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.
 

April Weather

Yesterday was warm enough to work outside as long as the sun was shining.  We were so focused on our plants that we did not notice the sun disappearing behind the clouds and hobbled indoors stiff and cold but pleased with what had been accomplished.  Jane's Bearded iris are a treasure both because of their source and their color.  Royal purple flowers are both beautiful and appropriate reminders of Jane and all that she did for us.  Prairie smoke fills the corner and is doing well as a recent transplant.  It likely should be divided but doubt if we will risk damaging it.  By early June its tight pink flowers will open widely into foam appearing clusters.  It is quite a visual treat.

 

We have recently been invaded by iris eating voles.  They have nearly completely destroyed our line of Siberian iris planted down near the road.  We watched with glee when the resident fox captured and ate  voles fairly close to the house.  We were fearful that Jane's iris might be in danger and were thrilled with this nearby deposit that may mark the foxes territory and possible protection for the iris.  It was placed by the fox at the edge of the stone path and will remain there.  We may be viewed as more than a little nuts leaving this where the fox placed it but it may afford some degree of protection for our plants.

 

We also worked at the top end of the bed initially dealing with last year's October skies growth.  This is not a native aster but it does possess certain traits that make it an excellent garden plant.  For some reason the deer have not eaten it.  Its arching branches form a huge closely spaced half sphere that is covered with purple flowers.  New growth is already evident and new plants could easily be dug for transplanting now.  Perhaps this year will see the edging stone path finally finished.

This native Sedum is new to us and has grown greatly in its short time with us.  It appears to be pleased with its location in the hot sunshine near the house.

Our native Early meadow rue and its mate reside in the shade garden near the road.  It exists in both male and female form.  We believe that this is the female plant but accurate identification will follow when more growth is evident.  Male plants are much smaller and there is a visible difference in the flowers.  These plants grow in abundance next to Irma's woods but we honored her memory by buying our two plants.  Both have prospered here and new seedlings are abundant.  Leaves will follow these early flower buds and another growth year will be underway.

Yesterday's chill kept us inside this morning but bright sunshine lured us outside to make the nearly half mile walk to the mail box.  Despite our years outside, we failed to notice the looming black clouds to the west.  Totally dry ice pellets began to fall while we were at the base of the hill.  Our return walk up the hill took enough time that the early scattered ice pellets increased in number as seen in the photo.  It seems that we get older but no wiser but it was an experience to be out in what was a brief but heavy ice storm. 
 

First Native Flower

For this year there is no question concerning which native plant is first to open flowers here.  Round Lobed Hepatica is the clear winner.  This plant is located in our raised bed and we drove to Irma's woods across the valley where the sunlight makes a stronger statement.  We found open Hepaticas there also that looked as fresh as ours.  This light purple coloration is our favorite and it is common with these round lobed plants.  Pictures taken yesterday in full sunlight did not show much color.  This picture was taken later in the day today.  I was kneeling on the stone wall to cast a shadow on the plant.  That provided a good picture but the skin lost on my leg while attempting a smooth dismount will prove to be an inconvenience for many days to come.

 

The other common blossom color for this plant is white.  Their brightness and purity is a major mood booster and we are pleased to have both.  Here the bright sunlight had a positive impact on the picture.  Usually these plants hold last year's leaves that turn liver colored over winter but continue to nourish the early flowers.  For some reason our plants do not have these functional leaves this year.

Early Meadow Rue is a prized plant here.  We found it for sale just a little north of Hartwick.  This plant is female and the fact that Becky knew of its two genders impressed the seller.  Flowers were pollinated here last year with the new seedlings now making an understated appearance guaranteeing that this plant will grow here in numbers.

The newly emerged male plant appears more subdued than the female.  Flower structure will be different and we will closely watch the growth cycle of these plants.  

Bloodroot is another early blooming native plant.  Weather has not been kind to these plants for the past two years.  Our search today did not produce a sighting of an emerging plant at either Irma's woods or our garden.  Bloodroot is usually in flower close to the time of the Hepatica but this year no trace of these plants has been found.  Spring rainfall has been missing here and that may be a factor in the lack of these plants.  Deer made their presence know here with many hoof prints and holes where our Bloodroots were planted.  New plants were Fall purchased and planted but to date there is no sign of plant growth here.

Our Shade Garden

Unlike yesterday's pictured plants that were all photographed as they are growing in the wild, today's plants were all transplanted in our shade garden.  Sharp lobed hepatica has a rather unruly nature,  Petal colors range from white to purple with a wide variation in color intensity.  The number of petals on an individual flower can vary from five to thirteen.  This plant prefers limestone soil so I must remember to mix limestone pellets in the ground leaves that will soon be placed here.

Early Meadow Rue was newly purchased last year.  This plant exists as either male or female and perhaps this is the female form.  Its nearby companion is just now breaking the surface.  That difference may be gender related or simply depth when planted here.

We are rather loose in our definition of native plants.  This California Trout Lily bears leaves that strongly resemble our New York native Trout Lily but its flower colors range from pink to purple.  These plants are rugged beyond belief and deserve regular dividing.

Six days ago many of these plants were freshly transplanted here.  An amazing amount of new growth seems to indicate that they approve of their new location.  We mix our woodland soil in a wheelbarrow and this was laced here last Fall and given a generous cover of ground fallen tree leaves scavenged from nearby village streets.  That time and effort seems to be paying generous dividends.

This plant was a gift from a village resident.  It is called Trout Plant because of its speckled leaves.  It is not native to our continent but it has several characteristics that earned it a place in our shade garden.  It is both rugged and civilized.  A tenacious survivor, its spread is rather well behaved.  Encroaching new growth is simply broken off and discarded with no apparent damage to the old plant.  The two color blossoms are unique and attractive.  Newly opened flowers are pink. They change to blue rather quickly. 

We have been looking for Bloodroot plants.  Last year our new transplants experienced a great growing year and we were expecting them to return.  Cavorting deer trampled both the Bloodroot plants and the nearby Jack-In-The-Pulpits last Fall.  Bloodroot is usually an early appearing plant but so far no trace of them has been seen here.  We were unable to find any growing in Irma's woods yesterday so perhaps a little patience is needed.  I guess I am acting like a little kid on Christmas morning.

Underway

The appearance of a wild bee on a crocus flower speaks more about the arrival of Spring than any number on a calendar.  The protective cage is required to block our herd of deer from eating these beautiful blossoms.  Recently thirteen deer were seen taking their evening meal near these plants.

Purple Bee Balm was planted behind the bench  in our new shade garden last year.  That location gets generous amounts of sunshine each morning.  We selected that spot near the bench since Bee Balm flowers attract Hummingbird Moths.  Human presence does not bother these hovering insects so when the flowers appear we will be able to sit on our bench while surrounded by feeding moths.

This plant native to a far away continent was also intentionally planted here last year.  Using a more natural approach we simply scattered mature seed heads on the surface of the ground.  That method was clearly successful but flowers may be one year away.  Native plants hold most of the ground here but these very early bright yellow flowers simply could not be denied.

Early Meadow Rue occurs naturally across the valley.  Plants come in either male or female form.  Becky knows the difference and that impressed the operator of a nearby native plant business.  We purchased both genders but have yet to see the second plant.  Our experience with these plants is limited to May visits so we have no way of knowing if the cluster of new growth will open as flowers or leaves.  Leaves might be what appears here next.

Jacob's Ladder is an impressive plant.  This one may be large enough to divide now but we will most likely buy another plant or two.  Strong winds filled with large raindrops sent us up the hill before all of the desired pictures were taken.  Rain now will only improve the size of the new growth.  We will return when pictures are possible without getting the camera wet.  It just feels like our gardening habits will take us outside.  Becky pointed out small Catnip plants that are sized for successful transplantation.  That may well be the first work done outside tomorrow weather permitting.

Mother's Day Wildflower Walk, Photos By Amy

What a fabulous Mother's Day today.  The weather was glorious! We decided that it would be fun to drive over to Irma's woods to look at the wildflowers.  It is a wonderful nearby place with many wildflowers to see.  The road runs along the base of the hill and a short walk gives you a chance to see lots of great wildflowers.  I think this one is red elderberry.

I thought this was a toothwort and I looked it up when I  got home.  It is Dentaria cardamine. 

The large patch of bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis, no longer has flowers, but the leaves are huge. Almost all of this plant is concentrated in a small area.  Something about the spot provides the perfect conditions for this plant.  I've tried to grow it at home with difficulty.  I wish I knew its secret!

 

Many white trilliums, Trillium grandiflorum, can be seen here.   Some years this hillside is covered with white.  It seemed like their numbers were down, but they are still pristine white and show no signs of the pink color that they develop as they age.  Perhaps more of them will open soon since the weather is warming up.

We saw several large patches of these lovely Bird's Foot violets, Viola pedata.  The coloring and markings on these are amazing, but the shape of the flower is what makes it fascinating!

I have been watching for spring beauties here at home.  I watch for those little oval leaves with a narrow neck.  At least Amy managed to get a shot of one.  Their beautiful markings are hard to capture with a digital camera.  Notice the part of a ramp leaf across the upper left hand corner of this picture!

The fringed flowers of early meadow rue, Thalictrum dioicum are dainty and festive looking. They are only half of the story as this lacy fern like plant has male and female plants. 

This plant is smooth Solomon's seal, Polygonatum biflorum.  It is an interesting member of the lily family.  Amy and I love to look at wildflowers.  I always think where ever I go I will find some new plant that I have never seen before.  I did find one this time too, but I still have not found  the answer to the mystery. Perhaps I never will.  Soon it was time to go.  What more could a Mom ask for than to spend time with  her family doing something they love?  It was a perfect day!

Early Meadow Rue Gender Confusion

Yesterday on our wildflower drive, Ed took this picture of Thalictrum dioicum, early meadow rue.  The plant is so delicate and airy we almost missed it.

This picture is of a another  plant and the difference in color and appearance was intriguing.

Both plants have beautiful lacy foliage reminiscent of a maidenhair fern.  Last night I got out my wildflower books.  The name dioicum tells you that early meadow rue has male plants and female plants.  The male and female flowers are different.  The flowers bloom early like a spring ephemeral, but the beautiful plant remains through the summer.  It sounds perfect for the shade garden.
 I wanted to see more information about this plant so I gave Google images a try.  I searched for "early meadow rue female flowers".  What a mess that is!  After what seemed like searching for a needle in a haystack, I found these links with images and  information: blue jay barrens, and wiseacre gardens . Now I'm pretty sure I have seen both male and female flowers, but I still don't know  which is which. What it comes down to is that next spring I will be searching my native plant sources for early meadow rue.  I just need to get a boy and a girl.  The gender confusion will work itself out.  I will love both plants either way!