Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Wildflower Wednesday!

I found a Virginia Bluebell! Mertensia virginica.
I haven't yet raked the leaves from the beds... we have a cold, perhaps snowy weekend forecast. However - SPRING is on its way. Just look at that little plant!

Click on this little photo to visit Illinois Wildflower Info:





You can visit participants of Wildflower Wednesday... visit Gail at Clay and Limestone. You can also choose to participate! :-) Click Gail's name above.

22 comments:

troutbirder said...

I do love those bluebells. Especially along the trout streams before the cattle arrive. The woods look like a sea of blue....

Shady Gardener said...

Hi troutbirder - I've never seen such a sight. But I can wait for awhile - because maybe it'll be Here before too many years! :-)

Rosemary said...

It is so nice to see the first green sprigs coming up....

Shady Gardener said...

Rosemary, Isn't it exciting? We're ready for warm weather and sunshine and working outdoors! :-)

Gail said...

Shady, Yippee! I am so glad that spring is showing up in your garden! gail

Larry said...

It won't be long and we'll be wondering where the winter went! Larry

Shady Gardener said...

Hold that thought, Larry! :-)

Jan said...

Love your Virginia Bluebells popping up! Happy Spring to you;-)

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Shady! Hello! Thanks for commenting on my blog... I'm slowly getting caught back up. So nice to see your bluebells foliage. Have looked for mine (the ones you sent!) and it's not up yet, but I suspect it will be soon. Really looking forward to their blooms. I just love the blue-pink buds.

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Gail!! Yippee for Sure! ::-))

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Jan - isn't it so exciting?? :-) It feels as though it's been a long winter.

Oh, Monica! I hope they sprout soon. It won't be long!! (If you have troubles - let me know, and we'll try again!)

Pat said...

Wish I had wildflowers to share...

Rose said...

Hooray! A bluebell--spring is on its way to you, too! I raked the leaves off most of my flowerbeds when it was so warm last week, but it may have been a mistake: I'm hoping my poor little buds don't freeze in the cold this week.

The Illinois Wildflower site is one of my favorites--a wealth of information.

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Patsi, You will. :-)

Rose, Thank you! I was SO tempted to rake off the rest of my leaves, but you are right... the forecast...

I'm glad I discovered the Illinois site. I'm going to put it on my sidebar.

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

If it's any consolation, your bluebells are ahead of mine, which are still in the purple cabbage stage.

Shady Gardener said...

Hi MMD, There are only three or four showing themselves... (or as of a couple of days ago, that was the case). ;-) But I always consider that we are very near the same stage in the seasons.

Shirley said...

I love images like this almost more than the flowers opening. The anticitpation is almost more special isn't it?

Kathleen said...

Your previous post looked like winter is still there. Guess what? I found Virginia bluebells coming up here too (from you, of course!) I'm so excited. I love how they are such a deep purple when they first emerge. I hope they do even better this year (and maybe even form a bigger clump!) I'll always think of you when I see them.

Jan said...

Hi Shady, I see you've linked this post to my sustainable living project. If you want it to 'count' can you mention how it helps with earth-friendliness (like being a native plant, etc)...also, need to mention the project and link to it here on the post. Otherwise, just leave a comment with something you do that is earth friendly and that will count for the prizes;)

p3chandan said...

Would love to see the blooms, do update us on that!

Tammie Lee said...

oh, how exciting! promises of more beauty.

Hannah said...

I grew some Mertensia from seed, they just made small plants of mostly one leaf then disappeared. I planted them out and saw the little tubers that had formed, so wish me luck that they will come back next spring. How long does it take for them to bloom?