It is interesting to note the speed in which plants will emerge from the ground as spring progresses. I imagine that soil temperatures will encourage plants like this Christmas rose (
Helleborus niger). This wont bloom around Christmas for us but the first week in April is a nice time to see this long-lived perennial come out of the soil. The flowers will open bell-shaped and arch downwards. Other hellebores (
Helleborus orientalis) are just emerging from the soil. These plants seem to spring up over night and it is certainly a challenge to keep up with daily spring changes in a warming landscape. It's interesting to note that plant records from 100 years ago that noted the times that plants bloomed seem to, on average, indicate that perennials are now blooming 2-3 weeks earlier than they did a century ago. The climate is changing. We're actually starting to see more seedlings of Norway maple and Japanese barberry around the gardens. These woody plants have become invasive in the warmer climates out East but haven't gained much momentum here. However, with our milder winters (this year being an exception of course), these plants are re-seeding and will have to be dealt with in the imminent future.
While observing our current flooding levels today, I ran across a plant that was at Rotary Gardens when I started and in all likelihood, was here hundreds or thousands of years ago. The primitive horsetail (
Equisetum sp.) was around 400 million years ago when the dinosaurs roamed the earth. This plant reproduces by spores and does not have flowers or seed. Called "scouring rush" by pioneers, the rough texture of these vertical, segmented stems were bunched up and used to scrub pans and pots. Visitor's think it's a bamboo but we're quick to explain the difference. This plant does not respond to herbicides so in areas that it's invaded (it spreads like crazy), we have to hand dig it repeatedly to eliminate it. I still love the look. Kids call it "tinker toy plant" because you can separate the segments and place them back together.
It is interesting to note the speed in which plants will emerge from the ground as spring progresses. I imagine that soil temperatures will encourage plants like this Christmas rose (Helleborus niger). This wont bloom around Christmas for us but the first week in April is a nice time to see this long-lived perennial come out of the soil. The flowers will open bell-shaped and arch downwards. Other hellebores (Helleborus orientalis) are just emerging from the soil. These plants seem to spring up over night and it is certainly a challenge to keep up with daily spring changes in a warming landscape. It's interesting to note that plant records from 100 years ago that noted the times that plants bloomed seem to, on average, indicate that perennials are now blooming 2-3 weeks earlier than they did a century ago. The climate is changing. We're actually starting to see more seedlings of Norway maple and Japanese barberry around the gardens. These woody plants have become invasive in the warmer climates out East but haven't gained much momentum here. However, with our milder winters (this year being an exception of course), these plants are re-seeding and will have to be dealt with in the imminent future.
While observing our current flooding levels today, I ran across a plant that was at Rotary Gardens when I started and in all likelihood, was here hundreds or thousands of years ago. The primitive horsetail (Equisetum sp.) was around 400 million years ago when the dinosaurs roamed the earth. This plant reproduces by spores and does not have flowers or seed. Called "scouring rush" by pioneers, the rough texture of these vertical, segmented stems were bunched up and used to scrub pans and pots. Visitor's think it's a bamboo but we're quick to explain the difference. This plant does not respond to herbicides so in areas that it's invaded (it spreads like crazy), we have to hand dig it repeatedly to eliminate it. I still love the look. Kids call it "tinker toy plant" because you can separate the segments and place them back together.
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