What do you see on your garden walk, 2015?

What a nice breath of life, Claire!

We've had a few days of upper 50s to low 60s, and I went to see if the wild Trillium nivale were peaking up.  The only thing actually growing was the Watercress (Nasturtium sp.).  Sure is a welcome green, though!

This Minnesota winter, as far as overall temperature, has actually been pretty normal, and what a surprise!  Snowfall only slightly less than normal.  There is no snow left where I am.  But we did have some early sudden drops in temps that may prove problematic. 

With climate change, Minnesota is trending to have the fastest warming winters in the USA, excluding Alaska.

Yet, Lori still has early spring plants sprouting before I ever do!

The woods is mostly oaks and Sugar maples, sprinkled with basswood and hickory.. It is part of the Hastings Scientific and Natural Area that I have a separate thread about here: https://www.nargs.org/forum/hastings-scientific-and-natural-area-minnesota-usa  This is just a different, "less interesting" part. 

The lack of understory isn't such a common thing around here, and yes, likely due to the heavy summer shade.  But it's not as "empty" as it looks.  That is a very steep hill in the background, and you can't climb it without choosing your steps carefully..

The wee ones are especially cute, but I like them all!

We received some welcome snow in drought stricken Minnesota.  (Yes, most of Minnesota is officially in a drought.)  At least there will be no river flooding this spring.  The snow will help my frit seed germinate.

Yesterday and today:

Claire,

Very nice! Here the earliest Trilliums are soon to open their first flowers but many are still too young to flower.

Rick,

Glad you got some snow since you needed it but I hope not to get snow here!

Corydalis nobilis and Helleborus 'Ivory Prince'

Hacquetia epipactis, Colchicum x agrippinum foliage.  And could this be a dwarf form of the weedy Thlaspi arvensis?

Clematis ochotensis from seed collected in Japan (Mt. Tokachi) and buds of the first flush blooms of an unknown iris.  These stay very short (8-10 inches).  The second flush is in June on 2 foot stems.

Pulsatilla pratensis ssp. nigricans Unknown pulsatilla from seed collected in Sweeden.  The leaves are like needles!

Leibnitzia anandria

Mertensia alpina seeded into the limestone driveway.  Thalictrum thalictroides 'Schoaff's Double', discovered in a Minnesota cemetery.  Lycoris chinensis still survives here in zone 4 after nine years, but never blooms.

Oh goodness, how could I be so stupid!  They bloomed for the first time last year, and like many pulstatillas, first blooms in a pot are not always like the true form that develops in future years.  This is second year bloom for these plants, and even last year I had questioned the identity.  Too many things going on this spring, I had completely forgotten about it, except that this season had a different flower form.  Not thinking (right), I automatically thought this must be correct. I'm really quite embarrassed here: the nodding flowers was the whole reason why I ordered the seed!

The seed came from the SRGC seed ex as wild collected seed from Sweden.  There are pros and cons of not revealing the seed source donator, but for me, I wish I could have that information.

So thanks for pointing this out, Lori.  What then, could it be?  I think I'm going to need to post this on the SRGC forum...