Bloom Day - March, 2019

Frustration has reigned in my garden this month.  We have had exactly 1 day of rain this entire winter.  As a result, certain areas of the garden have turned hard as cement, and NOT A SINGLE daffodil has come up this year.  I gave up on crocuses and tulips years ago, and now I have to say good-bye to daffodils, too.  Frustrating.  If I ever plant them again, it will be in pots.

In addition, I have had to switch on the drip irrigation system every few days since mid-February so I don't lose my larger bushes and trees.  With the added water, the pyrus calleryana is looking spectacular today, and it is quickly becoming the largest tree on our property.

Pyrus calleryana

I am absolutely thrilled at the progress of our wisteria.  On the backside of the house, we have two large 5 x 6 meter pergolas that were installed 2 years ago, with 2 established wisterias and 2 new purchases.  Last year, the older wisterias offered up a few blooms, but this year they are ready to explode!  Even the Little 2-year-old specimens are top-heavy with buds.  I am so excited to see them take off and hopefully provide some much-needed shade.

Finally, my loyal freesia and iris are in bloom early this year.  Well, of course!  It was 27ºC / 82ºF today!

 A bit late, I am linking with May Dreams Gardens for the fun Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day posts.  Stop on by!

Almond trees in bloom

Over the years, I have found that our almond trees can bloom anywhere from late January to early March.  I attribute this year's March bloom to our excessive drought this year.  I have also found that 'native' trees and nursery-bought specimens do not flower at the same time.

Native almond tree

A garden center almond tree

The native wild almond trees bloom first, yet their blossoms can often be affected by a winter freeze, or their flowers open before the pollinators are out, which is what usually happens in my garden.  As a result, my natives hardly ever produce much of a harvest.  The nursery-bred trees, however, flower anywhere from one to three weeks later, and they give a much better crop.

This year, though, our temps have been high, so some pollinators are already awake.

Will I have double the almonds this year?

Marvellous mimosa

Once again, the mimosas are in bloom.  And, once again, it's that time of year when I dream of having one of these beauties in my garden.

Acacia dealbata