March 29 – These days we can expect to see more flowers opening and showing off their spring finery, except when the snow pops in to remind them that March will be around for almost another week. I usually keep a list of the various kinds and mark them in my journal. It’s fun from year to year to check what I have written previously to see if the time for blooming, and if it varies a whole lot. Sometimes I have found that the little blooms arrive at just about the same time, but in other years, it will be a big surprise as some, the daring kind, come out a few weeks ahead of time.

[ Henbit all over ]
Henbit: Now this is a strange little plant with reddish-purple flowers. Last week I was down on my hands and knees photographing the early blooms, not as much concerned about capturing the prettiest, but the first. By this week, the blooms have really grown, and pretty well taken over much of the lawn and garden. Some have filled up a ten by twelve foot area, and in other spots there are more of the same. For the last few years, many parts of the lawn have been taken over by henbit; no matter how I hoed the plants out, they still come back to show who’s boss (and it’s not me).

[ Daffodils ]

[ Pink hyacinths ]
Surprise lilies: The leaves are getting ready to fade back into the ground until time for them to shoot back up later this year when least expected; living up to the surprise in their blooms.
Iris: The plants in the iris beds are so green and healthy-looking, reminding us that towards the end of May they will be showing off their many bright colors of lavender, golden yellow, white, and a lovely shade of yellow/brown. They were always one of my mother’s favorite flowers.

[ Grape hyacinths ]
More about flowers tomorrow. – CHRIS