Northern Michigan Gardening: Embracing Spring’s Arrival

It Starts in Autumn

On a sunny, warm autumn day, when the leaves were just past peak, I spent an afternoon planting spring bulbs. I planted 100 snowdrop bulbs in groups of 5 in the front shade garden close to the house. I also naturalized bulbs in the back lawn. I naturalized a mixture of 100 early to mid-late blooming daffodils in the front garden. This allows me to see them out the house windows. I also planted them in the back garden to add some yellow and white color to the primarily green garden.

The autumn leaves fell, covering the garden beds. The gales of November past and winter set in. We got about 120 inches of snow. I knew my bulbs were safely tucked in the garden. They are waiting for spring.

Snowdrops and Daffodils Emerge

The snowdrops and daffodils started to emerge on March 15. I was not expecting the snowdrops or the daffodils to come up so early. The first day of spring is March 20 but spring here in northern Michigan is still cold. Lake Michigan keeps us on the cool side well into the month of May.

Snowdrops do not shout that spring is here. Their quiet beauty slowly awakens my winter-hardened senses to the softness of spring. Daffodils, on the other hand, with their yellow trumpet flowers, joyfully celebrate “Spring Is Here”.

The snowdrops and daffodils in the back woodland garden have not come up yet. The sun and warmish temperatures have not yet warmed up woodlands. There are still a few inches of firmly packed snow covering the ground back there.

First Migratory Birds – Red-winged Blackbirds

I saw my first red-winged blackbird pair at the feeder. Red-winged blackbirds are the first migratory birds to arrive in spring. I was surprised to see the pair since we do not live near wetlands. I’m guessing my feeder is a welcome stop after the migration north. The feeder will need to come down at the end of March. This will prevent the black bears, just coming out of hibernation, from making a practice of visiting my feeders.

Welcome Spring

I am expecting more snow and some rain in the next month, as is typical of spring here. High temperatures will be in the 40s and 50s with a smattering of 60s. There are more sunny days, new growth is slowly emerging, and summer residents are starting to arrive. Spring arrives slowly here. Almost carefully. And I, slowly and carefully, make my way around my garden beds to see what gifts the new season offers.