Garden Flowering Log 2016

TPP has been trying to get his garden flowering log database straightened out (data up to date, removal of those what died, names corrected, duplications eliminated, etc.).  So this late February balmy weather (highs in the 60s F) is a bit too much too soon. But not much you can do, but to trot out to the back of the gardens with the camera and record the first blooms of the 2016 gardening season, to make yourself a margarita, and to write a blog about it. From a distanced these rusty red flowers cloaking this witch hazel shrub ('Diane') are not all that gaudy, but up close they are quite nice. A moment after this image was taken a pollinator (actually 2) showed up, a syrphid fly with the yellow & black bee/hornet mimicking abdomen and a regular house fly of some sort. Some other flowering may follow shortly: a green bear paw hellebore, snowdrops, squill, Guess someone should get that danged flowering log done, or drink another margarita. The voting will be brief.

Spring!!

Yes, TPP declares spring is officially here in the upper midwest.  No, it's not because of daylight savings time, which for goofy reasons is controversial this year here in Lincolnland. Apparently a one hour change in the lives of today's average citizen is an intolerable adjustment. No flying to the west coast for you guys!  Personally the Phactors like having more daylight later in the day, but then again we're gardeners. No, it's not because the only thing on TV is basketball; spring can't wait until basketball is over. By then it's nearly the 4th of July. Partly it's because it a downright balmy 50 F outside, and in comparison to the quite cold February, this is downright springy weather. It's because the first flowers are blooming!  Yes, a witchhazel wins this years 2st to flower award. Early crocus and snowdrops are not far behind, and the buds of the silver maples are swelling. Our witchhazels are in shady spots, so they are still not ready to flower, but while out on a walk around the hood, some shrubs on the SW corner of a brick wall were in flower. Being a nice guy, TPP stopped by the local garden shoppe and purchased some pansies for some early color. It's always surprising how tough pansies are, and of course, these were forced in a glasshouse, but they are still cheerful. At least 8 fox squirrels are outside busily cleaning up all the birdseed that got buried in the snow, and while well fed, they are looking a bit scruffy, another sign of spring.

Official first day of spring

It's only Feb. 13th, but spring has officially arrived for the Phactors' gardens.  The calendar means nothing in this reckoning; the first flower has opened.  And the winner is ....wait for it....witchhazel!  The snowdrops only got beat out by a day by the looks of things, while the 3d contender, winter aconite, is lagging behind.  This moves up the date of earliest flowering by quite a few days, 10-12, but haven't checked the data files yet.  This particular shrub is not going to have a large floral display.  It suffered quite a bit of stress last summer and this may have limited the number of flower buds.  So to celebrate TPP walked to campus. 

First Flower of Spring - A Tie!

March 2nd is early for the first flower of spring; it's more like the last flower of winter. And wouldn't you know it, two of the usual contenders tied, both opening their first flowers on the same day. And talk about spectacular floral displays; virtually 100% of students and faculty walked right by without seeing a thing. How's that for observant? The red one, witchhazel, is easy enough for most temperate zone folks, but maybe you didn't recognize silver maple, which is pretty easily missed.