for sure.. no frost freeze event???

boy they are big for z5 NH .... you must have had a warmer spring than my z5 MI ...

ken

I wondered about frost damage, also. Have you had any cold nights that might have been down in the freezing range? Do you live in a low spot that might have held a cool pocket?

Martha

it would be strange if the growing tip was affected by frost and all the outer and lower leaves are fine.

Hmmmm.....I don't remember a frost/freeze once they were up, but the early spring was quite cold, so it's a possibility.

Prairiemoon and I were talking today about possibly cutting them down to see if new fresh foliage will emerge. Any thoughts on that. Most are putting out buds now and one is blooming. I'm OK with loosing bloom now though. I thought they would get some new ones since it's still early in the season.

Ken, I agree, they do seem big already, and to have one blooming seems early here, but this is only my second year with them in this garden. I had them many years ago at my other house but can't remember back that far to bloom times. We recently had some really warm weather where everything just shot out of the ground.

I planned for a garden with orange roses and blue delphiniums since we installed a new picket fence. My roses are entirely trashed from the winter (3 hanging on like a thread) and the delph foliage looks like crap and time will tell how the blooms will look. That's what I get for planning! LOL! Should have stuck with my free-flowing cottage garden in this area instead of trying to gentrify this area!

Well, I think I'll just ride this one out and see what happens with them. Thanks everyone for all your possibilities. Let me know what you think about cutting them. If I don't, I'll probably shoot them with some home made insecticidal soap for good measure in case it is mites.

I wouldn't cut off buds, unless you know there is a disease that needs to be removed. Just my opinion.

Foliage looks pale to me. I think of delphs as heavy feeders, and even in rich soil give them Neptune's Harvest (fish & seaweed emulsion 2-3-1) diluted per directions & watered into moist soil several times a season when they "ask for it". Also give an inch or two of finished compost leaving stems clear out to the mature dripline as they begin growth in Spring & mulch over that with crumbled leaves. Keep dry tree leaves from the previous Autumn in plastic bags & rub handfuls of them between palms around plants that need their soil kept evenly moist as delphiniums do. So I'd try feeding & mulching them & bet the Neptune's would strengthen them gently but quickly. Neptune's can also be used as a foliar spray, avoiding the bloomstalks.

Thanks for the info on fertilizer. I had fertilized them once this season already, but will get some of the Neptune's on your recommendation and give that a try. We grind all our oak leaves in fall, so I'll remember to save some for the Delphs in spring.

Oddly, the leaves have started to look better as of yesterday? It's all quite puzzling. That being said, there are many odd things going on in the garden this spring, especially with shrubs and trees. We had a lot of snow, but nothing we haven't had before. Lots of puzzles in my garden this year!

Thanks for the info!

Many odd things going on here this growing season, too. Feels like the usual rhythm of growth is being affected by some unknown energy beyond weather conditions. Somehow comforting to hear it's not just local to this garden! Really like the Neptune's Harvest liquid - haven't tried the other variations - and pick it up locally. Last year's 18 ounce bottle cost $15. Others seem to like it, too. You're welcome & here's a link for the reviews: http://tinyurl.com/pqxbh78