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Thursday, April 26, 2012

Wildflower Wednesday, April 25

It's exciting to see what wildflowers I can find in my yard at this point.    Join the other gardeners for Wildflower Wednesday at gracious hostess Gail's Clay and Limestone blog.   
 The stinging nettle is starting to bloom.
Spring Beauty, Claytonia siberica, is starting to bloom but closed up because of the rain, it is next to some delicate Circaea alpina, a delicate ground cover that has very small white flowers later-
The delicate plant winding through it is Nemophila parviflora, a tiny delicate vining annual with tiny 1 mm. flowers, not yet open-
The native with the most impact in my yard at present is the Red-flowering currant, Ribes sanguineum
The Trilliums have been blooming and now are aging to a magenta color, they have been smushed under a wire cover since deer decided to start eating my Trilliums this year; don't they make a lovely bouquet!-

The native low Oregon Holly Grapes, which used to be called Mahonia but has been renamed Berberis  nervosa, are beginning to bloom.  I cooked lots of the berries last year and also removed some seeds before cooking and spread them around some, they make nice drifts in a few areas-
I hope you are taking time to enjoy some of the native plants that come up all by themselves.;)  I'm trying to let more of them take over in more places this year.  I read of a house with a 40-60 year old lawn, can't remember which, that had the grass removed and periodically weeded, and over a couple of years had many wildflowers, shrubs and trees sprout that had been dormant in the soil all that time.  Fascinating.

Hannah

6 comments:

  1. I've read that seed can stay dormant for decades. Isn't that amazing? I'm rolling my eyes over the taxonomists' decision to revert Mahonia to Berberis. I know they have their reasons. :) I love native plants. Great shots.

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    1. I am still surprised in my own yard to see the Spring Beauty and the other natives come up where I clear away the invasive plants. As for the name changes, I guess I am a stick in the mud, I always liked the old name. The Aster name change is still rankling.

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  2. I missed that mahonia was moved to Berberis...Those taxonomist! So glad you joined and i am learning new plants! I love Ribes and have R odoratum, with yellow flowers! Love these red one. gail

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    1. I have 'Crandall' as well, I love the clove fragrance. The red-flowering currant doesn't have an edible berry. I've enjoyed Wildflower Wednesday, especially your photos of the Skippers, I've noticed they are much more friendly than the other butterflies, plain but little darlings.

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  3. You have a wonderful selection of wildflowers. Some of these are in my wooded area, and I enjoy seeing those lovely blooms. I think it is fascinating that the wildflowers sprouted after the lawn was removed.

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    1. I enjoy even the tiny ones, they seem so special to be able to survive when so fragile.

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