In Alabama, the days are lengthening and more signs of spring growth are appearing. There are still some frosty nights this week but just a few degrees. I have started some seeds but mostly these are some herbs and some perennials.
Today, my photos are from the Birmingham Botanical Gardens as well as my own yard and the Vestavia Hills Mens Garden
This first photo is of some winter interest. This is a bank of muhly grass with limelight hydrangeas in the background near the conservatory. This was very noticeable on a sunny day this week at the Botanical Gardens. Notice how the hydrangeas keep the petals over the winter.
The second photo is of a hardwood woodland at the Gardens filled with King Alfred daffodils. This faces east and warms early in the day as the sun rises.
The third photo from the Botanical Gardens is Spirea thunbergii which may be called Thunberg spirea. It is also on an east facing bank. These tiny blossoms are brilliant white. I did not notice a fragrance but there must be to attract early insect pollinators.
Next is a photo from my yard of a large cupped daffodil which I think is Orange Sunset. It was in some shade when I took this picture so its brilliant colors cannot be appreciated.
This next phots is also from my yard showing the first signs of recovery in my tea olives Osmanthus fragrans. I am very pleased to see this.
The next photo is from the Mens Garden. Here is a beautiful violet hellebore. This was a donation so I do not know the cultivar. It was shyly drooping a little so I raised it up to take the photo.
Another from the Mens Garden is an emerging fiddlehead of a Southern Shield fern Thelypteris kunthii. They are deciduous and a little agressive but they are a great groundcover in woodland areas and even in sunny locations.
Finally, here is also some sign of life in an oakleaf hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia. These Alabama natives are very hardy and are a welcome sign of the coming spring season.
I hope your garden is also beginning to show increasing signs of life. If you are able, join us Saturday morning for the Six on Saturday group. See gardeners from around the world post photos of their gardens.
Jim Stephens is our host and you can find it here.
Until next time.
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The daffodils—the BBG’s and yours—are very “happy making.” Congratulations on the apparent tea olive recovery. Still rather frosty in Blount County, but I’m watching for positive signs with my oakleaf hydrangeas.
My grandmother always had to have King Alfreds, and so I do as well, as a remembrance. Lucky to have signs of spring – by tomorrow, the snowcover here could increase to nearly 10″, though I appreciate the otherworldy appearance of a world covered in white, with even evergreens appearing black at times.
So lovely to see the first Daffodils, no sign of mine yet.
Even the camera was more interested in the oak leaf below the emerging fern. Whatever sort of oak is that, it looks a very handsome leaf. Osmanthus fragrans is not at all common here because it is regarded as only borderline hardy. Looking up pictures of it, I’m not sure it’s the plant I thought it was.
Looks like a Southern red oak Quercus falcata.