Saturday's Signs of Spring

It's warm, and spring is on the way! Things are happening in the garden, so I'm joining in with Garden Ruminations' Six on Saturday. And since I technically have blooms, I'm also linking in with May Dreams Gardens' Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. Thanks to both bloggers for hosting these fun memes.

The photos here are a couple of days old, so plants are even a little farther along than shown. First, the Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis 'Flore Pleno') above are more open, and there are more patches in other spots in the garden. Such a joy to see.



Second, Allium 'Ambassador' is right next to the house, facing south, so it's one of the first plants to pop out of the ground. The foliage is almost as lovely as the later blooms.



Third, I have several different species of Sedums growing here and there in the garden. The Stonecrops above (S. kamtschaticum) are growing in a pot with lava rocks to decrease digging damage by squirrels.



Fourth, Mixed Daffodils (Narcissus spp.) are garden staples in many locations. This is a genus of plants the rabbits don't eat. (Yay!)



Fifth: In some sunny, warm locations, the Irises (I. germanica) are making strides.



Finally, sixth, the Hellebores (H. orientalis) are just about to pop. I always look forward to their hardy, beautiful blooms.

Head on over to Garden Ruminations and May Dreams Gardens for garden highlights from all around the world.

On Mosses...

Mosses fascinate me. How about you? I don't "know" all the common and scientific names, but I certainly appreciate mosses for their beauty, their hardiness, and for many other reasons. A couple names that came up as I checked the photos with iNaturalist were Plagiomnium cuspidatum and Hypnum circinale, both of which have many common names. Mosses are often mixed together in some locations, which makes it difficult to ID them all.

Among many things I find fascinating about mosses is how most of them remain green even during winter. I took a walk around the garden and captured a few photos. Some grow on rocks, others at the base of trees, and still others even replace the grass in some spots, which is fine by us.











While I have mixed feelings about artificial intelligence (AI), it can be helpful when researching basic questions. In this case, I researched "mosses growing conditions." And while I wasn't surprised by the results (because they describe our conditions here), they were helpful in explaining where you'll commonly find mosses:

"Moss grows best in damp, shady areas with low light, acidic soil, and compacted or low-fertility soil. Moss needs water, sunlight, and nutrients to grow.

• Light Moss grows in low light and shade, but it still needs some indirect light to grow. Too much sun can cause moss to melt away and smell bad.

• Moisture Moss needs a damp location to grow, but it won't do well in a swampy area. Moss needs water to survive and reproduce.

• Soil Moss grows best in acidic soil. Moss can grow in compacted or low-fertility soil.

• Other conditions Moss grows in damp forests and fern-filled areas. Moss can grow in exposed areas where wind clears snow, giving it access to sunlight."

The only AI description that doesn't match our conditions here is low-fertility soil, although the growth on rocks would match that.

While I was out investigating the mosses (there are many more, so I can share observations again in warmer weather), I found some surprises:

Spring is on the way!

Reflecting on Mentors, Revisited

I'm thinking about my family elders who have passed.

As is common for all of us, I was shaped by these early mentors. While I'm NOT a painter, I certainly appreciate art, and the framed painting shown here was created by my paternal grandmother. I've shared a bit about her over the years, including this past post published when my mother died.

My father died recently, of congestive heart failure. And while I'm missing him terribly, he had a nice, long life (91) and was calm and comfortable in his final hours. It's always hard to say goodbye, but I'm reflecting now on all the influences he had on my life over the years.

Dad was a birder. Before he became nearly blind, he could identify most common native Midwestern birds by sight, and he recognized many of them by song, as well.

He was a scouting executive during my formative years, so we spent a lot of time at outdoor scouting events.

He appreciated, and cared about, the natural world. And he worked, played, and volunteered in several capacities over the years to show respect for it, and to help sustain it.

I could go on for many paragraphs about what a great papa and person he was and how much I miss him, but a short synopsis is that he was a very good man. I apologize for being away from blogging for a bit, but I'm slowly working my way back.

Hold tight to those you love, and listen to their stories. You will treasure them when they pass.

Six on Saturday in the Sunroom

My garden is currently "reset" on winter, after one storm dropped more snow in one day than during the entire month of January. I admit it's prettier, and the plants now have a white blanket of protection. I'm joining in Jim's "Six on Saturday" meme at Garden Ruminations, but I hope it's OK if I focus on my indoor garden in the sunroom...



I'm thrilled to see that some shoots of the 'Canova Rose' Canna Lily (Canna x generalis) are breaking through the soil in their pot. (If you see lava rocks in my pots, it's to protect the plants from digging squirrels and chipmunks when the pots are moved outside during the growing season. The rodents don't like to dig through the tough lava rocks.)



Fuchsia  'Marinka' (F. hybrida) is putting on more buds.



And there are plenty of edible Fuchsia fruits, too!



The potted Passionflower (Passifloria incarnata) vine that I bring indoors for the winter is budding. I have another Passionflower outdoors, and I hope it survived the bitter cold of January with no snow.



Flaming Katy (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) is full of buds, too. When open, the blooms are a beautiful bright yellow.

Purple Shamrock Oxalis (O. triangularis) is happy all winter in the sunroom. Its companion in the pot is variegated English Ivy (Hedera helix).



And the Gerbera Daisy (G. jamesonii) is the brightest star in the group. I have to smile when I see these happy faces.

So much to celebrate (in the plant world) indoors and out. Happy Six on Saturday and Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!