Early spring flowers

Not only are all the deciduous forest trees (oaks, beeches, etc.) producing catkins and other sorts of flowers, and expanding fresh young leaves, but our native early spring flowers are making an appearance.

The Gelsemium sempervirens (Carolina Jessamine) vine outside my study window is flowering, cascading down through the windowpanes.

The Iris cristata, shared with me by a wonderful former volunteer and SC Master Gardener, is starting to flower.




And Hexastylis arifolia (Little Brown Jugs) is producing its long-lasting jug-shaped flowers (pollinated by fungus gnats). That's if the plant is lucky!

Spring flowers

The last few evenings have been pleasant in the garden; many of the early perennial stalwarts are in full flower (Spanish lavender, Coreopsis 'Nana', garden sage, and Amsonia) along with some lovely natives like fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus).

My gardening companion is off taking photos up in the natural gardens of Great Smoky Mountain National Park, so I'm devoting some extra puttering around time to checking on plants and noticing what's changed.

The soft calls and murmurs of birds, some young, some nesting and some courting, adds to the ambience.

An unplanned trio of purple -- red cabbage leaves, sage, and spanish lavender make a nice vignette.