pic taken this morning..I saw clausa pips yesterday as I was backing out of my driveway..it was raining so I didn't take a pic..we took the pots out of the shed a few days ago..I didn't notice much happening when we brought them in but I looked this morning and I have pips..see the melted snow on the floor?..my car was covered with snow..went to my sister's to see my cousins that are here from NC..Praying Hands..Regal Splendor..I need to pick off the ash seeds sigh..and for fun fox pics from yesterday..

was a nursing female..she ate EVERY single peanut..I'm naming her Fluffy..she has a beautiful tail..

I hope she gives those tunneling rodents the business! I haven’t taken my pots out yet, will probably bring them out this week. No pips in the garden for me yet.

Sherry

Sherry..the pots will be in the garage awhile..how's this for timing..the snowblower was drained and put in the shed when the pots came out..then snow last night Lol..actually it's fine..the snow's melted off the concrete surfaces already..

Yay for pips and foxes! What a woodland wonderland you must live in!

oursteelers..it's true..living in a woodland is a different experience than a suburban lot..I've enjoyed it..

Oh, how wonderful! Both the pips and the fox. It will be a while before I see any pips. It has been relatively warm but yesterday we had freezing rain, snow and rain, just a nasty day. I did see and hear the first flock of geese returning. Deer are the constant and relentless visitors here.

The poor birch trees hanging down under the weight of the freezing rain that has not melted off today. Still very light snow flurries happening. Spring will come - eventually!

peren..it's been sunny all day and our snow is almost gone..your pic doesn't look much like spring :-( ..deeper snow..droopy trees weighed down with snow and ice..but as you said spring will come..I hope time goes fast for both of us..

Yes indeed, not spring like compared to you and most others. I sure hope it comes soon nicholsworth lol, sob, sob...... sigh!

That was taken from my back door. The snow has gone down quite a bit but it is still well past my knees.

I can tell that your snow's deep..winter's too long..you have my sympathy :-( I've had pity parties for myself for weeks..and I'm not finished..sigh..about 6 weeks until we're frost free..

I have pips galore! Both outdoors and in the garage. DH and I worked in the garden this afternoon... it was sunny and in the 60s. Very pleasant. But we’re not out of the woods yet! Yesterday we had flurries in the morning. I don’t trust the weather until Mother’s Day. We’ve ordered a load of mulch to be delivered next Friday. “Good Lord willing, and the creeks don’t rise” we’ll at least have the garden ready before the season gets going and the temperatures get too hot. Here’s my potted hostas... I moved them to where I can give them some good light when the weather permits - the edge of the garage, just inside the door.

wow!..your pips are way ahead of mine!..it was sunny but NOT nice today..temperatures in the 30's I think (didn't check it)..stepped out once to sprinkle peanuts..Fluffy the fox came by again today..I'm guessing - is that a Fire Island in the blue pot that's unfurling?..does it have red petioles?..

We’re having a freeze here right now, temp is 30F and will go to 29 before it starts rising. I covered 70 hostas yesterday evening and brought in about twenty pots. Winter ain’t much here but it can get inconvenient sometimes.

nicholsworth - that’s Rainbow’s End in the blue pot. It doesn’t really have red petioles, but when it blooms the scapes are red, and the flowers are pretty. I don’t know what that part is called that has that pinkish/red appearance at the base of the pips. Can anyone enlighten me?

Windy I believe it is a cataphyll. Yours are really coming along!

Thanks peren! Cataphyll. It’s early in the day, and I’ve already learned something new!

Yes, they are coming along... the potted hostas are much further along than those in the ground. I’d say maybe half of those outdoors are visible. And I hope they don’t get too carried away because we could still have nasty weather.

i know those of you in colder zones are craving some signs of springtime... but I’m always reminded of how much bigger, healthier and more beautiful your hostas are because of all that long dormancy.

thanks peren..cataphyll is a new word for me too..I'm sure there's more terminology that I could learn..

zkathy..I remember that you have PLANTS when we have just pips or nothing..I hope your cold temperatures disappear soon..I HATE it when beautiful new plants are exposed to the cold..

windymess..does Rainbow's End always come up early?..I should've used a magnifying glass (we have one) to get a closer look but I saw a hint of red..I think you and I have some "inside" time before it's safe outside..but it's exciting isn't it?

windymess & nicholsworth I always feel if I don't learn something new everyday it has been a wasted day lol! Happy to have contributed.

windymess there is always a trade off isn't there. It has always amazed me that no matter when our Hosta emerge they all bloom at the same time. Their internal clock is spot on.

peren..I looked up cataphyll to imprint it in my mind..you have great plant knowledge..just wondering - are you a botanist or horticulturist?..if not you could be..

Aww thank you! I am self taught like most others here.

peren..you've taught yourself well!..teach us too please :-)

nicholsworth - yes, RE has come up early every year for me... but I noticed it's not on Don Rawson's list of "early emerging hosta" so - maybe it has to do with being pot-grown? If I ever plant it in the garden, it will be interesting to see what it does.

peren - yes, it's amazing that they bloom when they're "supposed to."

windymess..it's funny how each hosta has it's own traits..people are wrong when they say "they're all the same"..I don't have Rainbow's End but I remember it..glossy and dramatic foliage..it's warming up today but I wouldn't want to be living in my garage Lol..a good thing hostas can endure colder temperatures..

No pips here yet but i did repot one Sagae. I hope I wasn't too early. I just used straight Miracle Gro potting mix and watered in good. Will keep it in the garage on freezing temps and outside during warm spells. Poking around and cleaning up a little, I just had to dig in a little.

old_dirt..sounds like a good plan..I'm ready to go..too bad my plants aren't!!

Karin..it's a beautiful day in your photos!..it IS wonderful that spring is here and we can go outside!..the pips of Gravity Rocks do look like Wheee pips..I love those pips..they're like a tiny pineapple top..we love our visiting fox..she was here again today..that's 3 days in a row..I agree that peanuts attract a lot of animals..the fox, all types of birds and the squirrels LOVE peanuts..