We’re in Malvern, Pennsylvania, today, visiting Carla Zambelli Mudry’s garden and seeing how early March looked there.
March 2024 so far is roaring in like a lion. There is rain one minute, followed by snow and sleet squalls, and wind roaring through the trees in our woods.
All of a sudden there are snowdrops (Galanthus, Zones 3–8) everywhere.
Hellebores (Helleborus hybrids, Zones 4–9) are blooming too.
And the early daffodils (Narcissus hybrids, Zones 3–9) are coming up all over.
The past couple of years I have been planting bulbs in my lawn. It’s a Stinzenplanten lawn. I have years to go before I have it where I want it, but it’s thrilling to see the smallest of daffodils and crocuses and more coming up. I will be splitting Galanthus and adding them to the mix in the lawn next.
More crocuses in the lawn, holding their buds tightly closed on a cloudy day.
With sunshine, the crocus flowers open.
A miniature daffodil in bloom looks just like a standard daffodil but is smaller and more delicate in all its parts.
Some of the camellias are blooming—like my favorite, the glorious red ‘Balustrade’ (Camellia japonica ‘Balustrade’, Zones 6–10), developed at the Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia.
The tree peonies are also budding up, and new growth is pushing out to produce this year’s leaves and flowers.
The drama of a March sky
A vase full of daffodils brought inside allows them to be enjoyed up close.
This is an exciting time of year, when everything old is literally new again. Welcome to early spring!
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