This year, the crocuses have bloomed in Newton about a week later than last year, but more or less on schedule with the year before.
Whenever the first crocuses bloom, it’s a long awaited cause for celebration: yet another sign that winter is waning and spring is on the way. The appearance of the first crocus is such an important annual event, I no longer leave it to chance, stalking those spots where I know crocuses have bloomed in the past and awaiting their arrival like a longtime friend.
This year, I’d worried that this particular patch of crocuses–typically the first to bloom in my corner of Newton–wouldn’t show up at all, since the trees that usually shelter them were cut down last summer. It turns out, though, that slumbering bulbs are more resilient than I thought, sleeping right through the earth-shaking toppling of trees and blooming in spring regardless.
Hoarded Ordinaries 
Mar 17, 2011 at 7:55 pm
There were purple shoots in front of my apartment when I got home from work today. I’m hoping tomorrow they’ll be open!
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Mar 17, 2011 at 9:34 pm
Yes, I’ve been watching these for several days. They were tightly closed on the cold and rainy day, so today’s sun & warmth was enough to bring them to bloom.
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Mar 17, 2011 at 11:51 pm
My snowdrops finally bloomed. Ah, spring is on the way . . . finally.
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Mar 18, 2011 at 9:21 pm
Yes. In New Hampshire, the spring peepers are the definitive sign of spring. In the Massachusetts suburbs, though, we rely on snowdrops and crocuses.
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Mar 19, 2011 at 8:15 am
Regarding the trees that were cut down last summer, I have wondered if you ever discoverd why the owners cleared that spot? Did I miss that posting?
My husband and I purchased an 80 year old home almost 20 years ago. I confess that I was drawn to this house primarily because of its massive stately trees. Over the years I have been forced to remove far too many (disease, clogging drains, damage to the roof, etc.. I mourned each one when as it left our home but we replaced each glorius tree with a little sappling. As I loook out over my yard now, I still miss those massive pines and oaks but they made room for the new baby magnolias and willow. Reminds me of our girls that have left home – but waiting for grandchildren now – guess it is all part of the cycle.
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Mar 19, 2011 at 12:49 pm
I’ve never spoken with the folks who bought this particular house; they have a big, fenced yard and renovated porch, but they never seem to be outside. So I don’t know why they cleared so many trees.
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