Phenology

[pameladean]

Blooming:

Winter aconite, in both locations
snow crocus -- pale yellow, brilliant purple, gold
scilla
The Appeldoorn tulips on the south side of the house have buds, but no color to them yet

Up, with recognizable leaves:

Canada violet
purple violet
hairy bellflower
hollyhock
meadowsweet
cranesbill geranium
daylilies
dames' rocket
rudbeckia
more yarrow
ice pansies
scabiosa
Shasta daisies
hyssop
water-lily tulips
chives
probably phlox, but at the early stages, dames' rocket, rudbeckia, and phlox look similar, and they leap all over the place at whim

Shoots:

hosta
lily-of-the-valley
the fancier daylilies
Japanese knotweed, curse it
daffodils
tradescantia
Mock orange bushes have leaf buds. Rosebushes have leaf buds, except for the red rose of Lancaster, which always likes to play dead for a while.

I pruned some dead canes out of the rosebush, and ruthlessly (for me) cut back the canes, whether dead or alive, that threaten people walking along the path, or that grab me by the hair when I'm mowing the lawn. I'm still picking rose prickles out of my fingers.

The juncoes are still here. Ari almost got one. Since he was exhibiting great excitement and I couldn't see a thing, I thought he was after a mouse. Grackles are making a great fuss, sounding like red-winged blackbirds with broken speakers. Bluejays are creaking. The chickadees are still saying "phoebe" and the cardinals still crying, "What cheer." There is a monstrous crow inhabiting the neighbor's pine tree and making loud excursions into our elm and our garage roof.

Pamela

Comments

[splagxna.livejournal.com]

i love violets; one of my favorite flowers. what is the difference between canada and purple?

[pameladean]

Canada violets are larger, and the flowers are white.

http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/galleries/violacana.html

I am amazed that they are endangered in Connecticut, because around here you can't keep them down.

I also have some other white-flowered violets of uncertain parentage, with purple spots or stripes in some cases, pure white with just the gray-blue lines in others. (Canada violets have yellow bases on the petals and a blush of purple on the back of the upper ones.)

Pamela

[kightp.livejournal.com]

I think the snow this January got my hosta. Pity; it was such a big, happy specimen. But there's not a sign of shootage in the pot, and it's starting to go mossy. )-:

However, my wisteria is just stretching out its pendant blooms, the antique lilac out back is blossoming, and the peonies are starting to make fat peony buds, so I can't complain too much.

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

Nonsense, there couldn't be that many different plants in the yard!

[applewoman.livejournal.com]

I've never heard the cardinals' call referred to in that way -- "What cheer" -- but I knew immediately which piece of birdsong you meant. Nifty! Now I'll know who's calling when I hear that again.

I'll add it to the other birdcalls I recognize: mourning doves, loons, and chickadees.

[kristenj.livejournal.com]

I want to come live in your garden. I'd make a home under the hosta leaves - you'd never know I was there.

[pameladean]

I should think not. Only one of my five peonies has even made an appearance. I'm sorry about your hosta, though perplexed that an Oregon winter should do it in when mine are okay here. Is it especially tender?

Pamela

[pameladean]

Just you wait, Enry Iggins. There's more than that. They just get drowned out by the motherwort.

Pamela

[kightp.livejournal.com]

I don't think so, but things here aren't used to snow and ice, and they were buried in it for a week. It's in a pot, which may have contributed to its demise. )-:

[slithytove.livejournal.com]

What, no hellebore?