Alliums

Alliums are the first bulbs to push up through the mulch in our garden. After all these years, it still surprises me when I see them in late January. Allium is the Latin word for garlic and they are related to onions, shallots, leeks and scallions. Like their rough cousins, alliums are easy to grow and multiply like crazy. The flowers bloom dramatically on top of long stems, and the bees just love them.

The bees will have to wait. The weather forecast this morning said rain and cool weather for at least the next 6 days. You need a good imagination (and some old pictures) to remember spring is just around the corner.