Blooms of the 2011 growing season thread

[camille1585]

Great pics Tindo! I like the Noids, they're cute Spring is already finished here, it only lasted a few weeks. We seemed to have skipped the rest of it and moved directly to summer. It's been in the high 80s lately, which is not normal for this time of year! The drought is so terrible that rivers are drying up in some parts of france and farmers are forced to slaughter their dairy cows because there's no grass for them. There hasn't had a proper rainfall in 3 months...
So it's nice to see that it's still spring, somewhere!

[Tindomul]

In bloom today at one of our local parks in Queens NY.

Second, Ajuga reptans, common nursery plant, a non native alien.

Third, Iris pseudoacorus. Another alien.

Fourth, Evonymus alata, The winged burning bush. Yet another alien.

Lily of the Valley, Convollaria majalis, another alien!!

Hesperis matronalis, dames rocket, another alien.

Its a good day for the aliens!!!

[Tindomul]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Great pics Tindo! I like the Noids, they're cute Spring is already finished here, it only lasted a few weeks. We seemed to have skipped the rest of it and moved directly to summer. It's been in the high 80s lately, which is not normal for this time of year! The drought is so terrible that rivers are drying up in some parts of france and farmers are forced to slaughter their dairy cows because there's no grass for them. There hasn't had a proper rainfall in 3 months...
So it's nice to see that it's still spring, somewhere!

Well that sucks! Scary too. I hope you get some needed rainfall. Here the temperatures have been struggling to break the 70 degree mark since April.

[Jennyfleur]

Originally Posted by camille1585

There hasn't had a proper rainfall in 3 months...

Same in my region - the south east corner of the UK is usually up there as the driest in the country, but the Island hasn't had rain since March and you can really see the effects of it as you walk around! Fingers crossed we all get some soon!

[RosieC]

We were like that through April and early May but the rain has been coming on and off for the last week or so. Some really good downpours and sunshine in between. The ground is so horribly dry still, but it's getting better and the grass (and weeds) are liking it.

[Hedge]

Yes, it's been a really dry spring and even when rain is forecast, out small village seems to dodge it somehow, or get eight or nine spots. Still at least I'm not having to dry the dog off after every walk .

thought you all might like to see this tulip that I grow - it's not wild but has a beautiful pattern of growth where the flowers change colour. They can last for up to a month but it depends how dry they are - the ones I don't water only lasted a fortnight.

Also, slightly off topic but still spring - have seen the baby coots with their mum down at the brick ponds

[Hedge]

I think its called Tulipa Viridus

[Tindomul]

Spring time ofcourse continues. It truely really is spring here in the North East of the US. The climate has been wet and cool, to the point where what is usually past flowering is just starting now and others are lasting twice as long. In sum, its gorgeous here in NYC. Even the spring migrating birds stayed around just a little bit longer this season.

Went to the Pine Barrens on Long Island and found some blueberries,

Vaccinium corymbosum... High bush blueberry
Vaccinium tenellum
Vaccinium angustifolia ..... Low bush blueberry

Arcotstaphylos uva-ursi... Bear berry

Lobelia nuttallii .... Nuttall's Lobelia

Eleagnus angustifolius..... Russian Olive
Wisteria sinensis ..... Chinese wisteria

[Tindomul]

Upon returning to the city, I took these pics too.

Cornus stolonifera ..... Red-Ozier dogwood

Rhododendron periclymenoides ... pinxter flower

Ornamental Rhododendrons (the city is lush in Rhodies this year).

Robinia pseudoacacia ....... Black locust. Smells so nice, and it seems as though every other tree is a Black Locust now that they are in bloom. Notice the flowers and how distinctively pea like they are, just like the Wisteria.

[camille1585]

Nice pics! I like the little Lobelia! Our wisteria just finished blooming last week, it's 3-4 weeks early compared to other years. Blueberries are done flowering too, my bushes are covered in halfgrown berries. Looks like Robinia has conquered the planet, it's all over the place over here. There are entire hills of them flowering now.
Our weather is still the opposite of yours: hot and dry! It's in the 80s most of the time.

Here is my wisteria. The pic isn't recent, this is from April 29th. Never had time to post. I give the vine a careful pruning in January, and the flower count seems to increase every year.



Some plants that peaked in the last week are Cerastium tomentosum that I got as a cutting 5-6 years ago, and it has since then taken over. You can see my poor Hemerocallis 'Lavender Deal' buried in it!


and also Saponaria ocymoides


A shame that I forgot to take a pic of the pink Tamarix tree, it was gorgeous in bloom. Also have a giant Geranium (not Pelaronium!) starting to bloom, as well as the first Hydrangeas.

And for the heck of it, a pic of a little valley near our village that is filled with buttercups! Its location and the stream running through it have kept it nice and green, unlike the fields on the hills above