Six on Saturday 23/03/2019 – First Saturday of Spring

Spring arrived Wednesday in the last few minutes of the afternoon and, as if rushing to keep up with a train schedule, the snow began to melt. These past few relatively warm, sunshiny days have exposed brown grass, fallen branches, soft squishy soil, soft squishy dog turds and, yes, Galanthus. That’s right, Snowdrops were pushing through the soil under the thick blanket of snow for the past few weeks and can now be seen, both in clumps where I’ve planted them and individually where, perhaps, chipmunks or squirrels have kindly thought to relocate them.

• 

• 

• 

Also exposed is the garlic in its raised bed. A few cloves sprouted last fall, but the new spring growth has definitely started.

• 

• 

seThe rabbit damage is more evident now as well. I’ve never noticed Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) being eaten but this winter, with the deep snow and a noticeable lack of predators, rabbits have been ravenously attacking shrubs and small trees like never before. Look how much of this bark has been stripped away. These Sumac will grow back from the roots, but I’ll likely loose the architectural canopy of foliage I’ve been encouraging.

The rabbits don’t eat everything, of course. They adore Bridalwreath Spirea (Spiraea × vanhouttei) but ignore Garland Spirea (Spiraea x arguta ‘Compacta‘). They crunch through the tender tips of Viburnum and Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus) like it was candy but won’t touch Lilac or Fothergilla. Happily, they also ignore evergreen herbs like Salvia and Thymus. Here’s a small patch of variegated lemon thyme I transplanted from a pot into the ground last fall. Seems to be doing all right.

The snow’s not ALL melted (we experience frosty nights until mid May, after all), and in areas where it’s drifted or is in a bit of shade it’s still quite deep. I like how it’s melted in bits along this mossy woodland path. Looks like white stepping stones, doesn’t it?

Finally, to make up my Six this week, I rescued an aging yellow cooking onion from the compost bin a few days ago. It had been uneaten for too long and had sprouted a good four inches while in its basket on top of the fridge. Put it in a plastic pot with some potting soil, put the pot in this pretty Chinese ceramic container and voila. I’ll likely plant it in the kitchen garden in a few months and hope it flowers.

That’s my Six this Saturday. I’m hoping the seasonal weather keeps up so that I’ll soon be posting a plethora of pictures featuring posies galore. For more Sixes from around the world, many with actual flowers in them, head on over the The Propagator’s site.