While the Ides of March referred to the middle day of the month in the ancient Roman calendar, it is most often associated with the date of the assassination of Julius Caesar.  Accordingly, as that date approaches, beware aggrieved Roman Senators. Our March is arriving with lamb-like temperatures in the 50s, which reminded our good friend, Mike Smedley, of some observations about bulbs and warmer temperatures...   

“The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another.  The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month.” American author Henry Van Dyke wrote that, and it is so true, Mike says, particularly for Durango.

"The first day of spring, by the way, is March 20. But March 1 felt like a spring day.  And just on schedule, the spring-blooming bulbs are coming up, starting with snowdrops (Galanthus) and early crocus (Crocus ancyrensis and C. chrysanthus). The earliest of tulips are just poking up in sunbaked spots and warmer microclimates. So yes, it’s a spring-ish for the first week of March, after which temps will cool to 40s daytime and teens at night… typical.

Remember, 55 is the magic number for bulbs. When the soil hit this temp in spring, bulb top-growth emerges. (Likewise in fall, 55 is the soil temperature to begin planting bulbs, generally after Halloween.) Pro tip: If you have crocus, tulips, snow iris or other bulbs that deer eat, spray the emerging foliage with repellant now. Deer are creatures of habit. They are very hungry this year and have been eating “deer-proof” plants such as rabbitbrush, juniper, lilac, et. al. Spraying now will, as they say, nip this at the bud."