More April Showers...

Today is our first "Saturday Workday". Looks like looming showers and we've had some light sprinkles already. We schedule these workdays over 13 Saturdays from April thru November. The intent is to catch potential volunteers that only have weekends free and we typically average 20 or so volunteers although today might be light. Janice will take the crew out to the daylily collection to weed (lots of quack grass) and rake away mulch from the daylilies. Next Saturday we'll be dividing the 300 varieties in this same area and hopefully will pot up 2,500+ divisions. Larry will be working on equipment but has some projects ready in case we get a high turnout. Nice shot above of the bright variegated foliage of masterwort (Astrantia major 'Sunningdale Variegated') that looks so vivid in late April as it emerges. This perennial prefers sun or part shade in rich, organic soil. Adequate moisture is essential and it's important to note that the variegation fades throughout the summer so looks best now! Pink flowers arrive in late spring thru early summer. Nice shot of bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) in bloom. This native wildflower has a long history of Native American use and is certainly a harbinger of spring. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloodroot for more information on this woodland perennial.
As I type this morning, the rain is really coming down and we have 8 volunteers waiting for a break in the action. We'll see if we get some clearing so we can head outside. There aren't many indoor projects as we've used most of those up on other rainy days. This is the only time of year that you can see the ground-level blossoms of the native American ginger (Asarum canadense). See below for the unfurling leaves as they emerge with silvery undersides. The blossoms are deep maroon and low to the ground and there is some debate as to weather they are self-pollinated or pollinated by insects. See bottom photo for the summer appearance of this hardy plant.