DC in bloom - Orchid Board

DelawareJim · #1 03-15-2012, 01:17 PM

For those who are horticulturally minded and enjoy DC in bloom, this weekend is THE weekend to come into the city. Because of the exceptionally mild winter and our apparent leap from autumn into summer, everything is in bloom at once. This is one of those rare times when you will see bulbs that normally bloom during the second half of February or first half or March blooming at the feet of trees and shrubs that normally don't bloom until the second half of March, or April, or early May. Near Union station, the air is heady with the scent of magnolias while gazing at the weeping cherries.

Yes, the cherries are in bloom. Crazy.

Reminds me a lot of Wilmington, NC. An explosion of colour with everything in bloom at once, and then 11 months of green.

Cheers.
Jim

camille1585 · #2 03-15-2012, 02:51 PM

Makes me really miss living in Northern Virginia!! We'd be sure to pop over into DC every spring to see the cherry blossoms. They were quite early one year too.

Bud · #3 03-15-2012, 03:46 PM

We had a mild winter...now, I am going out on the streets with just a plain T-shirt and jeans on...and I have started to bring out my plants to the fire escape...according to size and hardiness. The smaller ones are to be taken out when the temps get to be 85F in the day and 65F at night

camille1585 · #4 03-15-2012, 05:57 PM

Seems like you guys are having the spring we had last year, and we had the rough winter you had last year. We swapped our abnormal weather!
So far this year it's on track for a normal spring, i.e. it's raining a lot and we still haven't quite put away the winter coats. Last year at this time we were nearly in t-shirts!

Leafmite · #5 03-15-2012, 07:31 PM

Everything will be blooming next week, here. Crocuses and daffs are already out. I love spring's beauty and promise of summer. I've put out everything but the piper, vanilla, mango, the cocoa, the orchids, canivorous plants and a few odds and ends. It is very strange to have such weather. We've had two feet of snow fall, sometimes at this point.

greenbean · #6 03-16-2012, 01:06 AM

Makes me want to go back to D.C. Winter here has been very mild (a nice change from the unusual chill of the last 2 winters) but spring in the Pacific Northwest is always wet, cool, and a little miserable, if only because I can't get outside to enjoy the spring flowers that are showing up, or do any early planting. We have daffodils, galanthus (snowdrops), Japanese pieris and others in bloom, with cherries and plums starting to bloom at lower elevations.

Seems like most of the U.S. except for the Northwest is experiencing an early spring. Meanwhile here winter is going out with one last storm. How I envy you all.