Spring is coming faster than usual. I have sound proof.

I had been noticing magnolias, specifically stellata magnolias, in full bloom all over southern Maine. Here is a picture of one from the University of Connecticut database:

My memory tells me that magnolias usually don't show up until May, but my memory can be faulty at times.

But this morning, I noticed asparagus spears in our garden. Our first asparagus meal is usually May 15 – I know, because it is my birthday – but with spears already up, it means we should have enough for a family meal by May 4–10 or 11 days early. And if asparagus is that early, flowering plants are probably coming in 10 days early as well.

The warm weather and abundance of sunshine is moving plants along quickly. The lack of rain has not hurt the plants yet, so the blooms are coming earlier.
But if this dry spell last much longer, the plants could get into trouble. And don't even think about burning your brush pile.

But for now, after the long winter, spring is in full force, and we deserve to feel the sun.

Get out this weekend and play in your garden.

And check out my column is the Sunday Maine Telegram. The tough winter caused a lot of damage to shrubs, and extension horticulturalist Lois Berg Stack, (mostly) and I (a little bit) offer some advice on dealing with the problem for this growing season and preventing it next winter.

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