More photos - flora

The first photo shows the birthday bouquet that I cut for Wonderful GrandDaughter (WGD) this morning. Her birthday was a few days ago, but her mother is gathering the family to celebrate, today - Saturday's being a more convenient day. The bouquet comprises a small branch from each of three trees that are abloom in our yard. The bouquet is small because WGD and her father have allergies. 

The next photo shows the three common milkweed plants that were delivered to our doorstep late yesterday. The plants, favored by monarch butterflies, were ordered last fall. The company from which they were purchased ships them in time to arrive at the customer's location near (in time) to the frost-free date. (Our frost-free date is April 20.) I will hold the plants in the window well for a few days to acclimate them to the temperatures and sunshine before setting them out in my little meadow.

Finally, because I was taking photos of the milkweed plants in the window well, I snapped a photo of the hostas that I planted in the window well a couple of years ago. They are ahead of the hostas that grow just outside the window well and those that grow in the near woods. Those later developing hostas are growing, but didn't break ground until about a week ago. (The little round white specs on the leaves nearest the camera are petals from ornamental pear tree blossoms - from across the street.)

Comments

[buffy]

I love the bouquet! Is that your redbud in the back? My hosta along the garage, which is very shady right now, are just coming up. The hosta in the back yard are way head of them. I would never have thought to put the milkweed in the window well to acclimate them. Great idea! I love milkweed plants. I'll have to add a few along our lot line. Our last frost day is around Mother's Day. I never put the tomatoes out until mid-May, or later, just to be careful.

[bogie]

That is a pretty bouquet and I'm sure she appreciated it.

Milkweed is great for monarchs. The only downside is they can become somewhat invasive, but as long as you are letting that area go wild, they will be fine.

Yesterday I noticed the hosta on the southwest corner of my house is starting to break its dormancy too.

[Cop Car]

Buffy--Thank you. Yes, the "purple" is from the new redbud. The bouquet was a little ratty by the time we got to Dudette's & WichiDude's house; but, it made a small splash of color in the center of the luncheon table. The milkweed came with a sheet of instructions. I had stuck the plants into the garage for the first night; but, I got the bright idea of using the window well the next morning.

I usually put out 4 tomato plants in late March, as a gamble. I didn't get around to that, this year. Last year, I thought the frost had about killed the gamble plants and replanted another 4 in mid-April. All 8 bushes did well! Your frost-free date is in line with our difference in latitudes.

Bogie--Thank you, and everyone seemed to enjoy a bit of color in a house that (due to allergies) normally sees only the greens of WichiDude's tiny plants.

You had previously cautioned me about the invasiveness of milkweed plants; but, I shall try to corral them - much as I'm going to have to start corralling the sumacs that I put out a couple of years ago. (The sumacs are in planting areas which, in theory, will make it easier.)

As you well know, you are the one who taught me to appreciate hostas. They would never have been planted, otherwise. I have a couple of small bags (3 plants each?) of lily-of-the-valleys that I think I will plant outside the window well - toward the street. You may recall that I planted lily-of-the-valleys along the bank of the creek on Sunrise and that they naturalized the whole area.