What's popping today

Jim McKenney jimmckenney@starpower.net
Fri, 27 Jan 2006 11:40:46 PST
Crocus gargaricus and Crocus fleischeri both opened today. The former is a
intense chrome yellow and the latter dull grayish white on the exterior with
striking glowing red styles: both very nice for a late January day. 

Although it's so-far been a mild winter, some plants are biding their time.
Jasminum nudiflorum is well budded, but the first flowers have yet to open.
Wintersweet and witch hazels are in full bloom, and Helleborus foetidus is
developing rapidly. 

The only snowdrop to bloom so-far is Galanthus elwesii, and I have not seen
buds or blooms on Iris unguicularis. 

Lots of sprouts of various bulbs are up at ground level.   

So maybe there is an irony in these mild winters: will some plants bloom
later rather than earlier because they are not getting their chill
requirement on schedule? 

Jim McKenney
Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, USDA zone 7 where seedling Paeonia
californica - a hellebore-like peony -  has foliage up in one of the cold
frames. 


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