Feels like Summer

This year there was not a day I could say, Spring is here!  Spring-like weather appeared the end of February.  Then every Monday during March and April the Front Range Foothills received 10-12" of snow, just as if we had placed an 8 week order requesting delivery, it happened without fail.  On the 9th week there was no snow that Monday, but 6" fell 2 days later on May 1st, and fortunately that was the last of it.  The perennials didn't know if they were suppose to start growing or remain dormant.

Pink Tulips with Bordeaux Spinach.
 
We went from Winter to Summer and the now the plants are nearly jumping out of the ground. The Iris's are just beginning to flower as well as the Lupines.  This is the first year that tulips will still be in bloom when the Peonies open; that's unheard of.  Peonies typically bloom on Memorial weekend, and the tulips have always been long gone by then...except for this year. 

The Smoke Bush leaves remind me of delicate roses opening.
 
Apparently some plants benefited from the extended winter season.  After trimming the Wisteria, I discovered over 4 dozen flower buds.  Needless to say, I'm expecting a stunning show of purple.  The Spring Snow Crab Apple wasn't as pleased with the weekly snowfall...lost all it's buds...went straight to green leaves rather than first giving us a beautiful display of white flowers.  Several of the fruit trees followed suit.  We trimmed the Lilacs back severely last year, but they still managed to give us a few blooms.

The vegetable garden has finally been planted, and as every other year, tomatoes and peppers account for 3/4 of the space.  I'm trying a few new varieties of tomatoes-Franchi Red Pear, Dr Wyche's Yellow, Cherokee Purple and the Mortgage Lifter, along with my old standbys-San Marzano, Sungold, Sweet 100, Black Krim, Green Zebra, Tomatillo and Juliet.

The wildlife is always eager to see what is planted.
I'm trying my hand at red potatoes for the first time, and they appear to be growing according to plan.  Added the 2nd stack and another layer of soil this week.

A front planter is filled with blooming Allium.