Tough Little Plants

When spring weather has not stabilized and frost is not yet out of the picture, not many plants are well equipped to deal with left-over extremes.  Primrose (Primula) is one of the early spring flowers that can deal with a wider than normal range of temperatures.  Recently the temperatures locally have been around 60° to 75°F during the day, dropping to below 40°F overnight.  These little plants are thriving even though some of them started as little more than a root.  Deer found them tasty this last winter; chewing them right down to a stump.  Some  were pulled from the ground but still hung on until I found them and poked them back in the ground.

Their blooming also lasts a long time.  This spring has been good for the primrose since it’s still too cold for the slugs who come out at night, so the leaves and petals are still intact.

Deep burgundy with light color trim
Deep burgundy with light color trim
This orange came back to life after slugs reduced it to little more than two leaves.
This orange came back to life after slugs reduced it to little more than two leaves.
This yellow colored one produces a mound of flowers. I'll have to divide it this year.
This yellow colored one produces a mound of flowers. I’ll have to divide it this year.
Not much to say about this one aside from 'amazing'. A lot of flowers, even the one that was chewed to its base.
Not much to say about this one aside from ‘amazing’. A lot of flowers, even the one that was chewed to its base.
This burgundy one retains its dark color and has longer flower stems.
This burgundy one retains its dark color and has longer flower stems.
Curly petals with large flowers.
Curly petals with large flowers.
Paler pink, without red mark and longer stems.
Paler pink, without red mark and longer stems.