Moist and Ferny Spring Things

After weeks of difficulty in finding worthwhile topics to post about in late winter, spring throws topics at me several times each day. Nursery visits, outdoor adventures, emerging plants, springtime wildlife -- so much going on! So we'll start this week with photos taken last week after a rain.

Everything was so moist and fresh, the lady fern fronds emerging especially so. I couldn't resist their fascinating forms!

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Fascinating indeed when you look closely!

Looks like a sea creature!

The ostrich ferns have just barely started. This one was the first:

There were other things that caught my eye this morning besides ferns, mainly shining reds...

Smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria)

Tiny japanese maple seedling

Japanese maple 'Fireglow'

...but also the blue of this allium:

Such a strong foliage form combined with the color -- wow! Add some mercuric raindrops...

...and it's impossible to resist! (I think this was one that I planted last fall. Will have to ID it after it blooms...)


Sedge flowers too, once upset me by "ruining" the foliage...

...I now appreciate as a sign that spring is truly here. Lovely when viewed in the right context too.


Another surprise for me, this Anthemis keywayi 'Sauce Hollandaise'...

...looks so much like a tiny Melianthus, at least when the leaves are at this stage. Also, this plant spread a little bit, so I get to put it in a second spot in my garden!


Spring!

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