Bogturtle's Garden- February 2024

 Traditionally, I have used February to post the assortment of evergreen plants on the property.  Same old, but I hate to post old pictures from other years. And the same colorful plants, with flowers now, or colored bark, will be included, as if I did not show them recently. Unfortunately, to my knowledge, the wildlife, here, is usually recorded on videos between 10 and 20 seconds long. To my knowledge, I still cannot post such long videos on this site. 

Taken through a window on 2/1 and a sunny day, which have not come often, recently.

Most notable are the green stems of the Kerria japonica 'plena' and the berries on the American Holly. 

Annoyingly, the camera had to be set on red emphasizing 'sunset' mode, to show off the berries better, and then the green of the Kerria stems is harder to see.

We have seen the waves of Robins that always Winter here, and the berries on the Winterberry bushes are already gone, but most of the American Holly berries are still here. When the flocks attack these trees, the noise and activity is impressive. 

They're here enmass. And it appears that the program allows downloads of videos 10 seconds long. Without really knowing, I am thinking the areas with American Holly as a major understory tree are a winter haven for Robins from all areas north of here, even Canadian birds. 

Really, with the cost of batteries, it would be good to catch something unusual to see, like the Woodcock, which I might try to show. But I think that video is too long.

Great swaths of common, violet flowered Periwinkle cover the property, and, somehow, this kind, never formally identified, got loose. My wife was buying it as a trailer in the containers of summer flowers on the little landing. How it got loose is a mystery, but it certainly is wandering. And another fine group of Galanthus nivalis is blooming among it. Not having much money, I would plant individual bulbs, not groups, in any place, and here is what time will do. Probably dozens of bulbs, now.

Woodcock are fairly common but seldom seen. Perhaps they are still a hunting item and N.J. has a season. Did not check. Similar in size, I suppose, to the domestic pigeon. 

Usually noticed as they dart away on whistling wings.

On April evenings, you will hear the male, very high in the sky, as it falls, spinning, back to earth. A strange prolonged twittering whistle from their wings, as they show off for the female. 

The Tommy Crocus, Crocus thomasianna, if I have it spelled correctly. Smaller flowers than many kinds offered. In every shade from deep amethyst to almost white here, and the only one that does not need reordering and replanting. All over, and I think the seeds are spread by ants. 

Breath of Spring, Lonicera fragrantissima is continuing. Haven't seen the usual honeybees, but I am not out much. 

Arum italicum doing fine with the snow.

Nandina domesticum 'Harbor Dwarf ', keeps these red tinges all Winter. A fine, underused evergreen. But mine has never bloomed or had the neat berries that are such an assett. 

Usually Epimedium sulfureum is so ratty I need to trim it down in February or March. Still may, but it looks quite good and mahogany in color. Really for the clouds of yellow flowers in Spring, so I trim it also to make sure they show well. Pleased that it can crowd out the Periwinkle, that is so invasive into all my gardens, while appreciated as a fine evergreen low ground cover in the woods.

Since Winter started I have posted flowers that bloom in this season. But most don't look like what people call a flower, while they are. But Prunus mume, the Japanese Apricot, has half inch wide blooms like what people expect. And it is beginning to open, here on Feb. 22. 

Just showing some of the diversity of Crocus thomasianna that has come over the years here. It's everywhere.  Interesting to me is the evergreen, patterned Ginger, named Asarum splendens. Planted last year and really not expanded too much yet, but somewhat damaged by the Winter. 

A few Honeybees were working the Crocus, all over the property, but I have no knowledge of anyone keeping them near by. 

Prunus mume is just about in complete bloom. If a hard frost destroys these, buds remain that can bring more bloom in better weather. 

Really impressed how one Snowdrop bulb has grown into a neat colony, over the years.

The Winter Aconite, Eranthus haemalis is also in bloom. No doubt a less familiar choice of Spring bulbs. The species name 'haemalis' relates to Winter.