I checked my past year's photos because the green spikes seem to be coming early. In 2003 and 2004, we didn't even start taking the lupine photos until June. In 2005, I photographed the first spikes around May 27th and the first color around June 3rd. In 2006, both the first spikes and the first bits color were around May 27th. Last year, it was also May 27th when I photographed the first spikes and the first bits of color. So it does appear that lupines in the sunny spots are about a week early right now and we'll probably see some of those lupine blooming for Memorial Day Weekend unless next week is cold and cloudy and slows the growth a bit.

   Even though the lupines on St. Matthew's corner and on Timber Lane are sending up spikes already. I decided to compare our birdhouse tree behind the store with past years and decided that it's not that much earlier than the last couple years so if they stay on the same growth rate, they and many other lupine areas will be blooming in mid-June.