April 2017 Poppies ~ no buds yet this year

Back in Western New York, first blossoms always arrived from late April to early May, perennials providing lush colors while we waited for the last frost that would mark the end of May, when annuals could be planted. It was an adjustment for me when I moved to central Missouri, where spring rains are already falling by early March, flowers are blooming by April, and the summer flowers are showing their faces by May. Normally.

Erratic weather and March/April nights cooler than usual meant spring was severely delayed this year. Oak pollen, my one bane here in Missouri, appeared four weeks late, just in time for the typical May spike in temperatures and precipitous drop in humidity – typical factors in high pollen count. Daffodils and violets were three weeks late. Usually gracing our garden by mid-April, irises finally appeared last…