Spring Flowers:
My favorite poem, titled “In Just” by E.E. Cummings is about spring and sums up most springs here in Ocean Shores. It goes:
In just – spring when the world is mud – luscious the little lame balloon man – whistles far and wee – and eddy and bill come – running from marbles and – piracies and it’s – spring – when the world is puddle-wonderful – the queer – old balloon man whistles – far and wee – and Betty and Isbel come dancing – from hopscotch and jump-rope and – it’s spring and the goat-footed – balloon man whistles – far and wee
“Mud-luscious” – you could not have a better word to describe walking around Perkins Pond. I often wish I had been here as a little girl. I would have donned my yellow raincoat, pulled on my rubber boots and jumped into every puddle trying to splash each drop of mud-water back into the Pond… “When the world is puddle-wonderful”!
“And Betty and Isbel come dancing” – Last fall I planted some 500 spring bulbs in my backyard lawn. They are up, and the winds off the lake have been at times severe. Daffodils do dance, although the shorter crocus and squill sit tight like tiny wallflowers.
So, it is another North Beach spring. Is it March or April that’s “In like a Lion, Out like a Lamb”? This year, it’s particularly difficult to know, when we are all still masked and muffled up tight. But each time a sunrise brings with it a bright sunny day, it is a reminder that spring is a time of hope. That has never been more needed than right now.
Don’t forget to watch for spring flowers, all around our peninsula. It is Grays-Harbor gray here, and those spring flowers are really needed. You do need to catch them before the deer do. I’ve spent a good deal of my garden-research time here trying to figure out how to outsmart the deer. There’s always the 8-foot fence, which is the most effective option. But I live on the lake, and deer do swim. A fence would wipe out my view and negate the benefit of living on the water.
Lots of flowers and even some vegetables are listed as “deer resistant” in the catalogues. Ocean Shores deer do not pay much attention to those lists. I’ve gotten most of my advice from gardeners who have been here for a while, but still that always comes with “an asterisk.” One never knows what individual deer might decide to try, especially the younger ones. Last year even lavender and rosemary, quintessential deer-proof plants, were munched on with abandon, in some yards, although not in others. This year it seems to be daffodils that are on the “give it a try” list. Since I am finding flower heads and buds lying on the ground next to bitten off plants, I’m hopeful that those “munchers” will give up and I’ll still have flowers left.
At any rate, this spring I am hoping to discover the results of last Fall’s “deer proof” experiments. I already have a few flower results:
Galanthas –Snowdrops – Another early flower that came up about mid-February. These little white lovelies were entirely gone in three weeks. You have to look quickly or miss them. They were gone before most of the deer began coming around. There are several varieties, including one with a beautiful green center, but they came and went so quickly, before spring really got here that I’m not sure it’s worth putting in any more.
Chionodoxia – Snow Glories – These are exceedingly early flowers that don’t need to wait until the spring. They are supposed to be blue with white throats. I expected them to look a bit like blue Squill or Spanish Bluebells, but nothing like that ever came up where I planted them. Maybe it’s too wet for them.
Siberian Squill – These are also early, but long lasting, little flowers that look a bit like Bluebells. They came up right after the Snowdrops, but were slower to come into bloom. Deer don’t seem to go near them. I had some in Renton that reproduced like mad. We’ll have to see how they do here.
Crocus – I should have planted many more. Not a single one was munched at, but the big, easy to see, blooms don’t last long. I would most probably have missed them, had I not had a wide window looking onto my back yard.
Daffodils (Narcissus) – I planted lots of varieties that will come up at various times. Some deer (babies, I think) did pull off a few buds but spit them out. I think they are a pretty good bet. There are lots up and blooming all over town.
Fritillaria (Checkered Lilies) – These fragile little flowers have a purple and white checkerboard design on them. I have had a difficult time getting bulbs to grow here. I planted two hundred at each of two different houses here, just to get eight of them to come up and bloom. The deer didn’t go near them though. I wouldn’t try so hard if they weren’t one of my favorites. I think I’ll look for pots of already blooming plants to get more. I found one at Home Depot last year.
Tulip (Wildflower Mix) – I should have known better, even if these were labeled “the only deer resistant tulip.” Forget any type of tulip unless you can thoroughly protect it!
What I think I’ll do is dig up my “deer resistant” wild tulips and take them on down to the Garden by the Sea where they can be protected by a completely deer proof fence and where I can plant them into a fertile raised bed. Our Community Garden has a proven history of deer safety and vegetable and flower success. You may want to consider renting a 4×8 foot raised beds for around $25 a season (with a refundable $25 deposit.) Here you’ll find not only the best conditions for a productive maritime garden but also an enthusiastic and experienced community of Ocean Shores gardeners to share information, inspiration and garden stories with. Check us out at behind the Galilean Church at 824 Ocean Shores Blvd, or online at: https://gardenbytheseaoceanshores.org or contact us via email at info@gardenbytheseaoceanshores.org
For questions, comments about this article or to share your gardening experiences, please contact Dauna at: dauna@gardenbytheseaoceanshores.org
This article was originally printed in The Ocean Observer, April 2021.
