SPRING POTPOURI

A BUMP IN THE ROAD TO SPRING

HYACINTH ARE BEGINNING TO BLOOM ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE HOUSE

SCILLA ARE BLOOMING IN LAWNS

FORSYTHIA AND HEATHER ARE A STUNNING SPRINGTIME DUO

Tuesday, 8:30 AM.  33 degrees F, wind W, light.  The sky is covered with clouds, overcast and fog, and it is snowing lightly.  The barometer is beginning to trend upward, now standing at 29.41".  It looks like it will be a chill, gray day, a bump in the road to spring. But, we saw four white trumpeter swans landing, their great wings cupped to ease their descent, in the marsh along Hwy. 2 just west of Ashland yesterday.
   Hyacinths began blooming in the garden on the south side of the house several days ago, but the white flower spikes have just sat there, not growing much in the present cold and snowy weather.  They will be robust and fragrant with a day of warmth and sunshine.
   Minor bulbs, such as Scilla, which are native to southeastern Russia, the Caucasus and Turkey, have been blooming in lawns for days.  They follow the Crocus in the cycle of early spring bloom.  Both Hyacinthus orientalis and Scilla sibirica are in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scillioides.  The blue pollen of the Scilla is the only deviation from the pollen of virtually all plants being yellow that I can think of.  Scilla spreads by seed in lawns, so it can really make a statement over time.  The plants and flowers usually disappear into dormancy before the lawn needs to be mown.
   I have featured both Forsythia and heather in recent posts.  The plants, grown together, are a truly stunning early spring combination.

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