Monday, February 1, 2010

Perseverance

I planted several dozen crocus bulbs in my front yard a few years ago, back when it looked like this:

Bald Patch

It was a desperate attempt to add some color and interest to a patch of grass I deeply disliked. The idea was that they would poke their brave little heads up and bloom in early spring, then be all done by the time the lawn needed mowing.

They were pretty, and tiny, and I loved them to bits.

Then came the Great Front Yard Remodel, and they got buried under all of this…

Cardboard

Imagine my delight when I found this wee patch in the garden last week.

Perseverance

Those bulbs have been buried under a layer of leaves, a layer of cardboard, and at least eight inches of soil for just over two years. And soon they will bloom for me again.

There’s a deep philosophical lesson for me here, I’m sure… but for now I think I’ll just wait breathlessly to see what color they are.

10 comments:

Chandler said...

I absolutely love crocuses! They're such a magical thing to hope for and then catch a glimpse of, knowing that spring has arrived!

Bells said...

crocuses are my absolute favourite flower and I think it's lovely that yours have resurfaced. What a triumph! Please show us how they turn out.

Stiney said...

I can't believe you already have crocuses. I think I officially hate you.

Rose Red said...

Nature is an amazing thing, isn't it. Constantly surprises us by its ability to survive adversity.

essjay said...

YAY! I can't wait to see them actually come the rest of the way up! At this point I'd be happy to see grass again - we haven't seen our front yard since December 2nd and it is getting old!

Donna Lee said...

Crocuses=hope. I love seeing their shoots come back, often poking through snow and ice. It lets me know that soon we'll feel warm again. I want to see the blooms,too!

Alwen said...

Yay! Go crocuses!

Some of mine are buried under a (literal) four-foot heap of snow, where the DH directed the snowblower. But being bulbs, I know they'll be fine.

marycatharine said...

Crocuses are so hardy and resilient but coming up through that many layers is amazing.

AlisonH said...

WOW! How did they survive! And yet they did, and are just carrying on with the business of growing and being. Wow. That is wonderful!

Chandler said...

P.S. The crocuses are up here! Saw a whole bunch of yellow and purple buds yesterday. Yay!