Some of you have crocuses blooming already and I am soooo jealous. Our weather has warmed up a touch (just above freezing), and February has been surprisingly sunny, but real blooms are still weeks off for me.

Over in Willow Grove, it’s just the pink pussywillow that’s putting on a show. It’s always the earliest to get catkins of the three willows I have there (white, black, and pink)

The branches are covered in catkins and are starting to turn dark grey (which is normal). When the weather gets warm enough for the bees to emerge, these will produce a load of pollen and be one of their first food sources available.

Both the white and black pussywillows are putting out catkins, but they are always much slower to emerge. I expect they will come into full show in the next few weeks.

You may also recall that I have a weeping pussy willow out front. Last year, it leafed just fine, but didn’t put out any little catkins, which was a big disappointment.

I really had to look, but I did find one the other day! So hopefully this will be sign of more to follow. It’s a pretty spectacular little tree (though not very tall yet), and I think it would be amazing covering in fuzzy catkins.

The snowdrops in the catio yard have recovered from last week’s snow and are doing their best to put on a show.

These should multiply a little every year, and I hope one day, they will be almost like a little carpet in early spring.

In fall, I planted some bulbs over in the woodland garden too – most of which is still covered in leaves (I leave them as long as possible for the moths, fireflies and other critters that over winter in them), but I spied this little snow drop poking out.

I’ve also planted bluebells and other bulbs over there too, most hidden under the leaves.

Hopefully there will be a wonderful spring show in that corner of the yard too.

Elsewhere..

My beautiful Hellebore has made it through the winter and should put on new growth and blooms over the coming weeks.

And there are bulbs of every kind coming up in every single garden. It’s really only a matter of time… but the waiting is so hard sometimes!!!