March 27, 2018
Pacific Northwest
The weather is still chilly, and swinging between sunny days and pouring rain. But the equinox is behind us, the days are getting longer, the sun slightly higher, and the flora in my neighborhood is awakening.
Red-flowering Currant is in full bloom, rosy shrubs visible from a distance on hillsides.
Red flowering Currant on a rocky cliff. Ribes sanguineum. Native.
The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge.
We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns.
We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below.
|
Most native plants are not flowering yet though. It’s their fresh bright green foliage I’m seeing on a few so far, with just a hint of oncoming flowers on a few.
Nootka Rose Rosa nutkana. March 20, 2018. Native
Red Elderberry Sambucus racemosa. Incipient flower mass. March 27, 2018. Native.
Three native members of the Honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae) —
Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus March 27, 2018. Native.
Black Twinberry Lonicera involucrata March 20, 2018. Native.
The flowering pattern of Twinberry is distinctive and appealing to me. This year’s flowers are just starting to grow, in yellow pairs. Last year’s residual flower/ruit stalks follow the nodes. The black paired berries get munched immediately by birds once they ripen in summer.
March 27, 2018
|
March 27, 2018
|
Orange Honeysuckle is a vine. Lonicera ciliosa March 27, 2018. Native.
Stinging Nettle Urtica dioica March 27, 2018. Native.
Our two common native maples —
Douglas Maple Acer glabrum leafs out and flowers earlier. March 27, 2018. Native.
Big Leaf Maple Acer macrophyllum is still thinking about it. March 27, 2018. Native.
Along with the Nootka roses, two other members of that family (Rosaceae) —
Dewberry aka Trailing Blackberry. Rubus ursinus. Old foliage persists over winter. March 20, 2018. Native.
Flowers just out now:
Salmonberry Rubus spectabilis. March 20, 2018. Native.
Rufous hummingbird, first arrival March 11
Not a coincidence that the two native earliest shrubs bloom at the time the Rufous hummingbirds arrive on their migration to breed in this region. Very few insect pollinators out just now — a few bumblebees and flies. Hummers are attracted to red colored flowers.
What else?
There are plenty of active herbaceous “weeds” too, like buttercups, dandelions, bittercress, thistles, brambles, etc etc, mostly introduced/invasive. A few are blooming but most are pouring energy into vegetative tissue, to blanket the ground wherever they can.
Of things I’ve deliberately planted in my yard, one fruit tree is blossoming, one of the lilacs is leafing out, the rugosa roses are exploding in foliage, and the Big Leaf Lupines are well on their way.
Big Leaf Lupine Lupinus polyphyllus. Native to Washington state, introduced to my county.
In the garden, chives and some herbs have new growth. The rhubarb has baby stalks already. In the greenhouse I have started cucumbers, tomatoes, sweet peppers and a pot of basil.
I am sorry to report that a slug has already found its way up and into a cucumber bag. Luckily I have backup cuke seedlings and gallons of Sluggo. Sigh. It is inexplicable to me that a slug would go so far out of its way for a seedling when there’s gazilions of acreage of “wild” fresh foliage so readily accessible. Go figure.
Our Northwest slugs are awakening too. Unfortunately most of them are invasive species.
Tomato and pepper seedlings in this end of the greenhouse. Transplanted March 15 from seeds started Feb 15
Mixed basil has germinated.
Heading into the last week of March, Northwest flora is becoming active. These early ones are notable, contrasted against the pervasive grey/brown of winter dormancy.
It won’t be long before everything will be green! and flowery!
~
What’s up in your natural neighborhood?
"SPOTLIGHT ON GREEN NEWS & VIEWS" IS POSTED EVERY SATURDAY AT 5:00 PM PACIFIC TIME AND WEDNESDAY AT 3:30 ON THE DAILY KOS FRONT PAGE. IT'S A GREAT WAY TO CATCH UP ON DIARIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED. BE SURE TO RECOMMEND AND COMMENT IN THE DIARY. |