…will you move any of the bulbs to the baby garden? I move them when their at the end of the bloom…so much easier to keep track of which ones they are! 91! That is very warm for a February day! Strange winter weather and the roller coaster ride is making me tired of winter even more…if that’s possible! gail
Hi, Gail. I moved a bunch of spider lilies and MSS’s oxblood lilies last fall. After the summer snowflakes finish, I plan to dig them up too. But I won’t bring the daffodils. They haven’t performed all that well for me, mostly dying out over the years. —Pam
Do you know it’s freezing here tonight? The wind is whipping all the wind chimes into a frenzy. Yesterday it was warm. The weather is nuts right now. And I can’t bear the thought of losing anything already blooming!
Brenda
I hope you can get all your tender plants through this last (?) freeze, Brenda. It didn’t get down to freezing in my part of Austin this time, and I’m thinking maybe we’ve seen the last freeze until next November. —Pam
That is a lovely bouquet. So bright and cheerful, I can almost smell its spring scents even digitally over all this distance. But 91 degrees? NINETY-ONE?!?! It was a high of 29 here today. Transposed, that’s your number, minus one. It looks like the bearded iris is saying something, like “s’alright” in its closeup photo.
Brrr, 29 is pretty nippy, Monica! On our hot days, I wish we could trade a little of your cool weather for a little of our warmth. —Pam
Hi Pam. I’m not sure if your iris is the fragrant one. Once my eyes spied the beard, my nose went into overdrive–auto response. Beautiful flowers. Low 60s sounds like heaven.
Low 60s is good unless a strong north wind is pounding us, which was the case on Saturday. But today, Sunday, is cool and dry with lighter breezes. Just about perfect. —Pam
Oh what beauties. I bet you hated to leave them behind. We just returned from Texas. We were in the LRGV. It is the first time we have ever had to wear winter coats while down there. Just in the morning of course but still. It was cold.
Lisa, I thought about you while you were in the Valley bird-watching. So close, but yet so far! I hope you had a great time, even with the cooler weather. —Pam
We also just had a nice few days in the 70s…they are calling for snow in a few days…welcome to the south!
It’s a crazy weather pattern, but at least it’s not boring. —Pam
91 degrees, holy moley! Good thing you made a rescue. Those blooms are stunning.
They deserved better than lying on the ground in heat exhaustion, didn’t they? They seem much happier on my windowsill. —Pam
How nice that you have your own little cutting garden over there, without having to give up whatever’s blooming in your current yard. Kind of like having your cake and eating it, too — a concept I strongly support!
Me too, Diana. 😉 —Pam
Pam,
Your iris and daffodils are lovely. I am especially fond of those small white daffodils. I’m glad you are still able to enjoy some of your old garden. Beautiful blooms!
Thanks, Liisa. The small ones are called ‘Seven Sisters’ or ‘Avalanche.’ —Pam
What lovely bulbs! Guess they weren’t prepared for 90 degree weather any more than us people are! We went from being in the 90s on Friday to 39 degrees this morning (Sunday). Both are a bit extreme for us. . . .
Thirty-nine is getting awfully close to freezing for South Texas, isn’t it, Mary Beth? I’m glad it didn’t get any lower. —Pam
Nice. Always good to see gardeners getting cut flowers from their garden, instead of the florist.
I’m pretty cheap that way, Ryan. 😉 —Pam
As someone who has left many a garden “behind” I can totally relate to the instinct to want to go back and rescue something not being tended. Good for you for reaping the benefits of your previous hard work! i can’t believe your town hit 90 degrees already! We had perfect sunny weather yesterday but back to blustery winter rain today–and all week, I do believe! Very pretty bouquet to be with you this week!
Thanks, Kathryn. We’re back to cool weather again too, though it’s expected to be back up to 80 degrees by the weekend. A weather roller-coaster! —Pam
Simply beautiful bouquet. We’re sending you some even cooler weather straight from Oklahoma today. I’m also not ready for summer and can imagine you aren’t either.~~Dee
I heard about your icy cold weather from my mom, Dee. Thank goodness you didn’t send that much of it down here. It just reached freezing last night, which didn’t do any damage, but it did take me by surprise. —Pam
Glorious colour, Pam, and I’d send you some snow, freezing rain and cold rain if I thought it would help keep your summer-weather from getting too overzealous.
A generous offer, Jodi. But could you hang onto that thought until, say, mid-July? That’s when I’ll want the freezing rain and snow. Not now. 😉 —Pam
Look at you with your pretty bouquet! How lovely! I JUST LOVE SPRING!
I’m picturing Snoopy dancing exuberantly with his nose pointed toward the sky, Randy. —Pam
Wonderful photos. It’s nice to see signs of spring even if it’s 1000 miles away. Even with your temps dropping to 60F you’re still 60F warmer than it was this morning here. I’ll send you some ‘cooler’ temps if you promise not to send me any of that unbearable heat you get.
You wouldn’t want an even exchange, Wiseacre? Aw, come on, a week of 100-degree days might help you to appreciate your bone-chilling winters. —Pam
91 degrees? Oh come on, you’re making that up! It was 26 degrees this morning in Birmingham, so I know! I suspect your name isn’t really Pam, but Heidi, as in Dr. Heidi Cullen of the Weather Channel, the Global Warming Guru and High Priestess of Panic herself! Well, let me tell you something, missy. I don’t care how hot it gets in Austin, I’m not going to stop using my gas grill.
Oh no, if gas grills are under attack, we’re in trouble too, Grumpy. I saw the pics of snowed-under Alabama on your blog. Brrr! I can see why you’d have trouble believing in 91 degrees at this moment. —Pam
I really thought I had left a comment already…must have thought about it and just didn’t push the button. Anyway, love purple and yellow together and can’t believe it is so warm there. More snow today…ten inches and counting. Snowdrops are going to have to wait. Spring is on hold.
Hi, Layanee. I’m glad you came back! So much snow is falling all along the East Coast. The cold weather skipped over us and headed east. Stay warm! —Pam
Pam,
I read you response to Jamie over the phone a second ago. He said if he had to pick out a cartoon character that described me, Snoopy would do it perfectly. LOL
🙂 —Pam