impatient blooms

Well, there is no doubt that it's really spring. The birds are chirpy, the male cardinals singing their love songs and chasing uninterested females around the yard, the mockingbirds are singing on high perches.

The azaleas are blooming, unheard of the first week of February. Oh, there are always a few eager beavers, but whole bushes are blooming. The roses have put on buds and I haven't even pruned them back yet. The lantana and yellow bells and confederate rose have popped out and I haven't cut them back either.

Last week in the city I saw pear trees blooming right on schedule but they were looking very confused because they were leafing out at the same time. The Japanese magnolias are already almost bloomed out and I saw a red bud tree in full bloom though mine is just now showing buds. One of my neighbor's peach trees is in full bloom and his apple tree is full of nearly open buds. The fringe flower bushes are showing a few flowers, uncertain as to if they should really be blooming now.

None of this would be particularly remarkable if it wasn't barely barely mid-February.

Coming back from the city this week, the grass in everyone's yards seemed a little greener with the eager larkspur showing off while their smaller cousins garner the energy. Despite the emergence of the maple's blooms last week, it hasn't yet put on any true leaves and the other trees are holding firm. Pecans are always the last to be convinced anyway.

It's all very strange. We're having an unprecedented early spring and the Northeast is getting pounded with snow.

a few random photos:

The first of the small red lilies that will blanket the yard in blooms in a few weeks time.

The ground orchid (bletilla) fully open.

Buddha abides.