Plants I'm Growing--First Blooms: Scabiosa, Tulipa Clusiana

 First blooms of 2011 yesterday on the garden-variety scabiosa in the back of the house and on the few Tulipa clusiana tulips that survive. The tulips are very pretty, but haven't lasted well. Among the species tulips (that is, tulips that are not hybrids), Tulipa bakeri "Lilac Wonder" has been most reliable here.

Scabiosa bloomed on March 15 in 2009 but on April 5 in 2010. The plant thus calculated a year of 386 days last year and of 363 days this year. Tulipa clusiana bloomed on March 16 in 2010, for a year of 383 days.