Bogturtle's Garden- March 1-15, 2025

3/10 Just one patch of Crocus thomasianna that I never planted. On the way to the barn. Several patches, like this are around. Really too bad my camera, set on 'flower' does not report the pale lavender color correctly. 

 Against a background of an evergreen, that will soon be in bloom, Edgeworthia chrysantha is coming into bloom. The Chinese Paper Bush. Here for many years. Perfumed, but I don't like the smell of every plant. Some might like the odor. Plan to show this shrub again when in full bloom. Did try to grow the exotic red-orange blooming sort, but it did not survive a Winter. Might be tempted to try again, if I see one for sale. 

Likely from one bulb, years ago. I did not have money to plant many, and so put one here and there. Surely the most common species, Galanthus nivalis. Actual plant shows go on in Britain with potted up species and clones vying for prizes. 

Out in any slightly tolerable day, the Honeybees were out this warmer day. One on this clump of Crocus thomasianna. 

In bloom for at least a month, now. Chimonanthus praecox, the Wintersweet actually was noticeable for its sweet smell as I walked by. Often not so, and that is not how the plant is described in the literature. A clone exists without the maroon reddish stain in the middle of the flower. C. p. 'Lutens', and I am told it is not as strong in odor.

Technology is great, but I tend to give a lot over to my children or grandkids. Still, I do, and have to get involved. My daughter gave me a bird camera, powered by a solar panel, that sends what it picks up to my phone. She got it set up to work, and it did since Christmas, then it stopped. My grand-daughter's boyfriend got it working again, and I put it back, yesterday. But I got into tech by taking a video of the video, using my little Finepix camera, taking the little card out and getting the video into my computer and then posting it on this blog. Nothing new, but all the regular birds I see at the bird feeder out my window. But amazing that I can watch it miles away and my daughter can also see it on her phone, if she wishes. 

More flowers to come on Jasmine nudiflorum, I think. The February Jasmine.  Another plant rather neglected in the busy recent past. It will have many unscented yellow flowers, sometimes as early as February. The plant is a rambling high ground cover, with long whispy, non-twining vine like growth. I moved those up onto the deck fence and now they peek through.

Perfection eludes.   This photo is just great. The little cluster of flowers, probably from one seed, and never planted by me, was caught in a ray of Sun. But, once again, my camera, on setting 'flowers', fails to report the lavender color as strongly as it actually is. A photo with my camera does, and yet I cannot import to this computer. More techy help needed. I once could make those transfers easily.

A grand local store, selling all sorts of fruits, vegetables and flowers, from all over the World, and cheaply, sells pots of this miniature Daffodil, each Spring. This is the result of one of those pots, after being in the house, being put at the base of a tree in front of the house, a few years ago. The sort called 'Tet a Tet'.

Cornus officianalis, the Japanese Cornell. At least 2 weeks ahead of the better known Cornus mas, which Jefferson grew on his plantation, I believe.  I will show another photo, if the Sun shines and the bloom is further along. Really of the Dogwood clan, with flowers not having the big pink or white bracts that surround the center of the blooms on the better known Dogwoods.

The Japanese apricot, Prunus mume, and this may be the sort called 'Marjorie Clark'Way ahead of the much more familiar Japanese flowering cherry trees that one sees in Washington, D.C.