Snow is in the Forecast for Tuesday & Wednesday in Connecticut... Will we ever see spring flowers?

Sanguinaria canadensis f. multiplex

Double Bloodroot has an interesting history.  Originally found by Mr. Guido von Webern on his property in Dayton, Ohio in 1916, this amateur botanist protected his find.  As it grew, he divided it and gave three divisions away.  Apparently the propagation & distribution of his clone within the horticultural world is attributed to Henry Teuscher of Montreal Botanic Gardens. 

Sanguinaria canadensis

Thus we have this delightful mutation to entrance us humans.  The pollinators are not able to enjoy this fully double flower, as with many of like ilk, there is no pollen or nectaries available to them...   therefore no seed is produced... division (or cloning) is the only means of reproducing this plant.  Please remember this and provide the single bloom native in your environment as an early pollen source for our native miner bees. (These single plants do not produce nectar either...  the attraction is the contrasting white & yellow colors)

March 12, 2014 snow melt starting

 Eden's Natives are still under snow cover...  only the edges are melting from the remaining Magnesium Chloride mixture used on our roads....  which, FYI,  is another reason not to grow edibles within reach of that contamination....   Traditionally the bloodroot here begins blooming in the first week or two of April.  Whether the weather will dump more snow this week remains to be seen.  

Bloglovin link attempt

Follow "Growing Eden's Natives" with Bloglovin

 Supposedly this will allow people to follow the blog with Bloglovin....  We will at least attempt it...   I can't seem to get comments up and running...  Maybe this will work though....   crossed fingers & wishing may do it....  It doesn't seem like computer savvy has anything to do with it!!

Wildlife Habitat--What is Eden's Natives supporting this week?

Snow Snow Snow--

Eden's Natives are Buried ...  

18-24 inches of hard packed snow covers most of the yard....  Empty seed heads of perennial sunflower, coneflower, joe pye weed, ironweed & liatris are rising above the reflective white surface.  Only a few goldenrod & autumn clematis appear to have any seed remaining.  The american cranberry is still holding on to a few shriveled up, but still red fruit.   As with the crabapple, haw & aronia, these small trees & shrubs hold their fruit through freezes & thaws until the sugars are intensified...  Often they remain until spring migrants arrive so they can provide needed nourishment upon their return to breeding territory.

 Northern Cardinal-Male

The Northern Cardinal is now a year-round resident in Connecticut. Other birds are also enjoying the bounty of natural foods in the garden, our heated water feature & our black oil sunflower, thistle, suet, peanut butter & of course the Cardinals favorite- safflower seeds. 

I think I saw a big bad hawk!!!  Geronimo!!  (Tufted Titmouse)

 We have been hosting many year-round residents:   Tufted Titmouse, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-Bellied Woodpecker, White-Breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Black-Capped Chickadee, House Finch, American Goldfinch, & all, even the American Robin, have been frequenting our water trays.

White Throated Sparrow

Northern visitors for the winter have included WhiteThroated Sparrow & Dark-Eyed Junco....

American Tree Sparrow

We have our first arrival from down south...  
the Tree sparrow is here now, we should be
 seeing the Fox Sparrow next...

Fox Sparrow

Pussy Willow beginning to break dormancy

 In our wetlands we are catching glimpses of the first of the season bloomers....

Skunk Cabbage

 

Skunk Cabbage heat-producing flower

 Along the line of continuing education:  There is a free workshop tomorrow @ Tolland Agricultural Center that is being presented by the North Central Conservation District to support their coming Native Plant & Seedling sale in April.  The catalog & pre-order information is here:  NCCD's Plant & Seedling Sale

Jane Seymour showing Belding WMA wildlife habitat

  Saturday, March 8 at TAC in Vernon
10:00 am - Noon   Landscaping for Wildlife: Using Native Plants to Sustain Wildlife in your Backyard
Leading up to this year's annual NCCD Spring Seedling Sale, Jane Seymour, Wildlife Technician with the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and Steward of the Belding Wildlife Management Area in Vernon will be presenting this workshop to inform the public how to use native plants in your yard to attract and benefit wildlife.


 Eden's Natives Nursery will have Native Perennials available for sale to benefit NCCD at the pick-up sites April 11&12, 2014.

Our Business Card/Information Stand