March: Early signs of spring

Well, it's March 8; there had better be some signs of spring by now or I'd be sobbing in a snowdrift. The yard is still about half-covered in snow and ice, but with temps in the 40s this week and even some rain, the snow is disappearing quickly. Where it has unfrozen, the soil is a sodden, muddy mess, as is my kitchen floor. Oh well, that's the price we pay for sights like this...


Species tulips. Hopefully the orange stripes will go away now that they're exposed to the sunlight.


Hyacinths!


Peony sprout. I don't even like peonies but, well, there it is.


Daffodils!


The rhododendron survived the winter just fine in its sheltered corner.


I had forgotten about these irises. My grandma gave me a bunch of rhizomes last fall and I stuck them into a random hole temporarily. They seem to be doing okay despite having a hose on them. (No, I never brought the hose in. I always meant to, but, you know.)


Two species of moss now live in my shade garden, one leafy and one fuzzy (those are technical bryophyte terms, I'm sure). Also, the columbines are starting to grow.

And, as always, there are dogs:

Lucy keeps an eye on the neighborhood squirrels and birds. She takes her job very seriously.


Foley blends in well with the dead winter vegetation. Need to tie a bright pink bow around her neck so we can find her.

What's growing in your yard?