Went walking around the property to see what gifts nature's gardener was giving us this spring. First up: ramps! I found a recipe for ramp soup, too.
Walking on the Wild Side
And then a lady's slipper (that's what this is, right?) Found quite a few of these.
Wild strawberries.
Blood root? Will these get a flower?
Think it's a jack in the pulpit, Daisy.
Marsh marigolds?
Watercress
wild bell down by old willow. yellow and mauve in color
the 2 wildest things in the garden: the garden supervisors
The garden survivors look bewildered, cute pups.
Those dogs were bewildered, wondering why I was thrashing through the marsh and the woods where even they won't wander.
Victor: Jack in the Pulpet, thanks.
Daisy, your yellow bell is actually a trout lily: Erythronium americanum.
The bloodroot has a white flower with yellow center. They bloom before the leaves unfurl, so they're already done.
Thanks for the walk Daisygrrl. I think someone has posted bloodroot photos, but mine have not yet bloomed. It looks like the second plant on the left has a stem with a spear-shaped growth. That would be the flower yet to come. I have never heard of "wild bell". That plant looks like what we call Trout Lily (Erythronium americannum). The flower is not fully open.
Do you eat your cress? We had some in our stream, but I'm not seeing it this year.
The pups are precious. Gotta love those mugs.
L
Oh, so that's the old stem? I didn't think I'd missed ours. Thanks Lynn.
Cross posting all over the place Lynn :).
Thanks everyone, I am so happy to get some better identifications. Trout lily...looking at the leaf, I can see where it got this name. this I found by three connected ancient willows down by the pond that I'm aiming to clean out the PI from and the crab grass and make into a little cultivated wild garden by the stream. What a gift to find this beautiful little specimen to help me get started.
Maypop Laurel: there's a natural gardening vendor at Trade Secrets, the garden show in Kent Connecticut every year...and they sell maypops there. I've bought a couple, but they've never spread as promised.
And yes, I have eaten our cress...I made a watercress soup one year that was delicious. I think I'll try it again this year.
Mamasita: I am so happy to hear there is a flower earlier in the year. They're in a place that I'm trying to "tame" a little bit...great position.
I walked in my woods today too and the jack-in-the-pulpits are up, the Spring Beauties are up and blooming, I have yellow , white, and blue violets everywhere. Found some Star of Bethlehem (I believe) not in bloom and transplanted them to a woodland garden where I hope the deer don't chow down. Had only one trout lily open the other day, and it looks like bambi found it, too.
Lots and lots of ramps and ostrich ferns as well. - Lynn
This message was edited Apr 27, 2008 5:25 PM
That is Cool. That wild walk I Will have to take pics of. On my skimmpy 3 acres - that has nothing. Nothing meaning a little DL that I did 4 years ago and did not know what I was doing. Then a GH and another GH and I still dont know what I am doing. 2 Years and I still dont really knlw what I am doing. But I like it.
Here's one of the Garden Supervisors after hours. Playing "World's Spoildest Dog"
Daisygrrl, I LOVE those dogs. What are they? Too big for French bulldogs, yes? I always wanted a cool bulldog, but have to keep taking whatever folks throw on our door step (no regrets here though).
The first two Maypops have broken ground in the garden at Maypop. Totally new place, though I'm watering where they were last year. Ours are nothing special, like most of the plantings at Maypop...just incarnata. Nothing to look at yet, so I didn't photo.
Sherrie, get out girl! We know you're a wild thang! Your greenhouse is fantabulous and I bet if you crawl around on your belly, taking photos on your three acres, you'll come up with some great stuff. Gotta skip the flowers...stop and smell the weeds.
Maypop Laurel, these dawgs are pug-dogs. The most adorable, "big dogs in little packages," spoiled rotten, dogs on planet earth. They are made of velvet. They're so gentle, you can't get one to bite you. They're a 5,000 year old Chinese breed that has been bred all those years to do one thing: sit at your "throne" and be adored and adore their masters and missies right back. Experts say they have been around people for so long, they have the vocabulary of the average 3 year old. I think they're right. They love to go out in the car. We have 4 cars. When they think they're going on a ride, they look back at me asking which car. I say "truck" and they go to the truck. I say Focus, they go to Ford Focus. Swear.
Oh, did I mention that they love to eat?
Ohhh, I love these dogs for sure. If you could just fix the gas and snoring I'll take a gross!!
Laurel
Mamasita: what is a Spring Beauty?
No gas. Snoring? Well, maybe a bit.
They can't take the heat, either. We had a queen bee pug who lived to the ripe old age of 15-1/2 and when she was too hot, she would sit in front of the window air conditioner and bark until one of her slaves (us) turned it on. Swear.
Spring Beauties are known as Claytonia virginica. Tiny plants with flowers pink to white and very delicate looking. They don't last long and I can only find them back in the woods near the Fishkill Creek.
schickenlady: watch out. that thing comes down on your head and you'll know it!
I can't wait to actually be able to take a pic of Iris without either Paul or myself coaxing her with a treat or a toy. She's almost 2, and I still swear there is cocaine in her dog food...she snores, snorts, farts, burps...she is definitely dignified. lol
I have to take a pic tomorrow. My colony of Lady Slippers are starting to come up, as are the Mayapples that I transplanted really late last year. The Mayapples I thought were gonners, but, they are up and running...look really interesting too!
Gee, I haven't seen Mayapples since I lived up near Albany/ Schenectady in upstate NY! And Lady Slippers? Oh, my! I'm jealous! Please post some pics as I'd love to see them.
There are mayapples in my area - in Harriman park and near Bear Mt.
We get mayapples too, but I'm in upstate NY.
Must just be my area. I've always loved them, and look each spring to see if maybe I've just overlooked them. We used to have lots of bloodroot, but I've only seen one this year, and this is after not seeing any for nearly 10 years. I have a feeling the deer eat the blossoms before I get a chance to spot the plants.
I got some from a native plant vendor at Trade Secrets last year....they've doubled in one area, and have not taken hold at all in another.
are Mayapples and Maypops the same thing?
Daisy-No, completely and totally different. Maypops are usually a common name for the Passion Flower vine (Passiflora)...there is one variety that is hardy in z5, but most are tropical vines, with stunning flowers. Mayapples are a woodland plant with "umbrella" like foliage, and small white flowers underneath the leaves (Podophyllum.) The common Mayapples are z5, possibly a wee bit colder. There are some really stunning cultivars of Mayapple, but they aren't cheap, and are hardy from z6?(7) down...believe it's 'Kalaediscope' that I'm thinking of.
Here is a pic of my 1 clump of Mayapple:
Here are the Lady Slippers coming up...
Thank you for the pics, Hemhostaholic. I'd love to be surprised by some Lady Slippers or Mayapples showing up here. For now, I will rejoice in seeing yours! If you get a chance, please post a photo when the Lady Slippers bloom. - Lynn