April 13th Spring Growth Update

Lilac sprouts April 13th

We've had a beautiful week of weather here in Western Wisconsin. Everyday in the last 7 has brought us highs at least in the upper 50s to low 60s, an as I've mentioned in my post below, one day was even near 80.F! Lows everyday this week has also been well above freezing in the upper 30s to low 40s, with the warmest night time low on Saturday April 9th with a low of 45.F It was a perfect week to get to work in the yard which I have kept myself very busy cleaning up and raking.

Weeping Willow April 13th

All this warm weather has resulted in a fast-rate early part of out green up. Early trees and bushes including Weeping Willows and Lilacs that I love following each spring have broke bud this week. From far away it doesn't look like much is going on but if you look closer ( picture above) you can clearly see the young leaves pushing out of the winter weary buds!

Royal Star Magnolia

Adding this new tree to the list of early trees to follow if my new Royal Star Magnolia that I planted last fall. These flower buds have begun to break open, and if everything goes right, I should be getting large beautiful white start shaped flowers in a couple weeks!

Van Sion Daffodils on the south side of the house April 13th

These daffodils which are now in full bloom have done so great since I transplanted 2 years ago them from my moms old house in lower Michigan. These are the original curse breaking daffodils I posted about last year in 2010, Last year this patch produced 2 flowers, this year they nearly tripled that!

Main Garden spring bulbs

The bulbs in my main garden have really grown very fast the past week. The Tulips in this garden already have buds showing, and it seems like just last week they were barely sprouting 1st leaf. One interesting thing about the Tulips in this garden is I was not expecting such a good turn out for sprouts, It appears like many of them will bloom for the 3rd year in a row!

Lonely single Crocus blooming in long time faded garden April 13th

I did get this very interesting surprise above today, I was walking around the yard and in the middle of a large patch of long grass I saw this single Crocus beautifully blooming by it's self in the corner just outside of my yard. I wondered how it got there since I never planted crocus there. Then I remembered a very long time ago, My mom planted a garden here that had this color Crocus in it. This crocus must have been sitting there for years and finally mustered up the strength to bloom this year. I moved it to my main garden shortly after taking this pictures. In fact it can be see as the lighter colored flower in the photo above this one.