Spring Ephemerals

Around my neck of the woods, this is the time of year to be on the lookout for spring ephemerals –plants that take advantage of the sunlight coming through the open canopy in the early spring.  Spring ephemerals are woodland, perennial plants that flower and set seed now, before the trees above them have fully leafed out.  In summer, the forest floor will be in deep shade, and the spring ephemerals will be “gone” - with just their underground portions remaining in wait until the following year.


This week I spotted Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) as I walked through the woods:

Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)

and skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus):

Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus)

I also came across these spotted leaves that I suspect may be trout lily (Erythronium americanum).  I will keep watching them to see if they send up flowers:

And, I suspect this might be Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum):

Spring ephemerals are fleeting.  Enjoy looking for them in the woods,  and let me know what you find.

Growing, Harvesting and Seed Collecting

The beans I planted last week have already grown their first set of true leaves.    Below is a photo of the seedlings, grown from the black beans I collected last year.  I love how they grow with the seed coat still attached!   The tendril is from the Cascadian snap peas.  

Seed coat is still attached to the bean plant!

This week we ate our final installment of asparagus, along with lots of lettuce, kale, chives, cilantro, strawberries and some peas and garlic scapes.

Peas, asparagus, strawberries, lettuce and cilantro

Peas, garlic scapes, chives, cilantro, kale and strawberries

Elsewhere in the garden:

Clematis and rose

Mock Orange (Philadelphus) in all its glory

I've started collecting columbine seed (Aquilegia canadensis L.).  Lots of columbine are still in bloom, but the early bloomers have gone to seed.

Columbine seed pods, plus one visitor.

When the seed pods turn brown, it's time to collect the seed.   The small black seeds will rattle around and fall right into your hand if you turn them upside down.  The green seed pods are not yet ready for collection.   

The columbine seed pods start out green and closed,
and then gradually turn brown and open up. 

Columbine seeds ready to be collected.

I like to toss the seeds in areas that could use some more columbine color.  I save some seeds for later, but I seem to have the best success with columbine when I  scatter the seeds now in early summer, and let them over-summer, over-fall and overwinter outside in place.

(This post was shared on Harvest Monday at Daphne's Dandelions and Green Thumb Thursday.)

This week in the Garden: (Almost) Wordless Wednesday

Dogwood tree (Cornus florida) with azaleas.
When I planted the dogwood, it was just a foot tall.

 Candystripe phlox (Phlox subulata)that I planted three years ago.
This year some of the flowers in the middle are all-pink.

Lettuce, peas and kale
I like to grow my veggies all mixed together.

Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) and Jacob's ladder (Polemonium reptans).
I bought the Jacob's ladder from the Native Plant Center sale at WCC two years ago.
 Last year I scattered columbine seeds that I had collected next to the Jacob's ladder.
I love the combination! 

(This post was shared on Green Thumb Thursday.)

Bringing nature to you and you to nature, two events:

The Katonah Village Library is hosting a series of Wednesday lunchtime garden workshops (May 7, 14, and 21) leading up to the grand opening of Frances’s Native Demonstration Garden (in front of the library) on May 24^th at 11 AM. 

A library entrance is such a great place to have a native plants demonstration garden!  I love the idea of bringing the garden to the people, right where they are.  The location makes it unavoidable for anyone entering the library or strolling through Katonah, and it lets people see which native plants thrive right there in Katonah.  Hopefully Frances’s Native Garden will encourage lots of people to experiment at home with native plants, which generally require less water, fuss and energy to grow than lawns. 

Is there a location in your community that would be perfect for a native plants demonstration garden?   (or would you choose to highlight another aspect of sustainability:  Alternative energy?   Composting? Something else?)

2.   Canada’s 30x30 Nature Challenge is about to begin.  This group is encouraging people all over the world to seek out nature each day and spend at least 30 minutes in nature for the next 30 days.  I’m game.  Are you?

Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)
spotted while walking my dog the other day.