It has been a beautiful day up here in the north. We reached the summer temperatures and the long winter seems to be over.
I even managed to take the first swim. The water in the lake is still freezing, only about 5 degrees Celsius but it was a refreshing experience.
Pinocchios (Tulipa ‘Pinocchio’) started to bloom today. They are the first tulips to bloom and so pretty.
Summer has finally arrived to the north! We are now expected to have a warm period that will last several days.
The trees do not yet have leaves but that will change within few days. For the time being the night frosts are gone and everything will start to grow with a staggering speed.
Tete-a-Tete Daffodils (Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’) are now blooming and the other daffodils will follow any day now.
The days are already long, about 17 hour and getting longer. Hope that the summer is going to be a good one.
It is a rainy day up here in the north. We have had cool weather for the past two weeks but tomorrow it should start warming up.
I am spending the week in the summer cottage and starting the planting season. Plenty of things to do and not much to see yet in the garden.
The winter seems to have been a good one for the plants and nearly all of them have survived. We went down to -30 degrees Celsius but that is not too much.
The Siberian Squills (Scilla Siberica) are at their best at the moment and are usually one of the first ones to start the blooming season. I just love the blue color they have in the blooms. It is so bright and strong.
It will still take three more months before the lilies (lilium) start to bloom up here in the north. The first ones will be blooming in July.
Noticed a lily pot in the local grocery store while shopping. It will bloom nicely in the balcony.
This is again a flower which, after blooming, will find its way to the garden. It will grow and bloom there also in the forthcoming years.
The spring flowers are finally starting to bloom up here in the north.
The week long warm period has done wonders to the nature. Though it will be cooler from now on, which is not a bad thing because the blooms last longer in the cold weather.
Garden Grape-hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum) is blooming in my balcony but it will still take a week or so them to bloom in the garden.
We have been promised sunny days for the next week.
The daffodils I have bought this year are starting to bloom in the balcony. Double Gold Medal (Narcissus ‘Double Gold Medal’) was something I simply could not resist.
It will find its way to the summer cottage once it has bloomed and hopefully it will bloom again next year, if it makes through the winter.
It will still take few more weeks before the daffodils start to bloom up here in the north.
Tete-a-Tete Daffodil (Narcissus Tete-a-Tete) is always the first one to open its flowers.
Bought one for the balcony and once it has bloomed will take it to the summer cottage and replant it. It will bloom nicely next year as well.
The spring is finally here and my Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaetneri) has started to bloom.
It blooms once a year during the Easter time and that’s where the name comes.
To have cactus to bloom twice a year I have planted to the same pot both Christmas and Easter cacti. The end result is nice because it delights you with the blooms more often.
Hope that you all have had a good holiday season and have managed to enjoy the Christmas!
My Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) bloomed just before the holidays bringing a bit color to the gray winter we are having.
It is one of those plants that requires very little and blooms nicely if you neglect it a bit before the blooming season.
Have a very good new year 2021!
Gardening in the North 