Seasonal Confusion Disorder: a disorder in which a gardener is bewildered and confused as to what season it is
It was last month when I first noticed that I was developing symptoms.
The temperature outside had climbed into the 80's. "Summer," my two-year-old said in a forlorn toddler voice while climbing into the hot car on one of these days. "Too hot!" I tried to explain that it can sometimes be hot or cold in spring. But the seed of doubt had been sown.
The March heat wave brought down the daffodils and ranunculus. Tulips ran their course and shriveled up. Plants started coming up - hostas, black-eyed susan, gladiolus. Crabgrass started sprouting.
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| I think these daffodils just gave up... |
I hadn't finished half of the spring chores, and suddenly it seemed too late to get them done.
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| 'Souvenir de la Malmaison' Rose starting to bloom |
I checked the calendar. Yes, it was really only the end of March! It is technically still spring, I reassured myself. It's not summer yet - it can't be! There is still so much to do!
Then I saw this:
Holey Slugbait. What are petunias doing blooming in my garden?!!
Aren't petunias summer flowers? And aren't those last years petunias anyway? Aren't petunias annuals? Weren't they supposed to die?
I was definitely bewildered. And I felt like I had missed spring.
Thankfully April has brought some much needed cooler weather to sooth this bewildered gardener. The ranunculus has bounced back somewhat, and a few stray daffodils have delighted me with some late blooms. Proper spring weather has returned.
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| Can't remember the name of this daffodil.. Heat still affecting brain.. |
And research has informed me that petunias are not annuals as I had previously thought, but tender perennials! These newer hybrids of petunias are better able to overwinter in slightly colder locations, like my zone 7b garden. (Whew! The heat wasn't addling my brain after all!)
Moreover, maybe this spring resurrection of my petunia plants is timely after all, blooming in time for the Easter holiday. I wish all of you out there a wonderful Easter!
Now excuse me while I go finish some spring chores before the real summer hits..
