Spring Buds on Mardi Gras

Last year we had a really late spring. All the spring flowers seemed to bloom at once - irises, carolina jessamine, azaleas, phlox. This year many of the early bloomers are putting on buds and will flush into bloom much earlier than last year.

There are tiny, furry buds on the 'Purple Formosa' azaleas.

The clematis vines are budding, too. See all the pretty new leaves and hairy little buds?
The 'Van Houtte' spiraea is covered in tiny buds, too.
I pruned roses two weekends in a row - February 19th and 26th. Now they are budding out and are healthy looking. I hope to keep them looking healthy all year this year.

One thing missing from the garden this year is the pink creeping phlox. Photo below is from Green Gate Farms on the web...I just can't keep this stuff alive! I don't know what I am doing wrong. My guess is that the perennial bed where it is planted gets too much sun and too little water in August. I've bought and planted the pretty groundcover two years in a row because I really want it in my garden. Boo-hoo.

It is a rainy, stormy day here. The forecast has us in a flash flood watch with a possibility of severe weather. I guess I am getting my cool, wet spring after all.

Happy Mardi Gras everyone!