Meteorological Spring 2022
I typically shovel snow on the back patio (essentially a small back yard with brick pavers) into the garden containing the Magnolia. As the large pile of snow melted, I saw my first Snow Drop in bloom, March 1. This bloom usually occurs weeks earlier. I no longer see my Winter Aconite planted with bulbs several years ago and vowed to get more. These harbingers of Spring are always a welcome sight..By March 3, I developed some type of allergic reaction while working outside which lasted a week. It could have come from the composted Magnolia blooms spread over the gardens last Fall. Or perhaps while cutting back the Hyssop or Agastache. Made another mental note to wear a mask next year around the aforementioned plants in the Spring and fertilize my plants in a different manner. By the second week of March, I saw growth from Bleeding Heart, Hellebores, Yellow Archangel, Bishops Cap, Coral Bells, Spiderwort, Catmint, and Lamium in large back patio planters. In the front gardens White and Purple Sage. Early buds formed the following week while Wood Poppy, Snake Root, Ligularia, and Toad Lilly started their first growth. I have two Mason Bee houses, one on each side of the house. In front, found a small, black ‘bee’ of some kind emerge from one of the holes, only to encounter a spider. A fight ensued. I interceded, perhaps to the detriment of each of the combatants. By 23 was picking whole Magnolia flowers in bloom off the back patio and the Forsythia bloomed across the alley on 26, the exact same day as last year.A cold night into the 20s browned the remaining blooms on the Magnolia. Then, snow on April 1 ended all hope for further flowering. First Hellebore bloom April 3. First Bluebell in the garden bloom April 7. Unfortunately, Bluebells in large container never returned. Saw my first Honeybee at McCoy Park on Clover while hitting off the Tee getting ready for softball season on April 20. First Mason Bee popped out of the back Mason Bee house still in the garage and started working the House now placed on the back patio on April 23. In addition, a presumably Queen Bumblebee feeding on Bleeding Heart the same day. This is my earlier sighting of one actually on flowers on my property. A wet April canceled all scheduled outdoor softball practice. Saw at least two Mason Bees working the House May 1. The cold squelched all plants intended to feed them. So, unsure where they obtain their food. After a cold week, there was only one. She lasted until the middle of the month. I was disappointed by the lack of opportunity to work side by side with the Mason Bees like last year, but there were still plenty of potential offspring for the following year as Nature provided two bees instead of one to achieve the same result. Saw my first Hummingbird at the feeder at dusk May 12. It was green and flew away quickly. I dumped 20 gallons of rainwater on the front plants on an 80 degree May 17, and saw my first Wasp of the year. In addition, a Woodlouse Spider feeding off the remaining decayed Magnolia blossoms around the catch pots. By 22, sage, Spiderwort, Catmint were blooming in front. Milkweed in the garden by 27, which seemed early. Saw my first Honeybee on the property 8 AM on Memorial Day and a Bumblebee on sage the following day.
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