In the spring, I have counted one hundred and thirty-six kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours. ~Mark Twain
It is typical March weather – one moment full of sunshine and flowers, the next filled with snow. A few days ago, the early morning sun on a mild day lit up the glowing green of moss and the soft colorful blooms emerging everywhere. The forsythia was finally in full-tilt bloom, the Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) was covered in tiny gold bubbles, and the Japanese weeping cherry was about to burst into flower. I spent a peaceful afternoon in the garden, cleaning up beds, pruning shrubs, and listening to the lively bird song coming from the woods.
By evening, fierce winds brought winter’s return and by the next morning, wet snow clung to every branch and twig, transforming spring into a sparkling white wonderland.
The snow was wet and heavy and bright blue skies warm with sunshine threatened its demise and a quick return to spring.
But that was not to be. Within a few hours, the north wind swept through once more, creating a white out effect as it whipped the loose snow into milky clouds and froze thin layers to branches. 
Today, it is bitterly cold and the world outside the window is bleak once more. In a week or so, March winds will carry spring back again, an event I eagerly await. What is March weather like in your part of the world?
composerinthegarden 
March is really a month of ever changing colours and seasons. Which also makes it so pretty whether it’s springlike sunshine or wintry snowfall. Gorgeous photos.
Exact same story here. Deep freeze this morning, rain by Friday. Our flowers are not as far along as yours.
You may escape some of the damage if you aren’t so far along. The hellebores usually bounce back but extended bitter cold may end their bloom. Not a fun time in the garden this week.
It’s gotten better.
We’re getting a snowy blast in the Chicago area, after a three-month stretch without a single meaningful snowfall. I’m guessing that, by this time next week, it will all be gone. But it’s serving as an interruption to what was beginning to look like a VERY early spring.
Kerry, I just heard last week that Chicago had a mild winter. Sometimes I think that the spring storms are a course correction for Mother Nature – it is a rare year without them. Take care in the storm; I hope you get some great photo opportunities 🙂 4-6″ are predicted for our area tonight and tomorrow.
This has been one strange winter … and to think most of this week is supposed to be yukky. Seems March’s lion is alive and well. Great pics .. and hopefully the garden withstands the weirdness. … and I think it will.
Yucky is a good descriptor, Frank! We are prepping for a big snow storm; actually the snow provides good protection for the garden. I’ve been starting seeds this week; dreaming of spring flowers 🙂
I’m afraid to tell you what March is like here when you are buried in snow. Just know it is coming…by May. 🙂
I can imagine, Audrey; the irony is that I was in Orange County in January where the temps were in the 50’s and raining while the temps here at home were in the 70’s and sunny. Go figure. I hope your weather is wonderful after your rainy winter; we’re preparing for a big snow storm in the next day, hopefully the last of the season.
Our Finnish weather is about right on schedule for this time year -who can say THAT these days!? Snow is slowly melting with +c temps and it does in fact look like spring is soon here. There isn’t anything growing this early though and it will be a few more weeks before we see our crocus. Soon though, soon!
Right on schedule weather? Unheard of! 🙂 Even though I enjoyed our unseasonably mild weather, it does wreak havoc on the garden. Enjoy your coming spring in Finland.
Foggy! It feels as though the rest of the world has disappeared. But at least the wind has died down so the garden birds have returned! I really would like to see the sky again though 🙂
Foggy can be beautiful, Jude – are you taking photos of it? Some of my favorite conditions, though it tends to disappear by late morning here.
Can’t see a thing so no, I’m not. Maybe if I could force myself to the coast there might be a photo or two!
Very, very grey at the moment. Your weather was probably too exciting to be ideal but it is certainly more interesting than ours.
Tootlepedal, I saw your photos of the gray skies and heavy rain – you have my sympathy. I imagine your garden appreciates it more than you 🙂
It’s not doing too badly for the time of year.
I prefer the first photos. 🙂 Frigid cold, gusty winds, and storm on its way for us. I’m counting the days until April.
I prefer the first photos too, Judy! We had our storm, now just waiting for the warm up next week. April is on its way, though we often have snow then too!
The changeable weather this time of year always surprises. Both versions have great beauty, but it is hard to be patient when one is champing for spring. I hope your garden hasn’t been too damaged with this latest round of wintery temps.
Eliza, you are right about the patience challenge 🙂 I won’t know the damage until the weather warms up but most plants are still dormant. How is your garden faring?
Luckily, nothing has broken dormancy yet, but there may be wind damage with these latest icy blasts. Such is gardening!
We’ve had similar ups and downs, Lynn, and are also having very cold weather this weekend and coming week. No blooms yet, but the high winds we had this past week have given us plenty of clean-up tasks, so no problem finding things to do…just gotta keep the hot cocoa simmering! 🙂 Love your beautiful photos and words, as always! Thank you for sharing your gifts so beautifully!
Hot cocoa – good idea, Kitty! March is always changeable but I don’t remember such very cold temperatures on the heels of such warm temperatures. Hard on the plants but I try to be philosophical 🙂 Enjoy your garden clean-up – even that is fun, yes?
Fantastic pictures! Almost the same here with the exception that not that much snow, which is bad considering few plants are having their noses up 🙂 But nothing in flower except few Crocus.
Very good quote 🙂
Thanks, diversitfolius, another winter wonderland for sure. I was happy to see some of the snow (aka “great white mulch”) stay to protect the emerging plants from the very sudden cold. It is beautiful but bitter cold right now – brrrr. I want spring back!
Frigid, frigid, frigid in central Maine, with a foot of snow forecast for Tuesday. March in Maine is a grueling experience. No flowers or moss yet!
Laurie, ouch, sounds like you are in for a lot more winter! I’m as far north as I want to be; my parents lived in the mountains of northern PA and often got snow in May. Well, enjoy spring vicariously through pictures and videos. Here’s an English garden show that is fun to watch – flowers, dogs, beautiful gardens – the perfect antidote to more winter: Gardener’s World
Thanks! We’re lifelong Mainers and therefore used to this weather. 😉
yesterday was your faery snow! and then the frigid wooooooooo blasting all fighting to hang onto winter
calling for large snowfall not sure which day in the upcoming week some say a foot or more! this will be the third killing off of emerging iris flowers this year, mine tried to bloom again this winter and some were up last week
It did look like a fairyland, Elisa. Wow, a foot of snow! At least it will protect the ground flowers from the cold but the trees and shrubs will probably take a hit. Not sure if I will get any bloom on the weeping cherry this year. Sorry to hear about the your iris – my forsythia got knocked back last year. Stay safe in the coming storm!
hey maybe a single bloom in one year will again do it more than three times, i am confused lol
I am nesting and i dug out the christmas carols yesterday lol
I wish I could send you some of Austin’s current 66°.
Me too, Steve! It was 60º here on Thursday; this morning it is 16º. Extreme even for March.
You can reverse the digits of the 16° and pretend that the temperature is 61°.