Spring is here

All of our native trees are leafing out, the early-flowering Asian speices (think Magnolia, Prunus, and Forsythia) are well along, with native woodland wildflowers in flower, too.

If you can, come spend some time in the Garden.  It's a special place in spring, and in any time of the year.

Spring is definitely here

Oconee Bells, Trout Lilies and Hepatica are flowering now in the Woodland Wildflower Garden, and the mayapple foliage is emerging.

Buds are swollen on hickories and buckeyes, and alders, birches, and elms are producing pollen (achoo!)

We're seeing the first wave of early migrant birds in the Garden, as well as the last of our winter residents, as they depart for their northern breeding grounds.

Star Magnolias and Saucer Magnolias are as nice as I remember ever seeing them.  With a warm February, the buds weren't nipped by frosts so they're in full flower.  The Edgeworthia (Paperbush) pair in front of the Hayden Conference Center are lovely and fragrant;  oddly late this year, probably because of the January cold.

The odd overlaps in flowering times are because of the unusual winter cold, followed by an remarkably warm February, I suspect.

Of course, I didn't have my camera at work today, so I'll try to post a few photos tomorrow.

Spring is in the air

The air smelled like spring yesterday. Fresh, green, and damp around the edges. The increasing songs of birds are evident, too, and I'm thinking I need to check the bluebird boxes for any early activity.

Red maples are in fruit, and alders, junipers, and birches are releasing pollen. Achoo!