Changing seasons
James Waddick (Sun, 20 Feb 2011 08:56:53 PST)

Dear Bulb Friends,
The seasons seems to roller coaster on as we go from a six
inches of snow just a few days ago to 70 F in days. Not complaining
about today's 70 with 30 mph winds and overcast skies to follow in 48
hours with 17 F and possible freezing rain to snow.

Bulbs are confused, but we are enjoying:

Crocus sieberi 'Firefly'. The first bulbs popped in the
middle of a wide path where they were never planted. A few days later
they appeared in an adjoining bed where they were intended. Who can
blame the squirrels for decorating the path?

And a day later Crocus ancyrensis ith their bright golden
yellow flower planted in a row -why did I do that ?. They are now
clumps, but the squirrels don't move these around.

Narcissus 'Cedric Morris' is always the first miniature narc.
to bloom and always welcome. It must be covered by a bell jar/cover
or the rabbits will focus on these are devour flowers and foliage. No
other Narc get this treatment from our local pests. I think this is a
cv. of N. minor.

Galanthus -our first bloom this year was a surprise. Some
galanthal detective consulting with guru John Grimshaw confirmed my
guess it was a cv of G. elwesii monostictus. The bulbs were received
years ago as a Narc. gift giving some truth to "all bulbs look alike
when dormant". These were given to me by a well known commercial
grower I won't embarrass with identity. The foliage is short wide and
very glaucous; the flower wide open and chubby with a single inner
mark (thus the name monostictus) as opposed to the usual 2 marks of
G. elwesii.

Our second Snowdrop was our favorite and wonderfully vigorous
"Mighty Atom- Not". We've grown and appreciated this for years. It
is by far the nicest Snowdrop we grow with abundant flower, ease of
grow and early bloom. I've mentioned this before. It is apparently
close to the cv"Mighty Atom', but NOT that. It often blooms with the
old favorite 'S. Arnott', but it is not that either.

Other Galanthus are showing sudden growth spurts with foliage
and white flower buds appearing across the shaded part of the garden.

In other spots and not quite open are Winter Aconites
(Eranthis hyemalis), a welcome cheery spot of yellow. Adonis
amurensis popping up vigorously, but not yet showing color. Perhaps
today's warm temps will push it open.Sun would help, too.

Showing a few spots of color, but not terribly close to bloom
are a few of the hundreds of Hellebore species and hybrids are
stirring.

And Iris reticulata are showing spikes of foliage. Other
spikes just appearing including some Gladiolus and Crocosmia under a
light coat of dry leaves. Up earlier and showing healthy green
include a variety of Lycoris and Leucojum. I'm sure we'd find even
more points of green if we cleared the leaf mulch aside, but it
really is too early.

Today I noticed some Dutch Hyacinths pushing their big
pointed domes of leaves above the soil.

I won't list buds swelling and woody shrubs or non-bulbous
plants that are getting active. Suffice it to say that the signs of
spring are very heartening. I can accept the next few days of a
return to winter and hope none of these first arrivers are damaged by
coming wet weather.

The season are changing. Finally some signs of a departure
from the grey lifeless landscape we's suffered through for months.
Welcome first arrivers.

Best Jim W.
--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +