Blog

Deep Run Tulip Bed

The parade of spring flowers just keeps coming. Even though my tulips were nibbled on by some deer very early on, those plants which were untouched have bloomed beautifully this Finger Lakes spring. The mix of colors that I planted worked out well, and Jeanette has been enjoying them on the table, even though tulips don’t last long inside.

The lilacs are now at about half bloom and we cut some yesterday to bring inside. The lilac bushes are taking a gamble that heavy freezes are over with for this year, even though we did have some cold wet rain mixed with snow flurries on April 27.

Phenology is the study of seasonal biological events in the animal and plant world as influenced by the environment. And the spring blooms of lilacs are just one example of a phenological event. According to an article written by Cameron P. Wake at the University of New Hampshire in 2005, (click here), lilacs are blooming about four days earlier than they were about half a century ago in the Northeast portion of the US and apples and grapes are blooming about eight days earlier.

It looks like it’s a go to begin planting seeds and setting out plants in our Finger Lakes gardens, but just remember that Mother Nature has mind of her own!

James R. Bupp