Spring has finally sprung, although different areas of the country are certainly in different blooming phases of the season.  Over spring break we traveled from KY to New York, then to the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, back to New York, then back home to Kentucky. It was interesting to see how spring is blooming out in the various regions. Today I am sharing beautiful early spring blooms I enjoyed since February and along my recent adventure.

 

The hellebores were the first flowers to bloom in February and they last through May. I have really fallen in love with them over the last few years! I planted this creamy white one last spring and happily it made it through the heat of summer in a shady spot and started blooming beautifully in late February!

 

A couple of weekends ago we took a day trip to Lexington for lunch and shopping. Trader Joe’s had hellebores for only 11.99!!!!!!!!!!! Eggs prices may be through the roof, but 11.99 for hellebores is a bargain, as they are normally around  $20-$30 dollars at for this size!

 

 

I bought two dark wine plants and one that is a peacy pink tone. I haven’t found a spot in the landscape just yet, but for now I am enjoying these beauties on the front porch stairs. 

 

 

Early March

In early march the daffodils were fully up and ready to bloom. 

 

 

Last summer I did some new landscaping along the rock wall in our front yard over the summer and accidentally disturbed several clumps of heirloom daffodils. I was super bummed about it, but I just tried to stick them back down in the ground and hoped for the best. Well, life found a way, and  all of them have come back up without missing a beat!

 

 

 

All of my clumps of sweet little tete e’ tete bloomed profusely from February until the the third week of March.

 

 

I planted a whole bank of tete-e-tete daffodils over the last two years and they popped out to welcome spring like little bursts of sunshine! I love this small variety because the dying foliage isn’t as unsightly.

 

The old Japanese Quince bushes started waking up in early March, and since then they are really blooming. 

 

No buds yet on the knock out rosebush, but the red thorns are a sign of new growth.

 

 

 

Many hardy perennial, hardy succulents and sedums are perking up in urns and in the flower beds.

 

Here come the daylilies too! 

 

 

Late March

All of the daffodils bloomed beginning in the second week of March. Some of them are still going, others have started to fade.

 

 

 

 

 

Our neighbor planted over 1000 daffodil bulbs several years ago and they are the talk of the neighborhood every spring.

 

Last fall I planted two clearance rhodendendrons in late fall. Both are blooming in their first year.

 

Spring in Utah

This weekend we flew our son Liam out to Utah to check out a prospective job offer to cook at the prestigious Stein Eriksen ski resort. The gorgeous Wasatch Mountains are still covered in snow, but tiny signs of early spring such as crocus, hyacinth and daffodil foliage are showing up around the resort’s gorgeous landscaped grounds.

 

I never would have guessed I would spend my 50th birthday at a ski resort in Utah but it was fabulous! Liam has definitely kept life interesting!

 

 

Inside there were beautiful blooms to enjoy too!

 

 

There may not have been many colorful flowers yet to enjoy outdoors, but these colorful candies in the resort coffee house sure were beautiful!

 

Early April in New York

Back in New York, crocus and some daffodils are blooming around the Culinary Institute Campus.

 

When we return in two weeks for our son’s graduation, I expect there will be quite a gorgeous show of spring bulbs in bloom around campus.

 

 

 

All of the gorgeous planters and urns are filled with pansies and primroses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also toured the Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park, which has a lovely Italian Garden on the property.

 

 

 

The garden is about six weeks behind KY, so it was just barely waking up while we were there. I still enjoyed walking around through all of the lovely structures and seeing what was poking through the ground.

 

 

 

Here is a picture of the Vanderbilt garden in late spring:

Photo Source

Even though Liam will be will be leaving NY and more than likely heading out west on the next phase of his culinary journey, I certainly want to visit Hyde Park again someday and see the Roosevelt Garden when it is in bloom.

 

I love seeing all the flowers and trees come alive, but the best part of the trip was my birthday dinner at Caterina De Medici Ristorante on the Culinary Institute campus, where chef Liam prepared and served his mom a special Birthday, allergry free meal. Magnifico!

 

Spring Back Home

Back home to Kentucky after being gone for four days, almost all the trees on our street have bloomed and most of the daffodils are spent. The hostas are coming up along with herbs and a few other perennials. Our redbuds are in full bloom, although the violent storms have knocked off a lot of the buds.

 

 

I am ready to get outside and start tidying up the garden, but unfortunately rough weather is predicted for the rest of break. Still, I couldn’t have asked for a better 50th birthday and spring break overall.

 

 

 

Garden thyme has arrived here and I am so ready for it! How is spring blooming in your neck of the woods? I love hearing from you!

 

Thanks for visiting!

Amber