Mid-March 2016 update

Our wonderful rainy spring is continuing. The temperatures have stayed in the mid-50’s with one or two nights getting down to freezing. It has been quite rainy with a good long stretch of daily rain from mid-February to mid-March. It is a bit warmer than normal and the plants are taking advantage of the warmth and water. We did have one or two days of sun but of course – we were in Tucson!

The neighborhood is a rainbow of pastels. The star (pun intended) are the Magnolias. The Stella Magnolias are just thick with flowers but the real stunner are the saucer magnolias. There are several mature trees and the flower covered branches cover the yards. I love their pink and white blossoms.

The pieris is continuing to bloom along with Viburnum tinus. The flowering plums are mostly finished and covered with shiny new purple-red leaves. The white yashino cherries are just finished. The Quad has been in bloom the past two weekends. Forsythia is still in bloom but the green leaves are pushing up through their yellow flowers.

Daffodils are in full bloom with their happy faces. The early tulips are also starting to bloom along with patches of purple grape hyacinth. Pink is dotting the beds with mounds of pink heather, shocking pink azaleas and red currants. Chartreuse green euphorbia is the accent.