March 2016 in the Northern Hemisphere

[Gabriela]

Interesting, Gabriela.  It's quite a different colour than my "regular" Scopolia carniolica (not emerged yet), which is dark greenish-purple:
(Attachment Link)

This one is also nice Lori. In my former tiny garden I had to make tough decisions about what species to have but now I plan to also plant the 'regular' species. Extremely nice plants for early spring in cold regions - and it often happens to see the first bumblebee of the season on Scopolia flowers 

[Lori S.]

This one is also nice Lori. In my former tiny garden I had to make tough decisions about what species to have but now I plan to also plant the 'regular' species. Extremely nice plants for early spring in cold regions - and it often happens to see the first bumblebee of the season on Scopolia flowers 

Wow, mine doesn't bloom until the end of May or early June. I guess yours must be much earlier?

[David Nicholson]

Can't speak for Cornish camellias as we haven't been over the bridge for the past few weeks but it seems to me that some Devon camellias are barely getting going yet.

Ralph, we did manage to get over the bridge today for a few hours at Lanhydrock,  the wounds it suffered as a result of last Wednesdays storm only too easy to see. There were Camellias out, but I had expected more and a lot of flowers were well weather-beaten. One or two Rhododendron were out with lots more to come as well as some of the taller Magnolias (some of which were over) again with many still to come. I'll add a few pictures:-

Camellia 'Cornish Snow' a larger plant than your's Ralph but a bit sparse in the flowering department. Not an easy one to photograph.
Rhodo and Camellia
unlabelled Camellia
same unlabelled Camellia close-up
Big Rhodo

[David Nicholson]

Just a few more from Lanhydrock:-

Rhododendron arboreum 'Roseum'
close up of above
tall Magnolias, the very Devil to picture
a view over Lanhydrock

[Maggi Young]

In the garden today

[Gabriela]

Wow, mine doesn't bloom until the end of May or early June. I guess yours must be much earlier?

The yellow variety can start blooming in late April here after a mild winter year (like this one

Maggi - nothing says spring better than your images!

[Maggi Young]

RE:  Reply #34 -  same snowdrops  much  more open today  - scent is lovely in the warm sun.
 

[Maggi Young]

Iris reticulata

[Maggi Young]

This hellebore came from MacPlants - I love the soft yellow and it  is clumping well.






Crocus  herbertii

[Hoy]

Very nice Maggi!

I wish it had been like that over here today but how long was Adam in Paradise? The lovely sun from Friday disappeared in fog and drizzle

We went for a walk in stead of gardening.

The biggest freshwater lake; Aksdalsvatnet, is just a couple of km away. It is 3.5 sq km. The surface is just 18m above sea level.



Aksdalsvatnet. Lots of fish (trout, arctic char and eel. Also an El Dorado for waterfowl.


The surroundings contain a lot of bogs and small creeks.



Typical wetland area. Good for wildlife but difficult to cross by foot!


On higher ground but still boggy due to the wet coastal climate.



Tussocks of tufted bullrush (Trichophorum caespitosum) is very common around here. Interspersed with heath (Calluna vulgaris and Erica tetralix)

[Hoy]

The new walking trail was finished 2 years ago. You can see remnants of the old in the 2nd pic in the post above.



The fence is to keep sheep away from the trail. A lot of people bike and other walk their dogs here.




Old and new fence.


Polytrichum commune and P formosum are very common, especially in the shadow of the birch trees on moist ground.



The soil is very poor so mosses outcompete other plants.

[Maggi Young]

Fine atmospheric shot of the lake, Trond  and  a good range of colours in the  old grasses too.

I think I may have spoken too soon about the weather here - all sunshine gone now - wind rising, temperature dropping fast. 

[Gabriela]

Fine atmospheric shot of the lake, Trond  and  a good range of colours in the  old grasses too.
I think I may have spoken too soon about the weather here - all sunshine gone now - wind rising, temperature dropping fast. 

At least it lasted to take those great pictures Maggi - I had to put my sunglasses  Then I took them off for Trond's foggy, moist ones 

In a very weird turn of events, in same place where in the last years the snow was knee high at this time, yesterday the skunk cabbage was flowering surrounded by bees! (maybe wasps, I'm not good with ID)

[Maggi Young]

Great pic, Gabriela.

Funnily enough, there's been a recent  resurgence  in reports of the  problems from  American Skunk Cabbage**  proving to be an invasive alien in the UK. Ian  was on the radio the other day being asked about it! He pointed out that  there are UK plants causing similar problems in other countries.

Quite a big problem generally, of course , with plants which use waterways so successfully to spread. Main issue is with actual aquatic plants clogging up waterways though, I think. 
 Around here the  main culprits for  unwanted plants are Giant Hogweed and Himalayan Balsam.

 edit to make it clear - Lysichiton americanus  Gabriela's pic was of Symplocarpus foetidus

[Hoy]

Maggi, it is two different species with the name Skunk Cabbage.

I think the one Ian was interviewed about is Lysichiton americanus. Gabriela shows a picture of Symplocarpus foetidus.


Lysichiton americanus: