BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: ragdall
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 09:51 PM

Hi gnu!
Thanks for clicking the links. Looks as if you are the only one who did?

I woke up this morning to Happy April 1st fresh snow.
rags

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Janie
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 09:58 PM

Not at all, ragdall - enjoyed your photos. Sorry not to have said so earlier.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 10:00 PM

I clicked your links. That owl is wonderful! Amazing that you could get that close, even with a lens that might have boosted it.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: ragdall
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 10:25 PM

Thanks, Stilly River Sage and Janie.

I seldom post because when I do I feel as if I must be invisible.

I'm realizing that being invisible can be a good thing. As an amateur photographer, it allows me to get much closer than I though possible without frightening away my subjects.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 10:30 PM

Was quite springlike here today after a chilly, wet, windy start to the year, sighted a small tortoiseshell butterfly looking for nectar (I've got some hebe & escallonia in flower)

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: maeve
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 10:37 PM

Hi there, Rags! Thanks for the links to your always beautiful photos.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 11:24 PM

I haven't been keeping up in reading this thread. My apologies.

Janie, you are leaving your beautiful spot?

Rags - beautiful photos!! Really nice that they are so close. Thanks!

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: ragdall
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 11:46 PM

maeve and katlaughing, thank you.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 09:14 AM

Snow forecast again this weekend in the Pennines, some spring eh, global warming my arse.

eric

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: GUEST,Janie
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 11:11 AM

The bulbous buttercups are starting to bloom on southfacing slopes. Also least hops clover and wood sorrel.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 11:15 AM

We need a Mudelf to come do a little weeding. . .

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=108607&messages=263&page=1&desc=yes#2304476

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: SINSULL
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 01:29 PM

Tulips peeking up through the the snow in Maine. Very reassuring.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: gnu
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 03:10 PM

One of the two crocuses opened up today! Well, it was actually blown open by the wind, but it LOOKS nice outside with the sun shining. We lost 300mm of snow overnight and close to that already today. (Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada)

The sun and +8 tomorrow and the rain and +10 Friday have got the riverside folks shakin. They don't call em flood plains fer nuthin.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bee
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 05:33 PM

Ah, gnu, the moral of that story is 'Don't build your house on a floodplain' - or at least forget about having a basement.

Windy enough to blow you away here, but... mayflowers showin' a little white at bud tips... daylilies sprouting... rhubarb crowning... cranesbill loosening its leaf curls... little red leaf buds on the beach rose...

Ooo yeah!

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bobert
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 05:49 PM

A sure fire sound of early spring is James Dovel's Ford tractor, 5 foot rototiller behind, comin' up the driveway...

Yeah, he does everyones veggie garden... Ours is 80 X 30 and he can do it in 15 minutes and charges only 30 bucks!!!

So we've been out laying out our rows all day and getting everything figured out... I even set 3 seven foot tee-pees for the lima beans...

We have some rain due tomorrow night so we'll get the lettuce, beets, spinach, peas and onions in tomorrow and tater by the end of the week...

This year I have left a couple extra feet between the tomato plants so life should be easier come August and September...

I'm beat... My arm is killin' me but, hey, no gains without pain...

B:~)

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: GUEST,Springluvr
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 06:02 PM

I feel a bit disappointed that my posts are getting deleted...I really do love spring and the name sphincter for my cat. Today was lovely, 50 degrees F but a bit windy and there was even a small tornado the next town over! I do not speak very english well so perhaps the word sphincter is not what i am for looking? peace and love, springluvr

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Janie
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 07:17 PM

The Solomon Seals have broken thru! (The first was again compliments of Bobert). They went dormant early last year and I have been anxiously looking for them, afraid they too had not survived the drought. Lilies are up from 2 to 5 inches, depending on the type. It looks like the old growth on the mophead and lace-cap hydrangeas has died, but new sprouts are starting to appear from the roots.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bobert
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 07:27 PM

Yeah, Janie.... We had a lotta deer damage to our green spires and acubas but they are also coming back... The deer even ate all the leaves off our "specimin" columnal ivy (non invasive so we dug it up and are going to repalnt it closer to the house where the deer usually don't come...

Our Solomon Seals haven't made an appearance as yet but I think we are about 10 days behind you...

We also moved one of our oak leaf hydrangeas 'cause we had it too deep on the woods and it wasn't blooming...

BTW, everyone... Costco has some nice Rhodos fir like $17... They also have other stuff but these come in 5 gallon pots and are nice plants... Okay, a tad root bound but still nice plants... Check out yer local Costco and see if you can find 'um...

Sorry, SRS, they prolly won't survive yer Texas heat...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 08:45 PM

I grew up in the land of the rhodies--the Puget Sound area. Rhododenron and azalea heaven. They manage to keep some azaleas alive here, but I've never seen anyone attempt rhodies. Some ferns, and I've seen Pierus japonica, whatever that one was in the common name. Andromeda. But no rhodies. The size of a house and such vivid colors. Makes me homesick in the spring. People transplant them when they move, and leave them to people in their wills (I don't know that for sure, but I have a friend who would if she could, so it might happen!)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Susan A-R
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 09:16 PM

Lots of wind and a bit chilly today, but the sun is melting the snow. Got another fuel delivery. Bother. Can't wait until THAT'S over. Tomorrow; 40s to 50s and sunny!! It's coming.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Janie
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 09:16 PM

Mom and Dad (near Charleston WV) planted catawba rhodies forty years ago that now completely cover the north side and the northeast corner of the back of their two story house. They be glorious in May!

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Cats
Date: 03 Apr 08 - 10:32 AM

The real sure sign of spring at last. The first of the 'lost tourists'.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 04 Apr 08 - 05:13 AM

Talking of 'rhodies', does anyone know how they sterilise the ground around them, which prevents other plants growing? Is it due to their leaves decomposing or is it something their roots put into the ground? Here in Eire & also the UK, much time, effort & money is spent in trying to eradicate them from conservation areas as they completely take over areas and significantly alter the biodiversity!

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: gnu
Date: 04 Apr 08 - 05:23 AM

Sunny and +9C today! Yay! Snow tonight and freezing rain tomorrow. Boo.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: Jeri
Date: 04 Apr 08 - 06:35 AM

Snowing NOW here in New Hampshire. (Consider this to be followed by a string of expletives that I'm too incensed to type) Off to drive the dog sled to work.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: maeve
Date: 04 Apr 08 - 06:48 AM

Our tulips are still shivering under snow, Sinsull!

Snowdrops and crocus have finally emerged, and green daffy-down-dillies are poking up through the garden debris. Cherry blossoms have been persuaded to bloom in a tall vase in the kitchen. And last night I heard the first woodcock of the season calling "Peent, peent".

Maple sap is running well, with a high sugar content. We may be able to boil down enough sap to make a year's supply for us. If, that is, we don't wind up with broken legs from falling through the deep snow in the woods!

Time for pruning our fruit trees. Time to graft new trees to sell.

Spring!

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 04 Apr 08 - 07:27 AM

This week I've seen bumblebees, butterflies and last night a pipistrelle, but they'll all regret it when it snows on Sunday.

eric

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bobert
Date: 04 Apr 08 - 08:31 AM

Jim Martin,

I don't think they poison the ground at all... Rhodos have vigorous fiberous root systems so my guess is that they can outfight other plants for water...

That's my guess...

Azaleas (also in the Rhoda family) do the same...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Apr 08 - 11:28 AM

Rhodies and azaleas want acid soil, lots of moisture, but they don't want their feet wet. You won't find them in swamps. They probably out compete other plants with leathery leaves blocking the sun and the buildup of acid from decomposing leaves.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Becca72
Date: 04 Apr 08 - 12:03 PM

37° and raining here in Southern Maine. At least it ain't snow! :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bobert
Date: 04 Apr 08 - 12:06 PM

BTW, the P-Vine is the president of the Northern Virgina Chapter of the American Azalea Society and we will be hosted the national covention next year and collectively our chapter is raising about 3000 rare hybrids from cuttings... We have about 400 in a 35X10 room on tables growing under florescent light... I'll bring a few to the "Getaway" for my gardening buds here...

BTW, part 2, our chapter has several well known hybridizers including Don Voss, Bob Stuart, Joe Klemivich and Don Hyatt...

True story: Joe Klemivich is trying to intorduce DNA of some small critter that li8ves off the Pacifis coast and glows at night... He thinks that he can hybridize an azalea that would glow at night???

Hybridizers is some very strange people....

B;~)

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 04 Apr 08 - 12:13 PM

Could save on electric lighting permanently instead of just one hour a year token gesture!

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Apr 08 - 12:28 PM

I heard a story about that, and it wasn't on April 1. :)

You can mail order the DNA snippet to add to your cultivar, but first you have to send some pretty detailed readings of the DNA of the thing you want to glow in the dark. The make the link you need and ship it back.

I heard it on NPR but I don't remember where.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Janie
Date: 05 Apr 08 - 01:47 AM

Rain! Lots of it! Probably 2 to 4 inches between yesterday and when it stops Saturday night. First, solid, soaking rain in over a year. It is gonna mess with my plans to pot things up this weekend, and may cause some minor urban flooding of roads and a basement or two, but wells, lakes, resovoirs (spelling?) etc., are recharging.

I'm grateful this April is starting out like April.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Apr 08 - 02:10 AM

We had quite a heavy rainstorm early in the morning on Friday but I slept through it. My various recording devices (as such) were the previously empty bird bath and a wheelbarrow--with a lot of water--and dog dishes. One canine rain gauge had been emptied, but they left the other (or most of it) so it looked like we had at least an inch of rain.

Good thing it's the weekend coming up--this is the condition I've wanted for digging up some more garden area.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bobert
Date: 13 Apr 08 - 12:35 PM

Well, yesterday was gorgeous so I loaded up my small knapsack with some water, several plastic bags and a knife, grabbed my 410/22 rifle (see bear story) fired up the Kubota and headed back into the woods to hunt the elusive morelle mushrooms...

Well, as luck would have it I found a place where Mr. Clifford told me about back 'round a mile up the loggin' road... So I left the Kabota right there in the middle of thye loggin' road, took the key out in case the bear had any thoughts of takin' it on a joy ride and headed down, down down into this valley that runs parrelel to our farm but this was way up where the springs feed the strream that runs thru our neighbors farm...

Well, it was moist in the very middle but dryer on the sides... It kinda looked like a the kinda area where wild flowers would do well so I plunked myself down in one of the dryer areas and just kinda surveyed the 30 or so feet I could see in most directions and I'm real glad I did cause...

...right next to where I had laid my knapsack I noticed an orchid... But it had no stem and the leaf was monsterously large... Like 9 inches long and absolutely beautiful so I carefully took my knife and purdy soon had a the orchid and about a 6 inch root (bulb) ball... When I get my fingers under it and pulled it out I found not one bulb but two white bulbs just a tad smaller than a golf ball... I'm not sure what kind of orchid it is but the P-Vine says they used to grow on a creek when she lived in a wooded area outside of Charlotte and the leaf is the bloom??? Sound fishy to me but I'm
just the the dumb guy...

Also dug up a couple black kohosh which were right there next to where I was sitting... We just add them to our collection...

So then my eye starting to wander and next thing ya know I spied 4 nice morelles (mergals) which are now cut, cleaned and wrapped up in a paper towel in the frig...

Drove to Charlottesville for a medical appointment on Friday which involves going over the mountain and about 3/4's the way up there on the side of US Route 33 was an entire bank of blood root in full bloom... There musta been thousands of blooms... Absolutely spectacular... Makes our little 2 foot patch of them look like nuthin'... Twin Leaf is up... Native trillium are in bloom... Larskspu is up... We have our first bleeding heart bloom... Several early azaleas are beginning to open... Oh yeah, one of our NC natives (yellow) is in full bloom...

That's it fir now...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: black walnut
Date: 13 Apr 08 - 09:10 PM

When it was up to 4 degrees (C) this afternoon (brrrr) we went outside and cut down some of fall's leftovers to make room for this year's new growth. Nice to see tulip leaves struggling upward, as well as a few other things. After swabbing - er, sweeping the deck, a chipmunk came out to help clean up some spilled birdseed. Awwww.....

~b.w.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Rumncoke
Date: 13 Apr 08 - 09:28 PM

In February I was posting that we hadn't had snow for over a decade, here on the south coast of England right by the sea - so just to spite me it snowed twice last week - nothing much, just nasty cold and a covering that soon melted.

It was sad to see the snow on the plum blossom, though very beautiful too.

Anne

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: gnu
Date: 14 Apr 08 - 06:56 AM

Our dusting of snow should melt by noon. It IS spring!

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Apr 08 - 02:58 PM

That sounds like a great walk, Bobert! I've gone hiking in the woods around here with a trowel and bucket as well. I have a native prickly pear cactus in the yard (taken before the bulldozed the field where they grew), and a gorgeous large spiderwort I dug up five years ago that comes back every year. I'd like to find another one, but haven't so far. (My neighbor had one, but he tilled it in before I could get to it.)

I also have a wild garlic around the yard that I first dug up in the woods. It's a hard-neck variety that no doubt escaped from a garden a long time ago. It looks like a leek when it is full-size, and I've been tempted to treat it that way. Not ever having actually cooked leeks, I guess I should start at the grocery store and see how they work out, then test the garlic plants. (Any suggestions? Am I the only one who has had this idea?)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bobert
Date: 14 Apr 08 - 03:43 PM

Ummmm, the orchid I found is called "Adam 'n Eve" and is considered "very rare", according to oue Va. Wild Flowers book... It also says not to move them...

Opps...

And I was right... The leaf is the leaf and there is a bloom... We'll see...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Apr 08 - 04:59 PM

I kinda thought you might find that information about your orchid. Taking it home with you to plant in the yard was popular when I started botanizing, but is frowned upon now. I stick with garden-variety transplants. Orchids are also very fussy about where they grow and what they grow in. Good luck keeping it going.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Apr 08 - 05:08 PM

Is this the leaf? Aplectrum hyemale? Though it comes from a State of Missouri site, the photo caption says it was taken in Brown Summit, NC. Also calls it "Putty Root Orchid" (such an inelegant name!) Ooooo--identified in 1788--here.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bobert
Date: 14 Apr 08 - 05:34 PM

Yep, SRS, that's it... The Wild Flower book also id's it as a "Putty Root Orchid"... Pretty nice specimen... Not to fear... We will keep alive and well... Actually we do ver well with most wild flowers... If ya' just look around where you find them and duplicate their surroundings it's amazing how well that transplant...

Last year I found a white trilium about two miles back in the woods and it has come up... No bloom as yet but I didn't find it until the middle of May last year when it was in bloom... Kinda excited to have it come back....

Our Va. Blue Bells self seeded and are all over the woods... As is a dwarf dafodil which only come up about 5 inches and makes a flower about the size of a nickle... Very sweet little plant...

Thanks fir looking that orchid up, SRS... 1788??? My, my, my...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: gnu
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 05:22 AM

My tulips were about to bloom. We had sunny days up to 20C. It's white this morning... but forecast to clear and reach 5C this afternoon.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: gnu
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 05:23 AM

Oops... been a while since I said I am in Southeastern New Brunswick, Canada.

Subject: RE: BS: Blatant! Signs of Spring - Texas
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 08:36 AM

We're not long looking at modest tidbits of color and tiny green leaves poking out, Texas spring is now like a great painted floozy, spread out all over the place for everyone to see. Nothing "early" about this place any more!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: keberoxu
Date: 06 Apr 17 - 02:01 PM

It is raining cats and dogs here, in Massachusetts.
I'm just thankful that it is above freezing.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Joe_F
Date: 06 Apr 17 - 05:57 PM

A bluebird comes tenderly up to alight
And fronts the wind to unruffle a plume,
His song so pitched as not to excite
A single flower as yet to bloom.
It is snowing a flake, and he half knew
Winter was only playing possum.
Except in color he isn't blue,
But he wouldn't advise a thing to blossom.

-- Robert Frost

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 06 Apr 17 - 07:08 PM

I was driving home from the supermarket this morning and the car radio was on. I was only half-listening, as you do sometimes, then I heard (quite likely imperfectly but I'll do my best) a poetical sort of chap, describing how he always first hears the chiffchaff on or within a couple of days of the 19th March. He described each note of the chiffchaff's song as another little nail in the coffin of winter. Now that's what I call poetry!

I've just been watching a documentary about a bloke called Geoff whose job it is to clear snow from the roofs of buildings in Yellowstone in winter to prevent the buildings from collapsing. He stood under a particularly menacing-looking cornice on one roof, pointed out with genuine appreciation the intricate beauty of the snow layers that indicated the many windstorms of the winter, then told us with relish that he couldn't wait to destroy that cornice. Geoff is my kind of feller! Geoff, sorry if you're really Jeff!