Postings can't keep up with sproutings and bloomings

Our rocky spring has had its effect on some plants - the magnolia tree just didn't even bloom this year, for example. But a lot of rain in the past couple weeks has sent everything growing everywhere. I mowed the lawn for the first time around April 13, and it already really needed it. I really can't keep up with documenting everything.

I used my own compost for the very first time yesterday! I just pulled a little bit out of the bottom but the pile really needs some love - I should pull out the ready stuff and then mix the rest, which is currently a home for a large number of tiny flies, on account of I've been very diligent about sticking leftover produce on it lately.

Not sure why, but this April hasn't had as many migrating birds passing through the bush outside our solarium as usual. I did, however, spot what I am 95% sure was a ruby-crowned kinglet a couple weeks ago. I tried to take pictures, and when I looked at them afterward, all I could see was bushes, and I even knew where I was supposed to be looking. I know, I know, you are so shocked, because usually I get such clear pictures of birds. Snort.

April 13: 2015 daffodils returning

April 13: 2015 daffodils

April 13: 2016 daffodils and grape hyacinths

April 13: 2016 daffodil and grape hyacinth plantings

April 13: 2015 daffodil plantings on the left, 2016 on the right

April 13: The landscaping installed in the front last year is coming back nicely, though heaven only knows what these things are

April 13, front yard

April 13

April 13: lungwort in back plot

April 13: the 2016 tulip planting came up nicely! 2015, not at all.

April 16: Easter! Showcasing my bird's nest cupcake creations in front of my lovely springy tulips

April 17: This is not my bush (it's in Maplewood), but it's beautiful! What on earth is it?

Mystery bush close-up

April 18: viburnum blooming in front yard

April 18: viburnum and phlox

April 19: front landscaping

April 19

April 19: can't wait for the mini-lilac to bloom

April 26: this is not one of the tulips I ever planted! It was the only one of its kind that came up. Delightful.

Here you can see where the Lone Tulip lives, on the left as you're facing the front of the house

April 28: Funny story about the seeds in the mini-greenhouses I planted early last month. At one point I took the lids off and then didn't pay attention when I put the lids back on - so my six containers and six lids got mixed up. And where had I marked the identity of my plants? On the lids. Oops. In any case, at one point the mini-greenhouses were sitting in a pool of rainwater and so three of them never sprouted seedlings. But two types came up healthily (and one gave a few meager sprouts). Of the healthy ones, one is clearly parsley. But this is the other one - what the heck is it?! Deduction leads me to think either mini bell pepper, or sage. Time will tell, I guess.

April 28: I transplanted both the parsley (pictured here) and the mystery seedlings to the front, to the left of the front door as you're facing it.

April 28: The mystery seedlings (and look at the gorgeous phlox!)

April 28: this was a nice surprise - some of last year's thyme came back in the front!

Upon returning from vacation

We got back from 10 or so days in London and Italy on Wednesday, and it really is spring in those places, whereas here yesterday we had a high of 48. On the other hand, it's going to be absurdly warm  here in another couple days, and while I'll enjoy that, you can't help but note is as blatant evidence of the planet going to hell in a handbasket.

Anyway, this was the state of play in the garden when we returned.

Before the false spring and return to winter, a couple of the daffodils on the left bloomed (Rijnveld's) - those were last year's daffodils. Now the ones on the right (Dutch Master and Tete-a-Tete) are going gangbusters (if a little droopy, perhaps because of the battering by the weather).

These are new this year - Tete-a-Tete. They're small and cute. I planted grape hyacinths with all the daffodils this year and see no evidence of any coming up. Perhaps the bulbs were eaten?

Again I think we're seeing this year's planting (Dutch Master) blooming on the right, whereas Rijnveld's on the left bloomed before the re-winter, and not so vigorously, I must say.

Pink wonder daffodils (front) and Spanish bluebells (back) still to bloom. I believe we didn't get blooms last year out of the bluebells; I wonder if time benefited them?

Looking down the front path. Obviously I should have done the daffodils in clumps rather than onesies. I know better. They're better than nothing, though.

On the right we have glorious crocuses, still blooming after about a month and a half! Bless them! With them were planted tulips last year, of which there is evidence of only one this year, a pathetic leaf poking up. So, something else can go there next year.

In the middle, new Dutch Master daffodils; on the left, new Pink Impression tulips, which look healthy (though leaves embattled after re-winter). On the far left, Fritillaria Checkered Lily Meleagris from last year.

Lesser Celandine, an invasive weed that I think is pretty

Allium - the big one

Last year's lungwort plants have come back so nicely this spring

Viburnum in the front preparing to bloom