Monday, April 6, 2009

No Snow But Plenty Of Snowdrops!

While we missed the big snowstorm this weekend, we don't feel too bad about it considering some recent precipitation. You can see above how snowdrops (Galanthus sp.) received their common name. It's amazing how those in the "hot spots" are done blooming while others are just hitting stride. We're seeing more blooms every day and know how quickly things will progress once we get that warm-up. We had an extremely productive day and our break this morning included about 20 people including a couple of Grumpies we haven't seen in awhile. Marv & Terry put up some obelisks and have been working on an enormous edging project in a new garden space. Marianne went around tidying different areas and continues to work on cleaning up, organizing and relabeling the iris collection. Janice and Mary worked together again in the color rooms and some other areas with basic debris clean-up. Larry has been securing benches and cut quite a bit of sod this morning to widen our vegetable beds. Jerry stopped by and his broken arm is healing well. Jenny was also in working on labels.
The Grumpies worked on sod removal, debris clean-up, carpentry and unpacking/assembling some of our new interpretive garden signs. It was a great day with plenty of activity. Of course I've been lulled by a manageable April many times over and then overwhelmed quickly by a crazy May. It's the nature of the business. Note the blooms to the left of the Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis) that is emerging all over the gardens in a wide range of flower colors. Hellebores are wonderful, long-lived and durable perennials for the part shade garden. We probably have 40-50 out in the gardens and look forward to them maturing and continuing to be such a great spring contributor.. Speaking of spring "contributors", I took the image today (right) of Virginia bluebell (Mertensia virginica) emerging out in the gardens. We have it throughout the gardens and when it blooms in 2-3 weeks, it will be quite an eye-catcher (see below). Note the pink buds opening to blue blossoms. This plant later goes dormant by summer (leaves yellow by July) but does drop enough seed to become a nice colony. The flowers of this native perennial are most welcome in spring. The bottom picture of Virginia bluebells is in my backyard. Behind these plants is the golden bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis 'Goldheart') that I'll show in future posts as it also emerges quickly.

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