Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)

The color of the season has changed to the overwhelming, intense, glowing green of full spring. Every day there is something new to see! These have just popped up in the last week. My grandmother used to have them in the dark, moist garden next to the path between her house and the neighbor's. The area was only about 5 or 6 feet wide! There was just enough sun for ferns, and in the spring, these little guys.
If you are interested in native plants for your yard, and live in Maryland, consider paying a visit to the Lower Marlboro nursery website (www.lowermarlboronursery.com). I purchase plants there frequently! They stock many of the plants I have featured on this blog.

The Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)

The dappled rectangles of sun
Shine through the stained glass leaves,
Ripple on the beech and poplar pillars,
Brighten the mossy floor
Dotted with fern and violet,
While angels sing above unseen.

Welcome back, wood thrush! This bird is hard to see, but easy to hear! They arrive from the south in April, and I know they have returned because I suddenly start hearing their song--"Ee-oh-lay!". It is repeated several times here, flute-like, sweet and joyful. The nesting pairs need a lot of woods, and I recorded this in the big park near my home. I've also heard them near my back yard, which abuts on another large wooded area. I've only seen them once or twice--and then only briefly.

Tulips: "Orange Bowl"

I got these last fall, thinking I needed a little color in the yard. Loud, yes, but that's the point of tulips. I think I'll put some more in next year, if I can find them at the garden store. These are Darwin hybrids, and are supposed to perennialize. I've had lots of compliments, and I also like the orange tulips with the blue muscari.

Syringa vulgaris: Lilac

All week we have been enjoying the springtime perfume of lilac--it carries a long way! I always cut a few, and bring them into the house to enjoy the fragrance. It's heavy, luxurious, and completely singular. Nothing else smells the same--even the other lilac species, which are disappointing, no matter how lovely the flowers. The smell is the thing!
Mine is a "French lilac"--a double flower--the variety is "Nadhezda".

Violet spp.

Another favorite spring flower (well...weed!). When I was a kid, we had a lot of violets in our lower yard, growing in the long green grass. We used to pick little bunches as presents for my mother. There are many species, and the native ones have a bad rap as "weeds", because they invade the lawn. I'm not a big fan of lawn monoculture, so these don't bother me at all. I think this is Viola odorata, but I'm willing to be contradicted.

Barbarians on the Lawn

Dandelion (Taraxacum sp.)

Little stars of golden fluff
Burst sudden on the lawn;
Ripen to an airy puff;
Blow at them—and they’re gone!

Monotony of turf grass
No longer greenly chaste.
Dandelion, divinely crass,
The triumph of bad taste!

Beech Trees In Flower

The American beech is my favorite tree. They are in flower right now, starting the process that yields beech nuts! The flowers are pale green and white puffs, surrounded by the glowing translucent leaves. Wonderful, unless you have a pollen allergy....

Pear Blossoms

The Bradford pear trees along the sidewalks are in bloom.
When the wind blows, we have "snow" in April.