NOW it's spring

today i learned that first year bulbs (bulbs that have sprouted off of already planted bulbs) typically do not flower in their first year as independent bulbs.

which explains why i have a lot of daffodil leaves, and no daffodils.

not that i mind, the bulbs were free from a friend, and the leaves are better than plain old mulch, but it would have been nice to know what to expect. as the weather got warmer and warmer and i saw my little guys start to sprout, i had visions in my head of a stunning front garden full of colorful, aromatic blooms that even martha stewart would envy. and as the neighbors' gardens filled up with gorgeous blooms, my anticipation of my own daffodils and tulips smiling up at me as i pulled into the garage everyday after work heightened. but day after day passed, and i didn't even have a bud. nothing.

when i mentioned this to my mom the other night, she said offhand that it's probably because its the first time i've planted them. so this morning as i sipped my coffee and finished off the last of our eggs, i looked it up. and it's true- first time bulbs really do take an extra year to flower, and since my friend gave me the bulbs she had left over from thinning out her own garden, i figured they must all just be first year daffodils. it could be worse, i thought. at least the flower bed is tidy and full of green, and next year will almost certainly be abundant with blooms. and so, with my new bulb related knowledge tucked into the back of my brain, i left for the grocery store to stock up on eggs with more realistic expectations for my garden. i backed out of the garage in my little red yaris rocking out to some early morning motion city soundtrack when i saw this:



oh. my. goodness. i nearly flipped my lid.

most first year bulbs need a year in the ground before they bloom.

but some of them don't :-)