Snowdrops are usually the first followed shortly after by the crocus. These are the two flowers that tell you that spring is just around the corner. Soon the daffodils will unfold their petals and then we will have the full glory of the spring flowering bulbs. This article by Lauren Dunec Hoang which I found on the Houzz website will tell you what to look out for on your neighborhood.
As we inch toward warmer weather and longer days, there?s nothing quite like spotting an early-flowering daffodil or a clump of tiny, hopeful crocuses to remind us that spring really is just around the corner. Early bloomers make great additions to gardens since they provide color when most of the landscape looks pretty bleak.
While some of these cold-tolerant flowers bloom throughout winter in mild climates, most of the following nine blooms are just beginning to open in gardens. Witness these blooms growing in gardens around your neighborhood and community now, noting any you?d like to plant in your garden this spring or, in the case of bulbs, next fall.1. Crocus
(Crocus spp.)Small but mighty, most crocuses stand less than 6 inches tall, yet they have a powerful effect both in the garden and, in the case of saffron crocus (C. sativus), the kitchen. Snow crocus (C. chrysanthus) is among the first species to bloom in late winter or spring, with delicate flowers poking up from bare or snowy ground. A little later, Dutch crocus (C. vernus) emerges with flowers that are purple, white, yellow or a streaked combination of all three colors.Plant crocus corms in fall in masses under deciduous trees or in containers in full sun. The plants will not readily naturalize in areas with mild winters, so it?s best to space corms tightly from the start in these areas.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 40 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 3 to 10; )
Water requirement: Regular during blooming time and spring growth
Light requirement: Full to partial sun, especially in hot summers
When to plant: Fall2. Snowdrop
(Galanthus spp.)Some of the earliest bloomers in cold climates, snowdrops earned their common name for their perseverance in growing and blooming even through snow. In mild-winter regions, such as California and parts of the South, snowdrops begin blooming in midwinter.Plant in clumps in woodland gardens or beneath flowering shrubs, dividing only when necessary every few years just after the bloom. Giant snowdrop (G. elwesii) has longer stems and bigger flowers, and performs more reliably in mild-winter areas than common snowdrop (C. nivalis).
Caution: The bulbs are poisonous if ingested.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 40 degrees Celsius (zones 3 to 8)
Water requirement: Regular
Light requirement: Full to partial sun
When to plant: Fall3. Winter Jasmine
(Jasminum nudiflorum)This deciduous vining shrub brightens walls and arbors with sunshine-yellow flowers in late winter before it, as well as many other trees and shrubs, begins to leaf. The cold-tolerant blossoms will open even in snow. Grow it against a sunny wall or where it can cascade down a slope ? stems that touch the ground will root. The flowers will attract bees as well as pollinating birds appreciative of the early source of nectar.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 23.3 degrees Celsius (zones 6 to 9)
Water requirement: Regular
Light requirement: Full to partial sun
When to plant: Spring or fall; those in mild climates can plant in winter
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