I have been gardening in the lowcountry of South Carolina over 25 years and this is the longest and coldest winter I have every seen here. Spring blooms are running 2-3 weeks late. For years I have been telling visitors that our peak Azalea bloom is around the last weekend of March but here it is a few days away and the azaleas are not even showing color. We have a few azaleas called Early Lavender which normally bloom around the first week of March and they have just started to bloom. The Camellias and Daffodils are still blooming. I now predict peak azalea bloom will be the second week of April. The Redbuds have started to bloom but the Lady Banks Roses and Wisteria are still in bud. The Parula warbler did return last week right on time and the Prothonotary Warblers are due back any day now. The Yellow Rumped Warblers(Butter Butts) and the White Throated Sparrows are still thick in the gardens but they may leave soon. The Bluebirds have busy visiting nest boxes and will soon getting down to business.

misty morning

A light mist covered the lake, the air was still and the reflection of the sky was tinted pink and grey such a beautiful start for  the day . Our birds were singing, the Carolina Chickadee -"tea sweet" the tufted titmouse "peter, peter" the red wing blackbird  "potpourri ". The shy wood ducks were siting in the trees and their calls were like squeaky toys. 

Flower Show Results

A Carolina Breath of Spring Flower Show, sponsored by four local garden clubs, was held March 6 and 7 at Cypress Gardens in Moncks Corner, SC. This was the 4th annual show for Belle Isle Garden Club, Camellia Garden Club of Greater Charleston, Garden Club of Otranto and Town & Village Garden Club. There were 48 floral designs, including under water designs, designs incorporating garden implements, designs hanging in embroidery hoops and new to garden club members, floor designs. Michael Pound of the Camellia Garden Club won a Tri-Color Award, the Award of Design Excellence and the People’s Favorite Award for his design incorporating two watering cans. His creative use of bear grass from the nozzle of each can, looked like water being poured out on to the bouquet below.

 Johnny Walker of Edisto won top camellia. Elizabeth Nash of Goose Creek won the Arboreal Award with her Hibiscus Bloom. Over 400 people attended the 2 Day event which featured daffodils, Camellias and other spring blooms.

Spring in Bloom

The camellias and daffodils were beautiful today in the gardens. Winter is finally over. They should remain in full bloom until to the end of March. Peak bloom for the azaleas should be the last week of March through the first week of April. Also in bloom are the Snowdrops (leucojum), Anemones and hyacinth. The Japaneses Magnolias were in full bloom this week ( about 2 weeks later than normal).