The First Flower of 2008 has arrived

On March 28th, even after this very long winter that seemed it would never end and before the snow was gone from the entire back yard, the first flower of the year has arrived. It is a Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) that I planted so many years ago that had to spend 10 minutes searching it out on the 'net before I could name it. Some years, the Snow Drops (Galanthus sp.) are first. But this year their location is still buried under a frozen pile of dirty snow. For me, it is a point of honor to be sure that there is something in bloom continuously from the time the first blossom appears until as late in the fall as possible. I think there will be crocuses soon to take the place of the aconite, and the tulips are close in a few places

As the snow melts this year I can see that there has been plenty of activity underneath it even though we couldn't see it. The vole damage is huge this year. A trip out to the gazebo for a closer look revealed that they had completely consumed the bottom foot of the stems of the alpine clematis that has been growing there for many years. I had to cut the whole plant down for the first time since it was put in. I have faith that it will regrow from below ground, but this will surely be a setback.

Not so for the first pasque flower that we ever planted, just below the clematis. Someone, probably the voles, completely consumed that entire plant, roots and all. There is just a hole where the plant had been. I've counted on the pasque to be one of the early bloomers. Good thing that is has been so dependable that it has reseeded itself in many locations throughout the yard. I will not be without any pasque flowers, but I will miss that first one - a gift many years ago from friends Paul and Jude.

Today we cut back the apple trees, took the tops off of the dried grasses from last summer, pruned the spirea that wasn't covered with snow. We also bought a small plastic covered greenhouse to keep early purchases and starts warm. We assembed it on the deck. I've put a high/low thermometer inside to see how cold it gets overnight. It certainly gets warm in the day - 85 degrees within a half hour of closing it up, even though the temperature outside was only in the high thirties.

Sturnus vulgaris

Starlings are not my favorite birds. They're noisy, they scare away other birds, they dig up tender plantings. They generally behave in a way that makes it obvious why they have the name they do. But in the spring they do this amazing flocking thing, and its just so interesting that I guess I have to write about it.


Hundreds of them started showing up in the trees in our yard and the neighbor's last weekend. The group just seemed to keep growing, until they filled the trees. They would all swoop down and fill the ground under the trees and feeders with a swarming black mass. Then at the slightest noise, they would all take to the air and fly around the neighborhood in this strangely choreographed dance, dipping and turning and catching the light, then almost disappearing as they turned away, only to reappear seconds later. I've never seen a big flock here before.

There are lots of great clips out on the net of starlings flocking. One good one is at http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8761390434094738310

There are some simple rules that people have articulated that explain flocking (and also some herd and schooling) behavior. Usually three rules, sometimes four. 1. Avoid hitting or crowding your neighbor. 2. Steer in the same direction your neighbor is heading. 3. Steer toward the average position of your nearest neighbors. and 4. (especially if in the presence of preditors) Stay away from the edge of the group.

Mysterious Garden Inhabitants

To me, one of the most interesting things in this yard has been the frequent appearance of a fungus that I originally thought was very unusual, but which has come to be amazingly common, at least here. I had heard about it prior to moving here, but never seen it. Maybe because it is so small, and so easy to overlook. But even though I've seen it here many times before, I've never noticed it so early in the year. Indeed, it is appearing just as the snow clears away from a patch of ground.

It does seem to be associated with the wood chips that we use as mulch thoughout the yard. I've seen it in many different locations. Called Birds Nest Fungi, members of the order Nidulariales are often "seen on decaying wood and in soils enriched with wood chips or bark mulch" according to Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nidulariales Our species is most likely Cyathus striatus

Serious Melting Going On

It got up to 49 degrees today. Almost tempted me to put the top down on the car on the way home from Madison this afternoon. But not quite. I noticed on the way home that there was more bare ground showing than snow for the first time in awhile. Once home, there was still quite a bit of snow, and of course the piles at the sides of the driveway, sidewalk and deck will take some time to melt.

The sun was bright and the yard beckoned to me, even though there was much to catch up on after a day out of town. After almost an hour of work, I finally felt I could put on boots and a sweater and go out to see what was happening.

The ducks have been around for at least a week, and now they are creating quite a racket down by the creek. Lots of jockeying for position, and showing off going on. Not sure that nesting and mating are happening quite yet, but it won't be long. Cardinals are singing loudly, proclaiming territory. Today I heard a red wing blackbird for the first time. Didn't see him, but the sound is unmistakable.

The creek was at least 8 or 9 feet across, at the top of its bank, flowing fast. There were plenty of puddles along the secondary channel below the willow. This melt is happening almost perfectly so far - no flooding, slow and gentle. plenty of time to let as much water soak into the ground as possible. It was pretty easy to walk around compared to last week. Snow only 2 to 6 inches deep in most places, and of a consistent texture.

I think we will have to do some pruning this weekend - apple trees, and a few others. They say we are looking at a new major storm Friday or Saturday. We'll see.

Clear signs of Spring are starting to be seen

A walk around the yard today proved that spring really is coming. It wasn't easy to walk, as the snow is unpredictably hard and soft. One footstep stays on the top of the foot or so still on the yard, and the next breaks through and sinks down to the frozen ground. It was slow going and I had to be careful to keep my balance. But it is worth it to find the sprouts and see the birds.


The robins are plentiful now, I can see or hear one pretty much any time I go out. Just before we left for Phoenix I remember seeing the first and thinking it a fluke.







And many things are beginning to grow, expecially near the south side of the house. Here are pictures of some new tulips, a sprout of the new delphinium that I am very excited has survived the winter, the allium that always comes up early and the hardy amaryllis that is also always among the first.

Well OK, that wasn't real

But the snow really is receding, and the difference is amazing in just a couple of weeks. Actually, more has melted in the three days since we got back home than during the 10 days we were away. I took a couple of photos just before we left, and then again when we got home and another few today, 3 days later. It is becoming more exciting daily and I can hardly wait to be able to start cleaning up and planting.

48 hours later

It is amazing how much snow can melt in 48 hours. The view from our patio today....