Too late....Veitchii was my first full bloom (as usual) about 2 weeks ago. Already have loads of blooms on Endless Summer, many on Nikkos and Mde Emile. SnowQueen, Alice, Ami Pasquir, Generale Vicomtesse and Variegata are already open but none fully expressed. Still have many others that are about to pop and some that will take another few weeks. Isn't Spring just the best?.....yg

I had a feeling you might be one of, if not the first, to have flowers Yellowgirl. What a long list!

I was riding around yesterday and spotted a large planting of Oakleaf that had fully open sepals on the lower halves of all its inflorescences! This same planting was cut completely to the ground several years ago. I've never seen an oakleaf show any color this early. Its usually around the third week in May when they are in full bloom.

Yes indeedy, spring is simply wonderful!

Gaalan,

Great to hear from you.

Oddly enough, most of my hydrangeas are running a little late this year. Last year most were blooming in early to mid April. We have been having an unusually cool Spring so far and much of the shade that hurricane Charlie blew away has now had a chance to grow back/fill in. The now/again shaded hydrangeas are taking their time while the ones exposed to more sun are pretty much in full gear. I'm hoping the addition of better shade will also prolong those blooms so that the show will last a little longer than usual. Mine are usually on their way out when everyone else's are just coming along. I'll try to post some pics later on and hope you will do the same. I love to see other's gardens!!.....yg

Morning check revealed open flowers on a number of Hydrangeas, some pot grown, some in the ground, as follows:
H. serrata 'Little Geisha' (Several have been blooming for more than a week)
H. serrata 'Diadem'
H. serrata 'Kurenai'
H. serrata 'Shichidanka'
H. serrata (unidentified)
H. mac. 'Endless Summer'
H. mac. 'Enziandom'
H. mac. 'Lanarth White'
H. quercifolia 'Alice'
Very warm winter here in Upper Piedmont(east of Atlanta). Lowest temp measured was 24F(-5C). (Zone 9b?)
Rb

My Malbec is getting closer with several colored sepals but no fertile flowers open yet.

YG, that is odd you are having a cool spring. I have kept daily weather records since January 1, 1997. Its been too warm here. I had 11 days this April with a high of 80F or warmer, the most in my records. To compare, last April, I only had one such day! Too much hot!! I'll post pics as the plants come into bloom, and I hope you will too.

RB, my winter minimum was 22F. The warmest since I began keeping track. Its no wonder everything is so early this year, we practically had no winter....just an extended fall!! Thats quite a list you have. Do you have any photos?

Here is a pic of my Malbec from today.......

I have been watching the wrong plant! I discovered this morning, my H. serrata 'Hime Amacha' has at least three fully open inflorescences. Malbec is mostly open now though part of the fertile flowers still aren't open. HA is a lacecap and at this point all fertile flowers open. I'll try to post a pic later, though where it is makes it hard to get a good shot because of pretty heavy shade.

many of mine are almost at peak now but some are still in the white/green tight flower stage.
here is one of 'bluebird' that i hurriedly snapped as i was leaving this morning(sun until around noon). it is always the first of mine to show color. the bumblebees just love this one. there must have been 30 of them working the flowers!