After the Thunder Storm

NOAA gave us ample warning that severe weather was headed our way.  From the comfort of the living room we watched lightning strikes hit behind the ridge that we could see.  We did not know what to expect to see when we walked down to the mail box.  The difference in the plants was absolutely stunning considering that the rain had just ended.  These transplanted ferns benefited from water that was carried here.  That water protected life but today's heavy rain caused these plants to fully open.  Visible buck rubs on the tree trunks clearly show that wild animal life consider this ground their home.

Here we have a mix of transplants and naturally sown plants.  Jack In The Pulpits were transplanted here several years ago while the Early Meadow Rue grows from naturally spread seed.  Deer broke off all of the Jacks before their seed had ripened.  Hoof prints were everywhere so the fate of the Jacks was uncertain.  Additional cages will soon be added.  We needed to wait until all of the plants could be seen.

William Cullina suggested planting Wild Ginger and Maidenhair ferns together.  As always, the Ginger has an early start but the ferns will soon catch up.  We find this combination attractive while the underground plant parts occupy different depths.  Soon this display will be stunning.

 

These Shooting Stars were moved here from the shade garden near the house.  The more attractive blue flowered plants are less hardy  and have basically disappeared but these are firmly claiming ground.  Perhaps they prefer more sunlight.

The recent frosts severely hammered these Bleeding Hearts.  The damaged foliage was quickly hidden by new growth with today's rain drawing out the flowers.

Two years ago, Daisies were moved from the gravel bank lot here.  Flowers were seen but this year there was no sign of these plants here.  These were moved from nearby ground and several days saw water carried here as transplanting them looked like a failure.  Today's heavy rain made all of these plants look alive.  Perhaps Daisies are a biennial and we will have to adjust to them claiming new ground leaving weed filled ground behind.

Cardinal Flower has truly struggled to hold onto life this year.  Repeated warm days were followed by hard frosts.  Yesterday these plants appeared to be dead and we found comfort from the fact that this ground held seed from last year's flowers.  Water was also carried to these plants but it made little obvious difference.  Today's rain seems to have brought them back to life.
 

Bleeding Heart

We have encountered at least one picture similar to this one on Google Images but rest assured this photo is ours.  Every now and then our point and shoot simple camera captures magic.  There are about twenty different varieties of this plant that occur naturally in Asia, Europe and North America.  It is easy to see why Bleeding Heart has been a garden favorite for many generations.  I can recall a huge plant like this one placed as a foundation planting alongside of my babysitter's house.  Babysitter is not an accurate term since she covered time after school and before my parents returned home after work.

The relative lack of flowers on these plants speaks of the harsh weather endured this Spring.  We felt fortunate that any blossoms appeared.  Violet Bee Balm is the name of the plants behind the bench.  Their close placement by the bench was deliberate so that we could sit there while hummingbird moths zipped about feeding on the flowers.  These insects are fearless and it is quite an experience to sit among them.

This Fern Leaf Bleeding Heart is a cross between a Japanese native and two American plants.  Its small size makes placement in home gardens easier.  The silver foliage is also a bonus.  Our unreliable memory identifies this plant as a natural replacement for the original mail order plant that died.  This also raises a question of just how the new plant formed since sterile hybrid is listed as a characteristic of this plant.  Perhaps a root offset of the original is the source of this delightful plant.

This white flowered plant is a new addition this year.  Purchased from a local nursery, it looks like a survivor.  Fern Leaf is also part of its name.  It was placed where a smaller plant will look good.  We hope that our collection of Bleeding Hearts will expand and firmly hold their ground without a great deal of effort from us.  One of the Old Fashioned plants by the bench has sent out a daughter plant that will be moved next year.  One simply cannot have too many Bleeding Hearts.

Finally Flowers

Yesterday, when these pictures were taken, began as the second consecutive warm pleasant day.  Thunder and rain gave way to unpleasant cold.  Overnight frost was missed by just two degrees.  These Round Lobed Hepatica flowers are the first of our native plants to bloom.  Three were purchased last year at Catskill Native Nursery and all are still with us.  This plant's flowers before leaves habit give us a local story of interest.

A neighbor that built his house on the western edge of the Batterson Farm firmly tells the story of his discovery of a purple flowered Arbutus.  Arbutus carries its dark green leaves beneath snow cover and its white or pink blossoms are still a few weeks from opening.  Out in his woods early in the year, he saw purple flowers nestled among the evergreen Arbutus leaves.  It certainly looked like that Arbutus did indeed have purple flowers.  Since that plant was reported as quickly stolen, no one else had a chance to see that unusual sight.  One of our Hepatica plants appears mature enough to divide.  This Fall we will attempt division and place one under light Arbutus growth.  We will not be able to share the resulting purple flowered Arbutus with our neighbor since unfortunately he has lost his eyesight.  He will however be able to hear that his discovery made years ago remains alive and well near where he first found it.

Last year two Bleeding Heart plants were purchased in Norwich and placed at either end of the bench in our newly developing shade garden.  Both flowered and one has made an appearance this year.  It appears that we will have a large native plant flowering close to the bench.  Later this year we will likely see a photo of Becky sitting on her bench surrounded by native flowers.

This Virginia Bluebells plant is also in its second year with us.  It too was purchased at Catskill Native Nursery last year.  Our memory says that it did not flower during its first season with us.  It looks like this strong new growth just might produce flowers this year.  Either way we will not be disappointed since the plant remains alive.

It is easy to see why these nonnative plants are widely popular.  Snowdrops frequently open their white flowers while snow remains on the ground.  They reseed freely with large clumps proudly holding garden ground.  Winter aconites also frequently flower surrounded by new snow.  Their yellow flowers certainly catch the eye even when they are surrounded by brown dead leaves.  These plants are in the shade garden near the house although some of the Snowdrops have been transplanted in the developing garden down near the road.

Aged hands do not respond well to working in cold soil when the air temperature remains in the 30's so this post represents today's gardening activity.