Phenology

I took Ari outside on his leash today. The first thing I saw was that the smaller of the snowdrops were up and in full bloom, in the sad raggedy rust-red loom of the white peony. The only peony shoots that are up are on the south side of the house -- wise plants.

Actually blooming:

Small snowdrops
winter aconite


Up and with leaves:

motherwort
dame's rocket
grass
yarrow
snow-on-the-mountain
vinca
creeping phlox

Putting forth shoots:

irises
daylilies
tulips
south-side peony
hollyhock
mullein

Shrubs with leaf buds:

mock orange (minute green ones)
lilac (fat yellow-brown ones)

It is completely typical that the crocuses, which are going to bloom any hour now, have not put up any leaves yet. I am actually amazed that the snowdrops and winter aconite are blooming before other stuff, because usually they hold back, belying their reputation as early hardy bloomers.

The yard is a terrible mess. I can't have done any cleanup at all last year. Well, apparently I did mow the back yard short (not the front, oh no), but that's really all. In addition to the inevitable collection of blown-in winter trash, there's an amazing lot of plant pots that I recognized as mine, and a pile of sheets used to protect plants from frost and then callously abandoned, and a spade handle, though no blade. There's also a general slimy layer of fallen leaves, grass clippings, sticks, and disintegrated terracotta plant saucers, which I dot around as bird baths and let the winter chip at as it will.

Grackles and house sparrows followed us around, and I heard robins. I saw three juncoes feeding beneath the weighted feeder, amongst the bright-red thorny branches of the wild rose. It must be about time for them to go north. Earlier in the day, cardinals, blue jays, and chickadees were much in evidence as well.

If I don't get to it soon, it will be too late to prune the roses.

Pamela