And in Marches Spring

Spring has hit in full force this month.

Bees and butterflies have started coming out.  Lizards and frogs have been awakening. Birds have begun building their nests.

Carolina Wren holding material for a nest

And of course there are the spring blooms..

unfolding of Narcissus 'Queens Day'

Nothing says spring around here like the cheerful blooms of daffodils, and I have planted quite a few.

Narcissus 'Queens Day' with Narcissus 'Minnow'

Many people ask what the difference is between daffodils and narcissus.  They are actually the same thing - narcissus is the fancy Latin botanical name for daffodil.

A closeup of the diminutive Narcissus 'Minnow'

Also sprouting and blooming in the garden are bleeding hearts.

Dicentra spectabilis 'Alba'

 This is only the second year I've grown bleeding hearts.  I was rather surprised at the fact that they are blooming as soon as they sprout.  Is this normal?

Dicentra spectabilis 'Gold Heart'

Also blooming in the garden are Hellebores, Grape Hyacinths, and Summer Snowflakes.

And the camellia of unknown bloomage that my mother-in-law gave me is now starting to flower.  That is some bloom!

However, even with all the blooms, I think spring may have hit a little too hard here in North Carolina.  This week the temperature climbed up to the 80's several days in a row, difficult weather for recent additions to the garden.

Recently planted Ranunculus are feeling the heat a little too much!

 Let's just hope that this is not an indication of how summer is going to go here in North Carolina...

To see how gardens around the world are faring this March, check out Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!