Winter appears to be giving up. A final pre-Spring blast of warm weather has made all the snow a memory and early flowering plants have taken advantage of the opportunity. But the cold still remains as the ground is thawed only 3 inches deep.
This makes walking across the property a bit treacherous as water squirts noisily from the ground with each step. Snowdrops (Galanthus), not pictured here, emerged last week and large patches in the front have established themselves. The more spectacular Lenten rose (Hellebore) bloomed the other day, its yellow pistils popping from the center surrounded by immature stamens waiting for eventual transport. Our white ones always emerge first with a myriad of colors to follow in the next month.
Next noticed are a series of crocuses haphazardly planted by the neighborhood squirrels. Sitting in an expanding bed of wild strawberries (Fragaria vesca), they have emerged before the ones we have planted. Their clumps, are colorful counterpoints to the green-brown ground coverings.
And finally, wild onions (Allium) are emerging in the asparagus bed, increasing my anticipation for its first harvest.
