ES is always the first to leaf out for me, sometimes too early. Right now they are under sheets because it is 29 degrees outside.

:::waving hi to ostrich::::

I'm thrilled with ES. He's leafing out from the tips and all over. My Nikkos are very far behind with just a bit of green at the base. QuickFire has little green leaf buds, and Tardiva is just starting to show an eeny beeny bit of green as of yesterday. I think that's it for hydrangeas.

I just LOVE this time of year watching everything wake up! It's almost more exciting than waiting for blooms.

Hi Ginkgonut and mehearty,

I can't believe that it's still below freezing in MN! That is COLD! I hope that it will warm up for you soon!

Mehearty, it's great to hear from you! Yes, I love spring too - seeing how things "wake up" is such a joy!

Unfortunately, I just discovered something - I did the bark "scratch" test with my Snow Mountain Hydrangea tree just now. Yes, while some are still green under the bark, there are many (at least half of them) are DEAD WOOD at this point. What on earth am I going to do? Does it mean that the tree is half dead?

Sigh....

my climbing hydrangeas and one bush (sorry don't know variery) leaf out first. ES and lady in red are a close second. the snowball types are slow.

Hi Again Ostritch - I posted in response to your SM tree ??? on another thread, as I have been curious.

Since uncovering all of mine last wk (sadly, still a thad bit early here) leafing out came in degrees of enthusiasm, I guess depending on the sun/warmth exposure. ES were even sooner than F&E & Blushing B (new in '07) pleasantly full of plump buds ; QF just 4 ft from Little L (same f-s exposure) most eager to meet early Spring - LL is finally filling with little bumps too, just now! PD newly set in the ground on 4/16(was double potted & encaged outdoors last Winter) is finally filling out with little greening bumps (sigh of relief!!!) 2Tardivas are filling out fast now with their plumping leaf buds & so is our little Princess Kyu! Of the bloom-tenders, Big Smiles are ahead of Midnight Dutchess (new last season/no blooms) & MyM is still working slowly on hers (she's in more shade than her comrades). Old Nikko is the only one still caged but slowly undressed in layers, her lower half is leafing out & top half, some of the large bumps just now showing some greening.

IMHO the harder the canes, the slower the bumps burst - just an observation.

These past few overnites of gusty, mid20-low30s sent me frantically covering them back up, as I did not resist the temptation - a slave to these divas I am ... "no pain no gain' huh?! LOL!

Ditto on the ephemeral, wonders of Spring!!! My neighbor behind is a bulb enthusiast - the view from my back windows drove me to uncover sooner than I should have! His collection that started with blue & pink Scillias & Daffodils made me drool! Pay-back time is May, with early Carefree & KO roses, loads of my butterfly-garden, early bloomers & my row of Mem.Day-Peonies!

Happy season ahead!!! (:-)))

Hi ditas!

It's great to hear from you! :-)

Wow, you have been a busy bee! Covering up and protecting all of your lovelies.... you know, I am also very worried too. We have had a very warm spring, but now suddenly, we will be in the low 30's tonight and tomorrow night. I am so so worried that we will be hit by a hard frost and then suddenly, everything will turn to MUSH! I am just so not ready for another disaster like last year when we got hit by a late hard frost... sigh!

Anyway, snap some pics for us next time! I would love to see your lovelies! :-)

ES and all others have green bud clusters and lots of leaves. Last covered them the first week of April.

Hi Ostritch - Last yr I waited 'til May to uncover & my patience was rewarded, but because of our long, snow covered Winter from start to finish with no 'Indian Summer', for a break, I figured that we've had enough & be safe by late Apr! At least this is nothing in comparison to 2wks of killing freeze, Apr '07! Tonite might be the last of these overnite mid20s-low30s I had to enslave for my divas!!! You should probably cover your bloom-tenders when you hit overnite 30s. Our evening news repeatedly warned of tonight's dangers to eager bloomers.

I have hundreds of pics in my 'iphoto shop' file but can't get them to copy in this forum threads - I'd love to be able to share. I don't know how you do it!

I'm a 70y/o, very unsophisticated computer user ... just so pleased to be able to research, ask ??? learn & share experiences with H enthusiasts like you.

Good luck on your precious beauties!